6 1. Multi-Unit Residential Building Requirements. In all multi-unit residential buildings (e.g., apartments, townhomes, dormitories), the following additional requirements apply:
a. Common Charging Areas - If the property provides or permits battery charging in a shared garage or storage area, it must include:
1. Posted signage stating: “Micromobility Device Battery Charging Area – UL-Listed Equipment Required. No
Charging in Sleeping Rooms or Near Exits. Unattended
Charging Discouraged.”
2. At least one 10 lb. ABC fire extinguisher within 50 feet of the charging location
b. Tenant Notification - Property managers or landlords must notify residents of this section at lease signing or renewal, and display signage in common areas.
c. Inspection Authority - The Fire Department is authorized to inspect and enforce this section within any multi-family residential occupancy and may require removal of noncompliant batteries or equipment if deemed an immediate fire hazard.
d. The Fire Code Official may approve alternate methods or equipment that provide equivalent or greater levels of safety.
Exemption: This section does not apply to:
1. Devices powered solely by alkaline or sealed lead-acid batteries,
2. Medical mobility devices (e.g., electric wheelchairs) that comply with manufacturer safety standards
3. Short-term charging of emergency backup battery systems as permitted by the California Fire Code.
D. Section 324 – Fire and Life Safety Standards for Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes Used as Primary Residences. Section 324 is added to the California Fire Code read as follows:
324 Fire and Life Safety Standards for Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes Used as Primary Residences.
1. Applicability. To enhance fire and life safety protections for small-format dwellings, the City of Woodland adopts the following requirements for manufactured homes and tiny homes used as primary residences. These requirements address gaps in current building and fire codes by ensuring consistent access, suppression, and construction standards for long-term residential use.
2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definition applies:
7 a. Primary residence means a dwelling unit used or intended to be used as the legal residence of the owner or occupant for more than 183 days in any calendar year. This includes any one- or two-family dwelling, manufactured home, or tiny home that serves as the main living quarters for the owner, a tenant, or a long-term occupant.
b. A tiny home is defined as a residential structure intended for permanent or semi-permanent occupancy, with a total floor area of 400 square feet or less, excluding lofts. Tiny homes may be site-built, prefabricated, manufactured, or converted from alternative materials such as shipping containers (Connex boxes), park model RVs, modular units, converted buses (skoolies), or tiny homes on wheels. Regardless of the construction type, the structure must be designed as a single housekeeping unit with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
3. Scope. This section applies to all new manufactured homes and tiny homes placed, constructed, installed, or relocated within the City of Woodland for use as a primary residence, regardless of foundation type, wheel status, or classification under state or federal housing regulations. These standards apply to:
a. All newly installed manufactured or tiny homes on wheels used as a primary residence.
b. Existing units that are relocated, newly connected to utilities, or undergoing an occupancy change.
c. Units in areas governed by local fire access and water supply regulations.
4. Fire Sprinkler Requirements. All manufactured and tiny homes defined as primary residences shall be protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13D.
a. Installation must be performed by a California State licensed C-16 contractor.
b. Plans shall be reviewed and approved by the Fire Department. c. The system must pass final inspection and functional testing before occupancy.
5. Exterior Materials. All exterior walls and roofing materials shall be constructed using non-combustible or ignition-resistant materials. Acceptable materials include, but are not limited to:
a. Fiber cement board, stucco, masonry, metal siding, treated wood, and other fire-resistant materials.
b. Roof coverings shall meet or exceed Class B fire rating.
6. Clearance and Site Safety. A minimum 5-foot clearance zone shall be maintained around the structure. Within this zone:
a. Combustible ground coverings (e.g., bark, mulch, straw) are prohibited. b. Dry vegetation and refuse shall be cleared and maintained.
8 c. Wood fences must be separated from the building by noncombustible material or offset.
7. Addressing and Emergency Access.
a. All new buildings shall have clearly visible address numbers, contrasting with the background, with minimum character height of 4 inches and stroke width of 0.5 inches. Address numbers shall be internally or externally illuminated.
1. Buildings accessed from private driveways or not visible from a public street shall have additional address signage posted at the road entrance.
b. Driveways or fire access routes shall:
1. Be at least 16 feet wide with 13 feet 6 inches vertical clearance.
2. Be all-weather and support emergency vehicle loads of at least 80,000 pounds.
3. Remain clear of vegetation, fences, or other obstructions.
8. Homes Constructed on Permanent Wheels. To ensure consistent fire and life safety standards, the following requirements apply to all manufactured homes and tiny homes constructed on permanent wheels when used as primary residences within the City of Woodland:
a. Foundation Pad Requirement: All manufactured homes and tiny homes on wheels intended for permanent or long-term residential use shall be placed on a reinforced concrete pad no less than 4 inches thick, large enough to fully support the base of the structure. The pad must provide a stable, non- combustible, all-weather surface.
b. Skirting and Concealment: The underside of the unit, including wheels, axles, and chassis, shall be fully enclosed with approved skirting or perimeter screening to provide visual concealment and reduce fire hazards from accumulated debris and combustible materials.
