CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: October 20, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF PLEASANT HILL AMENDING SECTION 14.05.080 OF TITLE 14 OF THE PLEASANT HILL MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING THE 2025
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE WITH AMENDMENTS
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, acting also as the Board of Directors for the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, adopted Ordinance No. 2025-14, which incorporates the 2025 California Fire Code (based on the 2024 International Fire Code) with local amendments. The City Council now is adopting the same provisions as Ordinance No. 2025-14 into the City Code. This ordinance becomes effective January 1, 2026.
Key Modifications and Additions
The updated ordinance strengthens fire safety, land use oversight, and emergency preparedness.
Major changes include:
● Administration & Permits
o New permit requirements for land development, roadway design, water supply, and subdivision projects.
o Operational permits now include five-year sprinkler system tests in accordance with NFPA 25.
● Definitions & Standards
o Added definitions for Temporary Fire Department Access Roads, Fire Trails, Substantial Additions/Alterations, Hazardous Vegetation, Knox Box, and Aerial Pre-Plans.
● General Fire Safety
o New rules requiring property owners to extinguish peat or subsurface fires, with costs recoverable by the Fire District.
o Penalties for nuisance fire alarms and authorization of fees. ● Fire Service Features
o Access road standards clarified, with minimum widths, turning radii, slope, and surface requirements.
o Fire lane signage requirements expanded to include mandatory enforcement by both Fire Code Officials and local law enforcement.
o Knox Box upgrades to eCore technology required by December 31, 2028. o Developers must maintain or provide alternate access when trails or open spaces are obstructed.
● Fire Protection Systems
o Lower thresholds for sprinkler system requirements in Assembly, Business, Educational, Factory, Mercantile, Storage, and Residential occupancies.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA (Section 21605) and CEQA Guidelines §§ 15060(c)(3) and 15378.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
1. Introduce, waive first reading and read by title only AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLEASANT HILL AMENDING SECTION 14.05.080 OF TITLE 14 OF THE PLEASANT HILL MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE AND WITH AMENDMENTS
2. Set a public hearing for November 17, 2025 on the proposed ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A
Proposed Ordinance
Prepared by: Janet Coleson, City Attorney
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager