8/31/2026
1 RiversideCA.gov/Fire1
RiversideCA.gov/FireSENATE BILL 1205 OVERVIEW & ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLIANCE Kevin Shin, Fire Marshal September 15, 2026 RiversideCA.gov/Fire2
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY•On September 27, 2018, Senate Bill 1205 went into effect, adding new requirements to the California Health and Safety Code. The legislation mandates that every fire department or fire protection district annually report to its administering authority on its compliance with State-mandated fire inspection requirements. •SB 1205 further requires the administering authority to formally acknowledge receipt of this compliance report through a resolution or other official action. The report must be presented when the administering authority considers its annual budget or at another time determined by that authority. 8/31/2026
2 RiversideCA.gov/Fire3
BACKGROUND •The passage of Senate Bill 1205 in 2018 was driven in part by concerns raised following the 2016 Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, which resulted in 36 fatalities and revealed significant gaps in local fire inspection programs, documentation, and oversight. •Subsequent investigations found that many jurisdictions across the state were not consistently completing or tracking State-mandated annual fire inspections, and governing bodies were not routinely informed of inspection compliance. •SB 1205 was enacted to address these deficiencies by requiring fire departments to annually report their inspection compliance to their administering authority and requiring the authority to formally acknowledge receipt of that report. •This legislation was intended to increase transparency, improve accountability, and prevent tragedies stemming from uninspected or unsafe occupancies.
RiversideCA.gov/Fire4
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION•The Fire Prevention Division is staffed with a total of 21 personnel who support the City of Riverside Fire Department’s life safety mission. •The Division is led by one Fire Marshal and supported by two Deputy Fire Marshals who oversee core programs and operational functions. •Technical plan review services are provided by two Fire Plan Check Engineers •Field inspection and fire Code enforcement activities are carried out by twelve Fire Inspectors assigned across various inspection programs.•Four Administrative Support staff provide essential clerical, customer service, and program coordination functions necessary for daily operations. 8/31/2026
3 RiversideCA.gov/Fire5
REQUIRED INSPECTIONS The Fire Department achieved 100 percent completion in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4, which totals 2,745 inspections completed.•High-Rise Occupancies: 11 occupancies.•E Occupancies: Public schools, private schools, daycares – 167 occupancies.•R OccupanciesR-1 Hotels and motels, Apartments, condominiums - 2545 occupancies.•Correction Occupancies: Jails, Detention Facilities - 1 occupancy.•Care Occupancies: Residential Care Facilities, hospitals, healthcare – 32 occupancies.
RiversideCA.gov/Fire6
ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS Along with an additional 19,560 inspections listed below, for a grand total of 22,305inspections completed.•Defensible Space: 13,091 Completed / 94 Violations Notices•Annual Fire & Life Safety: 4,948 Completed•AB-38 Inspections110 Completed •Hazardous Materials Inspections: 1,411 Completed 8/31/2026
4 RiversideCA.gov/Fire7
RECOMMENDATIONSThat the City Council receive and file the Riverside City Fire Department’s Annual Fire Inspection Compliance Report, confirming the Department’s compliance with the State-mandated annual inspection requirements for identified occupancies pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4.
RiversideCA.gov/Fire8
QUESTIONS Questions & Council Discussion