1. Skirting shall allow for adequate ventilation as required by code but shall prevent entry of debris and combustible storage beneath the unit.
2. Access panels for maintenance must be included and properly secured.
3. Approved Skirting Materials. Skirting shall be constructed of durable, fire-resistant, or non-combustible materials, such as:
a. Cement fiberboard
b. Metal panels
c. Fire-rated treated wood
d. Other approved exterior-rated material
4. Vinyl or plastic skirting is not permitted unless specifically listed and approved for permanent residential use by the Building Official or Fire Marshal.
9 9. Defensible Space and Clearance. A minimum 5-foot defensible space must be maintained around the entire perimeter of the home. This area shall remain clear of:
a. Combustible vegetation;
b. Stored materials;
c. Open flame sources; and,
d. Any structure or enclosure that would obstruct fire access.
E. Section 325 - Wrecking Yard Fire and Life Safety Requirements
Section 325 is added to the California Fire Code read as follows:
Section 325 Wrecking Yard Fire and Life Safety Requirements. This section applies to all wrecking yards, vehicle dismantling facilities, and similar outdoor storage or processing operations involving vehicles, parts, or fluids, regardless of whether the operation is conducted under a business license or permit.
1. NFPA 1 Compliance. All wrecking yards shall comply and be subject to the applicable sections as determined by the Fire Code Official contained within the most current version of NFPA 1, Chapter 22 – Automobile Wrecking Yards.
2. Fire Department Access and Water Supply.
a. Emergency access roads shall be provided throughout the yard at intervals no greater than 150 feet apart in any direction. Roads shall be kept clear of debris, vehicles, or materials at all times and maintained to support the weight of fire apparatus (80,000 lbs. min.).
b. Fire department access gates shall be equipped with Knox® access systems and shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide.
c. Where required by the Fire Code Official, an on-site water supply capable of supporting fire-fighting operations (hydrants, water tanks, or standpipes) shall be provided.
3. Fire Hazards and Combustible Material Management.
a. Wrecking yards shall maintain a minimum 20-foot clearance between vehicle stacks or storage areas and all property lines, buildings, and public rights-of-way.
b. Open flame, hot work, or cutting torches shall not be used within 25 feet of combustible materials, stacked vehicles, or fuel- containing components, unless specifically permitted and protected by non-combustible shields and fire watch personnel.
c. Fuel tanks and other flammable or combustible liquid containers shall be drained and removed from vehicles prior to storage or processing.
10 d. Weed abatement and general yard maintenance shall be conducted year-round to prevent accumulation of dry vegetation, trash, or flammable debris.
4. Hazardous Materials and Waste Fluid Handling.
a. All fluids (fuel, oil, transmission, brake, antifreeze) shall be drained into approved secondary containment containers and disposed of per state hazardous waste laws.
b. Spills shall be cleaned up immediately and reported if quantities exceed reportable thresholds.
c. A Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) and appropriate permits shall be maintained on site if required by state law or Yolo County Environmental Health.
d. Outdoor fluid storage is prohibited, except in covered and secured containment areas approved by the Fire Code Official.
5. Fire Protection Systems and Signage
a. Fire extinguishers shall be provided throughout the yard at intervals not to exceed 75 feet of travel distance. Extinguishers shall be a minimum 4A:40BC rating and serviced annually. b. All hot work areas shall be posted with “NO SMOKING / HOT WORK IN PROGRESS” signage.
c. A yard diagram showing emergency access roads, extinguishers, fuel drain areas, fluid storage, and emergency shutoffs shall be kept posted and available for inspection.
6. Inspections. All wrecking yards are subject to annual fire inspections and may be inspected at any time for compliance with this section.
F. Section 504 – Access to Building Openings and Roofs
Section 504.5 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
Section 504.5 Access Walkways. The Woodland Fire Department may require the construction of such walkways depending upon site conditions or project parameters. These conditions include, but are not limited to, building use or occupancy, topography, vegetation, and surface conditions. Design professionals must carefully consider these issues when developing a project site.
1. Access walkways must be provided to all required egress doors from a building, all firefighter access doorways in buildings with high-piled storage, and the area beneath each rescue window in “R” occupancies, at a minimum.
Access walkways will typically be required around the entire perimeter of a structure to facilitate control of a fire through any other available openings.
