1 TO: City Council
FROM: Andrew Vialpando, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director
MEETING DATE: November 5, 2024
SUBJECT: Discussion and Consideration to Adopt an Ordinance to Incorporate by Reference the Amended Title 32 of the Los Angeles County Fire Code
RECOMMENDATION
Read by title only and introduce a first reading of Ordinance No. 864; and schedule a public hearing and second reading of the Ordinance for the November 19, 2024, City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND
On January 17, 2023, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 843, adopting by reference the 2022 Los Angeles County Building Code. The City has been adopting the Fire Code at the same time the Building Code is adopted. However, as of December 20, 2022, the County had yet to adopt the 2022 Fire Code. In the meantime, the 2022 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) has been in effect since January 1, 2023.
On January 31, 2023, the Los Angeles County Fire Code 2022 Edition (Part 9 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) went into effect on March 2, 2023, for Los Angeles County and Supplement 9 went into effect on July 1, 2024.
DISCUSSION
The attached draft Ordinance adopts the Los Angeles County Fire Code (Title 32) as the City’s Fire Code. Further, it ratifies building standards relating to fire and life safety, which are more restrictive than those contained within the California Building Standards Code.
California law requires building standards adopted by local jurisdictions that are more restrictive than those adopted by the State to be enacted by ordinance within 180 days after the state adopts the California Building and Fire Code. California Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7 authorizes the County Fire District to adopt these more stringent
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No.
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2 standards but requires ratification by the City where these standards will apply. The findings made by the County supporting these changes begin on Page 273 of the Los Angeles County Ordinance.
The City of Lomita contracts with the County of Los Angeles Fire District for enforcement of the City’s fire code, the general supervision of conditions and equipment which aid in the control of fire, and the abatement of fire hazards and dangerous conditions. In the past, the City has adopted earlier versions of these codes by reference. The County codes have been revised to comply with the California Fire Code, and the International Fire Code with certain changes and modifications due to local conditions, adopted by the County.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no financial implications resulting from this recommendation.
OPTIONS
1. Approve the attached ordinance.
2. Do not approve the ordinance.
3. Provide staff with further direction.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance No. 864
a. Exhibit 1 to Ordinance No. 864 – Los Angeles County Findings in Support of More Restritcive Building Standards
Reviewed by: Approved by:
_______________________ ______________________
Gary Y. Sugano Andrew Vialpando
Assistant City Manager City Manager
Prepared by:
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__________________________
Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director