2. Access walkways must be a minimum of five feet in width.
11 3. Access walkways shall consist of a surface that lends itself to safe use during building evacuation, firefighting, and rescue efforts. Solid surface walkways such as concrete or asphalt are preferable, though alternative surfaces such as decomposed granite (DG), gravel, or grass may also be permissible. Ground covers and shrubs that prevent or impede laddering of structures are not permitted to be planted within access walkways.
4. Where the grade itself presents a slip or fall hazard, an access walkway with a slip-resistant surface and/or stairway must be provided.
Section 504.6 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
Section 504.6 Floor Level Identification in Stairwells. All commercial structures with three (3) or more stories above or below grade, including office buildings, hotels, educational facilities, mixed-use occupancies, and similar uses as determined by the Fire Code Official, a reflective floor number shall be affixed to the bottom 18 inches of the stairwell side of each door, centered horizontally or as approved by the Fire Code Official, and visible to approaching firefighters from within the stairwell.
1. On the underside (hinge side) of every door leading from a stair enclosure into each floor level, the building owner shall install reflective floor level identification numbers that:
a. Minimum of six inches (6") in height.
b. Stroke width of at least ¾ inch.
c. Constructed of durable, weather-resistant, high-intensity reflective material.
d. Contrast sharply with the background color of the door surface. e. Clearly indicate the floor level using Arabic numerals (e.g., “1”, “2”, “3”, “B1”).
2. Floor identification markings shall be maintained in a clean, legible, and reflective condition at all times. Damaged or obscured markings shall be replaced immediately.
G. Section 505 – Premise Identification
Section 505.1 is amended to read as follows:
505.1 Address Identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. Approved numbers or addresses shall be placed on the front elevation of all new or existing buildings in such a position that is plainly visible and legible from the street or road on which the property is addressed. Addresses shall not be located where they have the potential of being obstructed by signs, awnings, vegetation, or other building/site elements. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out.
Each character shall be not less than 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width
12 of 1/2 inch for one- and two-family residential buildings. Each character shall be not less than 12 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch for commercial and multi-family buildings up to 25 feet in height. Address numbers must be a minimum of 24 inches when the building exceeds 25 feet in height.
Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. An address monument at the vehicle entrance or other location clearly visible and legible from the public road may be provided in lieu of an address on the structure where only a single building with a single street address is present and no other structures are accessible from the fire apparatus access road serving that structure.
Address identification shall be maintained.
Section 505.1.1 is added to read as follows:
Section 505.1.1 Internal or External Illumination. Numbers for new buildings shall be internally or externally illuminated, to be visible at night. This requirement also applies to monuments. Reflective type numbers may be acceptable for a single lot residential development project, when specifically approved by the Fire Marshal or Community Risk Reduction staff.
Section 505.1.2 is added to read as follows:
Section 505.1.2 Multi-Unit Building Addressing. Suite/apartment 6-inch numbers/ letters shall be placed on or adjacent to the primary entrance for each suite/apartment and any other door providing access to fire department personnel during an emergency. Multiple residential and commercial units having entrance doors not visible from the street or road shall, in addition, have approved numbers grouped for all units within each structure and positioned to be plainly visible from the street or road.
Section 505.1.3 is added to read as follows:
Section 505.1.3 Multi-Building Clusters Addressing. Approved numbers or addresses shall be placed on the front elevation(s) of all buildings that form the cluster. If all building addresses are not clearly visible or legible from the public road serving the structures, an address monument shall also be provided at the entry point(s) to the site indicating the range of addresses accessible from that entrance.
H. Section 506 – Key Boxes
Section 506.1.1.1 is added to read as follows:
Section 506.1.1.1 Manually Operated Gates and Barriers. Manually operated gates and barriers across fire apparatus access roads shall have Knox padlocks, or weather-resistant Knox key boxes. The key box shall be placed four to five feet above the road surface at the right side of the access gate in a conspicuous
13 location that is readily visible and accessible. The key box must be clearly labeled “FIRE DEPT.”
Section 506.1.1.2 is added to read as follows:
Section 506.1.1.2 Electrically Operated Gates and Barriers. The gate control for electronic gates across fire apparatus access roads shall be operable by a Knox emergency override key switch (with dust cover). The key switch shall be placed between 42” and 48” above the road surface at the right side of the access gate within two feet of the edge of the road. The key switch shall be readily visible and unobstructed from the fire lane leading to the gate. The key switch shall be clearly labeled “FIRE DEPT.”
1. Upon activation of the key switch, the gate shall open and remain open until returned to normal operation by means of the key switch. Where a gate consists of two leaves, the key switch shall open both simultaneously if operation of a single leaf on the ingress side does not provide for the width, turning radii, or setbacks necessary for fire apparatus to navigate the vehicle entry point. Note this requirement on the plan.
2. The key switch shall be labeled with a permanent red sign with not less than ½” contrasting letters reading “FIRE DEPT” or with a “Knox” decal. Note this requirement on the plan.
Section 506.1.1.3 is added to read as follows:
Section 506.1.1.3 Motorized Gates and Barriers. New motorized gates across fire apparatus access roads shall also be equipped with Click-To-Enter to allow emergency response personnel to remotely open the gate when the emergency vehicle approaches the gate. The receiver shall be located to maximize signal reception from an approaching Woodland Fire Department apparatus. Devices shall be compatible with Woodland Fire Department preemption devices. A functional test of the automatic opening equipment, witnessed by Woodland Fire Department is required prior to final acceptance.
Section 506.1.1.4 is added to read as follows:
Section 506.1.1.4 Pedestrian Gates. Electromagnetically or electromechanically locked pedestrian gates and doors shall be equipped either with a Knox box containing a key to open the lock or, if the door lock cannot be operated with a key from the exterior, a Knox key switch shall be provided adjacent to the door.
Where key switches are provided, the door or gate lock shall remain disengaged until the key switch is returned to the “normal” closed or locked position.
I. Section 506.3 – Key Access Requirements for Gated Residential Occupancies.
Section 506.3 is added to read as follows:
506.3 Key Access Requirements for Gated Residential Occupancies.
14 1. Applicability. To ensure prompt emergency access and minimize property damage during response, the following requirements apply to secured or gated residential occupancies, including licensed care facilities and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). This section applies to the following occupancy types where access to the primary entrance is restricted by a locked gate, fence, or other secured barrier:
a. Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs), including licensed Board and Care occupancies.
b. Licensed residential group homes or facilities under the authority of the California Department of Social Services.
c. ADUs or Junior ADUs on parcels where gated or fenced access prevents emergency personnel from reaching the unit’s main entrance without forcible entry.
d. Any residential property where locked vehicle or pedestrian gates serve as the only access to the dwelling or sleeping areas.
Exceptions. This requirement does not apply to:
1. Single-family homes without ADUs or care services.
2. Properties where access is not restricted by a locked gate or barrier.
3. ADUs that are accessible via the main house entrance or shared open yard.
2. Knox Box Requirements.
a. Installation. A residential Knox Box® key access box shall be:
1. Permanently mounted near the primary pedestrian access gate or point of entry.
2. Installed at a height of 5 feet above grade in a clearly visible, unobstructed location.
3. Accessible without requiring passage through additional locked or secured areas.
b. Contents. The box shall contain:
1. Labeled keys or gate access devices for any locked pedestrian or vehicle gate.
2. Any fob, remote, or keypad code needed to open automatic or electrically controlled gates.
c. Approval and Registration
1. The Knox Box model and placement shall be approved by the Fire Department prior to installation.
2. Owners shall register the box and access contents with the Woodland Fire Department at time of installation and update this information if changed.
d. Gate Compliance. Electrically operated gates must also meet UL 325 and ASTM F2200 standards and include a manual override device accessible through the Knox Box.
15 3. Enforcement. The Fire Code Official is authorized to order installation at any property where delayed access has impeded or could reasonably impede emergency response.
J. Section 508 – Fire Command Center
Section 508.2 is added to read as follows:
508.2 Fire control room for new commercial buildings. All new commercial buildings not addressed in 508.1 shall be provided with a Fire Control Room, conforming to the specifications set forth in 508.2.1 through 508.2.6. 508.2.1 Location and access. The location and access to the fire command center shall be approved by the Fire Code Official. 508.2.2 Equipment. Fire Control Rooms shall contain only fire system control valves, fire alarm control panels and other related fire system equipment. Storage of other materials is prohibited. “NO STORAGE” signs shall be posted.
508.2.3 Dimensions. Fire Control Rooms shall have minimum dimensions of five feet by seven feet. Fire Control Rooms housing fire pumps shall be a dedicated room/house that is large enough to house the fire pump and associated equipment.
508.2.4 Fire rating. Fire Control Rooms shall be constructed with a one- hour fire rating.
508.2.5 Access. Fire Control Rooms shall be provided with an exterior access door approved by the Fire Code Official. A Knox Box mounted on the exterior at 5 feet on center adjacent to Fire Control Room door is required.
508.2.6 Signage. Durable signage shall be provided on the exterior side of the access door. Full-size doors clearly marked “Fire Control Room” / “Fire Riser Room” in a contrasting color.
K. Section 511 – Fire Department Access and Water Supply for One- and Two- Family Dwellings. Section 511 is added to read as follows:
511 Fire Department Access and Water Supply for One- and Two-Family Dwellings.
1. Applicability. To ensure sufficient emergency response capability, the City of Woodland establishes the following minimum requirements for fire department access and fire protection water supplies for all new one-
16 and two-family dwellings, additions thereto, and associated accessory structures. This section applies to the construction proposed on parcels containing no more than two buildings and no more than three dwelling units, including any number of accessory structures.
2. Fire Apparatus Access – New Dwellings.
a. Fire apparatus access roads shall extend to within 150 feet of all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of the structure, measured by an approved route.
1. For buildings protected by automatic fire sprinklers, this distance may be extended to 300 feet.
b. The minimum fire access driving surface shall be:
1. 12 feet wide, exclusive of shoulders
2. 14 feet total horizontal clearance, including 1 foot on each side
3. 13 feet 6 inches vertical clearance
4. Maximum grade: 16%
5. Maximum cross slope: 2.5%
c. Turnarounds:
1. Required for driveways exceeding 150 feet in length
2. Minimum turning radius: 38 feet outside or 80-foot hammerhead turnaround
3. Maximum cross slope in turnarounds: 5%
d. Turnouts:
1. Required if the driveway exceeds 150 feet
2. Additional turnouts every 400 feet for driveways over 800 feet
3. Turnout must be 12 feet wide by 30 feet long, with 25-foot tapers e. Bridges and Elevated Surfaces:
1. Must meet fire access load and safety standards and be properly maintained
f. Gates:
1. Minimum clear width: 14 feet
2. Gates shall be set back a minimum of 30 feet from the public right- of-way
3. Electric gates must be operable by a Knox® key switch
4. Manually operated gates must be secured with an approved Knox® lock or key box
3. Water Supply – New Dwellings
a. New one- and two-family dwellings shall comply with California Fire Code Section 507, including confirmation of available fire flow and hydrant placement per the adopted appendices.
b. Acceptable water sources include:
1. Existing public hydrants
2. Approved private water tanks
3. Other sources approved by the Fire Code Official
4. Additions to Existing Dwellings.
a. Access: Additions up to 1,000 square feet are exempt from additional fire access requirements provided:
17 1. The building and addition are protected by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system, or
2. The parcel will not exceed two total dwelling units
b. Water Supply:
1. Additions up to 600 square feet are exempt from fire flow confirmation
2. Additions up to 1,000 square feet are exempt if they do not increase the required fire flow and either:
a. There is an existing private water tank on site, or
b. A public or private hydrant is located within 1,000 feet of all exterior ground-floor walls
5. Accessory Structures.
a. Access:
1. Accessory structures up to 600 square feet are exempt from additional access if located within 150 feet of an existing approved driveway
2. Structures must maintain a minimum 10-foot separation from other buildings unless otherwise approved
b. Water Supply:
1. Structures up to 600 square feet are exempt from water supply confirmation
2. Structures up to 50% of the size of the largest building on the parcel are exempt from fire flow confirmation if either:
a. There is a private water tank, or
b. A hydrant is within 1,000 feet of all exterior walls
6. Fire Sprinkler Requirement for Accessory Structures
a. If the main residence or primary structure on the parcel is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system, then all additional and accessory structures constructed on the same parcel shall also be equipped with an approved NFPA 13-D fire sprinkler system, regardless of the size or intended use of the accessory structure.
7. Premises Identification
a. All new buildings shall have clearly visible address numbers, contrasting with the background, with a minimum character height of 4 inches and stroke width of 0.5 inches. Address numbers shall be internally or externally illuminated.
b. Buildings accessed from private driveways or not visible from a public street shall have additional address signage posted at the road entrance.
8. Plan Approval. All access and water supply plans must be reviewed and approved by the Fire Department. Final roadway construction plans, including grading, surfacing, and erosion control measures, must be stamped and signed by a California-licensed civil engineer.
L. Section 512 – Fire Lane Markings and Access Requirements for Multi-Unit Residential Lots. Section 512 is added to read as follows:
18 512 Fire Lane Markings and Access Requirements for Multi-Unit Residential Lots.
1. Applicability. To ensure emergency vehicle access and protect public safety, the following standards apply to all shared private roadways, drive aisles, and internal circulation roads serving multi-family residential or clustered residential developments. This section applies to all new or existing residential developments with:
a. Two or more dwelling units on a single parcel, or
b. Multiple parcels with shared access roadways or drive aisles, including apartments, duplexes, townhomes, mobile home parks, and clustered single-family homes.
2. Parking Restrictions Based on Roadway Width. The following parking restrictions shall apply based on the clear, unobstructed width of the shared access roadway:
a. Less than 28 feet wide
1. No parking allowed on either side
2. Both curbs (or roadway edges) shall be painted red and marked “FIRE LANE – NO PARKING” at intervals not exceeding 75 feet.
3. Signage stating "NO PARKING – FIRE LANE" shall be posted every 75 feet on both sides of the roadway.
b. 28 feet to 35 feet wide
1. Parking allowed on one side only
2. The non-parking side shall be painted red and marked “FIRE LANE – NO PARKING.”
3. Fire lane signage shall be posted every 75 feet on the restricted side.
4. The side on which parking is permitted shall be clearly designated by signage or curb markings.
c. 36 feet or greater
1. Parking allowed on both sides
2. No fire lane signage or red curbing required unless otherwise designated by the Fire Department.
d. Two-Lane, Two-Way Roadways
1. If parking is allowed on both sides, the roadway must be at least 40 feet wide measured curb to curb or edge to edge.
3. Unobstructed Access Width and Vertical Clearance
a. Unobstructed Width. Fire apparatus access roads shall be maintained free of obstructions, parked vehicles, or encroachments that reduce the clear width below the minimum required for emergency response.
b. Required clear widths must be always maintained, regardless of signage, striping, or parking patterns.
4. Vertical Clearance. An unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches shall be maintained on all fire access roads.
a. Trees, balconies, awnings, or other features shall not encroach into this vertical space.
19 5. Enforcement. The Fire Code Official is authorized to require fire lane markings on existing roadways where:
a. Access is frequently obstructed, or
b. Emergency response has been impaired due to limited roadway width.
M. Section 903.1 – Automatic Sprinkler Systems—General. Section 903.1 is amended to read as follows:
903.1 General. Automatic sprinkler systems shall comply with this section and the following:
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in the occupancies and locations set forth in this Chapter and in the locations and according to the conditions described below:
(1) In all buildings other than Group R, Division 2, 3 and 4 in which the total floor area of all floors is 3,599 square feet or more, or any building which are three or more stories regardless of height.
Exceptions:
1. Group U occupancies, not including private garages attached to R-3 Occupancies.
2. In storage and bulk handling facilities for grain, including grain elevators and flat storage buildings, automatic fire sprinklers shall not be required in areas where the grain is stored, provided:
a. An automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler system is not otherwise required for code compliance;
b. The floor area of the building or structure does not exceed the maximum basic allowable floor area permitted for specific types of construction as specified in Table 504.3 of the California Building Code and including the allowable increases for clear yard spaces as specified in the California Building Code; and
c. The construction of the building or structure complies with all other code provisions for the properly assigned group occupancy classification and type of construction.
20 (2) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the requirement described in this Section 903.1 shall be applied to alterations, repairs, additions and changes of occupancy of existing buildings as follows:
a. Where there is no change of occupancy, alterations or repairs not increasing fire area, total height, or number of stories of an existing building may be made without making the entire building comply with this section.
b. No change shall be made in the character of the occupancy or use of any existing building or structure unless the entire building or structure is made to comply with this section.
Exceptions:
1. The character of the occupancy of existing buildings may be changed subject to the approval of the building official and the approval of the fire chief, and the building may be occupied for purposes in other occupancy groups without conforming to all the requirements of this section or the California Building Code for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is not more hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the existing use.
2. No change in the character of occupancy of a building shall be made without a certificate of occupancy, as required by California Building Code. The building official may issue a certificate of occupancy pursuant to the intent of the above exception without certifying that the building complies with all provisions of this section and provisions of the California Building Code.
(3) In other areas and occupancies as required in Section 903 of the California Building Code.
N. Section 903.3.1.3.1 – NFPA 13D Sprinkler Systems. Section 903.3.1.3.1 is added to read as follows:
903.3.1.3.1 NFPA 13D Sprinkler Systems.
1. Applicability. This section shall apply to all new one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses, and mobile homes constructed within the City of
21 Woodland that are equipped with a residential fire sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13D.
2. Spare Head Box Requirements.
a. All residential fire sprinkler systems shall be provided with a listed spare sprinkler head box.
b. The box shall contain at least two (2) spare sprinkler heads of each type and temperature rating used in the installed system. c. A sprinkler head wrench compatible with the installed sprinkler heads shall be included in the box.
d. The spare head box shall be clearly labeled and installed in a readily accessible location near the main sprinkler riser, subject to approval by the Fire Department.
3. Owner Responsibility. Property owners shall be responsible for maintaining the spare head box in good condition. Any used or missing sprinkler heads shall be replaced without delay.
4. Enforcement. This section shall be enforced by the Fire Department at the time of final inspection and as part of any ongoing maintenance inspections, if applicable.
O. Section 903.4.3 – Alarms. Section 903.4.3 is amended to read as follows:
Section 903.4.3 – Alarms.
One exterior approved audible device, located on the exterior of the building in an approved location, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler waterflow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system.
Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system. Visible alarm notification appliances shall not be required except when required by Section 907.
This section shall apply to all automatic fire sprinkler systems, including those installed in one- and two-family dwellings.
P. Section 903.4.3.1 – Residential Alarms. Section 903.4.3.1 is added to read as follows:
903.4.3.1 Residential Alarms.
1. Waterflow Alarm and Notification for NFPA 13D Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems. All NFPA 13D residential fire sprinkler systems installed within Group R-3 and R-3.1 occupancies shall include waterflow detection and local notification in accordance with the provisions outlined below:
22 a. A listed waterflow switch shall be installed and connected to the sprinkler system to detect the flow of water indicating sprinkler activation.
b. Activation of the waterflow switch shall trigger a local notification appliance consisting of a listed horn/strobe installed in a location approved by the Fire Department.
c. The horn/strobe shall meet all the following criteria:
1. Be listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
2. Be approved by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal.
3. Be audible throughout the main living areas of the dwelling.
4. Be visible from an exterior access point, such as the front porch or garage, where approved by the Authority Having
Jurisdiction.
d. The notification appliance shall be powered by the building’s electrical system and equipped with a battery backup or other approved secondary power source.
e. A durable sign shall be posted at the riser location stating: “This residence is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system and local waterflow alarm. In the event of alarm activation, evacuate and call 911.”
2. The location of the waterflow switch, notification appliance, and signage shall be clearly shown on all plan submittals and verified during field inspection.
Q. Section 1207.11.2.1.2 – Disconnect Location. Section 1207.11.2.1.2 is added to read as follows:
1207.11.2.1.2 Disconnect Location.
1. All new residential energy storage system (ESS) installations shall include a clearly labeled, manually operated emergency disconnect switch that isolates the ESS from the electrical system prior to the batteries. This disconnect shall be installed in accordance with manufacturer specifications, the California Electrical Code, and California Fire Code, and shall meet the following requirements:
a. The emergency disconnect shall be located on the exterior of the structure and shall be easily and readily accessible to both occupants and first responders.
b. ESS disconnects to be installed at a safe distance from the battery itself, typically 10 to 15 feet away.
c. The disconnect shall interrupt power before the batteries to allow for complete system isolation during emergencies.
23 d. The disconnect shall be mounted at a height of 5 feet on center above finished grade, measured to the center of the operating handle.
e. The disconnect shall be in a clear and unobstructed path of travel from the front of the residence and shall not require people to pass by or through the ESS installation location to access it. f. The disconnect shall be clearly labeled with a durable sign stating:
g. "ESS EMERGENCY DISCONNECT – TURN OFF IN CASE OF
FIRE OR EMERGENCY" The sign shall have letters at least 1 inch in height, be reflective or contrasting in color, and be weather- resistant.
h. The location of the disconnect shall be shown on all plan submittals, including one-line diagrams and site plans, and shall be verified during field inspection. The mounted location of the ESS battery unit shall also be indicated on the diagram placard affixed to the electrical service panel or disconnect enclosure, as required by the California Fire Code and Fire Department standards.
Exception: This requirement does not apply to ESS units that incorporate an integral, clearly labeled, and readily accessible manual shutdown switch that isolates the battery from the electrical system—provided the switch is located on the exterior of the unit, meets the accessibility and labeling requirements of this section, and is approved by the Fire Code Official.
R. Section 1207.11.6.1 – Fire Detection. Section 1207.11.6.1 is added to read as follows:
1207.11.6.1 Fire Detection.
1. Energy storage systems (ESS) installed in unfinished and unconditioned spaces in Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies shall comply with the requirements of the California Fire Code Section 1207.11.6, as well as the additional provisions outlined below:
a. Rooms and areas within dwelling units, sleeping units, basements, permitted enclosed spaces, and attached garages in which ESS are installed shall be protected by smoke alarms in accordance with Section 907.2.11 of the California Fire Code.
b. A listed heat alarm, interconnected to the smoke alarms, shall be installed in any location within dwelling units, sleeping units, or
24 attached garages where smoke alarms cannot be installed based on their listing.
c. Heat alarms shall meet all of the following criteria:
1. Be listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
2. Be approved by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal.
3. Be rated and permitted for the type of installation. In unconditioned and unfinished spaces, the ambient
temperature rating for the heat alarm shall be listed by the manufacturer as 135°F or higher.
d. The location of all required smoke alarms and heat alarms shall be shown on plan submittals and verified during field inspection.
S. Section 2306.2.3 – Above-ground tanks located outside, above grade.
Section 2306.2.3 is amended to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
2306.2.3 Above-ground tanks located outside, above grade.
Above-ground tanks used for automotive fuel dispensing stations open to the public for retail sales of Class I, II or IIIA liquid motor fuels shall not exceed two tanks totaling 2,000 gallons each..
T. Section 2308.3.2 – Established limits and maximum capacity.
Section 2308.3.2 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
2308.3.2 Established limits and maximum capacity. The storage of compressed natural gases shall be limited to those zoning districts designated and authorized by the City through its zoning ordinances. Such storage is prohibited in all other zoning districts.
U. Section 5301.1.1 – Established limits and maximum capacity.
Section 5301.1.1 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
5301.1.1 Established limits and maximum capacity. The storage of compressed natural gases shall be limited to those zoning districts designated and authorized by the City through its zoning ordinances. Such storage is prohibited in all other zoning districts.
V. Section 5601.9 – Prohibited and Limited Acts.
Section 5601.9 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
25 5601.9 Prohibited and Limited Acts. Storage of explosive materials shall be limited to those zoning districts designated and authorized by the City through its zoning ordinances. Such storage is prohibited in all other zoning districts.
W. Section 5706.4.5.1 – Established limits.
Section 5706.4.5.1 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
5706.4.5.1 Established limits. Bulk plants or terminals for receiving or storage of flammable or combustible liquids shall be limited to those zoning districts designated and authorized by the City through its zoning ordinances. Such facilities are prohibited in all other zoning districts.
X. Section 5706.5.1.1.1 – Established limits.
Section 5706.5.1.1.1 is added to read as follows:
5706.5.1.1.1 Established limits. Bulk transfer and process transfer operations for receiving or transferring flammable or combustible liquids shall be limited to those zoning districts designated and authorized by the City through its zoning ordinances. Such operations are prohibited in all other zoning districts.
Y. Appendix D – Fire Apparatus Access Roads
Section D102.1 of the California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:
D102.1 Access and loading. Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, concrete or other approved driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing up to 80,000 pounds.
Section D103.5 of the California Fire Code is amended as follows:
1. Item 1 is amended as follows: Where a single gate is provided, the gate width shall be not less than 24 feet. Where a fire apparatus road consists of a divided roadway, the gate width shall be not less than 14 feet.
Item 9 is added to read as follows:
9. For gates and barriers that are not used on a frequent basis or those that are located such that they have a reasonable likelihood of being blocked by vehicles, vegetation, furniture, or other obstructions (e.g., secondary fire department vehicle ingress/egress points, gates accessed from plazas), permanent signage constructed of 18-gauge steel or equivalent shall be attached on each face of the gate or barrier that reads “FIRE LANE—NO PARKING.”
Section D106.1 of the California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:
26 D106.1 Projects having more than 36 dwelling units. Multiple-family residential projects having more than 36 dwelling units shall be equipped throughout with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.
Z. Division II – Administration.
Chapter 1, Division II - Administration is hereby amended as follows:
1. Section 101.1 is amended to read as follows:
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Woodland, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”
2. Section 108.1 is amended to read as follows:
108.1 Fees. A permit shall not be issued until the fees have been paid, nor shall an amendment to a permit be released until the additional fee, if any, has been paid.
The Fire Marshal or their designee shall have the authority to issue late fee penalties for overdue fire operational permits, construction fire permits, and inspection-related invoices. Late fees shall be assessed based on the duration of nonpayment as follows: thirty (30) days past due = $30 late fee; sixty (60) days past due = an additional $60 late fee; ninety (90) days past due = an additional $90 late fee. For invoices one hundred twenty (120) days past due or greater, an additional $100 late fee shall be applied for every 30-day period that the invoice remains unpaid beyond 120 days. These fees are cumulative and shall continue to accrue until full payment is received. Failure to remit payment, including all applicable late fees, may result in suspension or revocation of active permits, withholding of future permit approvals or inspections, and initiation of administrative or legal enforcement actions as authorized under Chapter 9.20 of the Woodland Municipal Code.
Section 113.4 is amended to read as follows:
113.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate any provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall subject the violator to any or all of the following: suit for civil remedy or criminal penalty, or the administrative penalties provided in Chapter 9.20 of the Woodland Municipal Code.
The criminal penalty for the first offense shall be punishable as an infraction as defined by the California Penal Code, as amended from time to time. The criminal penalty for a second offense or more, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor as defined by the California Penal Code, as amended from time to time. Each day
27 that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the application of the administrative penalties provided in Chapter 9.20 of the Woodland Municipal Code.
SECTION 5. Amendment. Section 8.20.060 of the Woodland Municipal Code is hereby amended to read in full as follows:
Sec. 8.20.060. Citation Program - Issuance of Citations.
The Fire Marshal and designated members of the Community Risk Reduction Division of the Woodland Fire Department have the discretionary duty to enforce a statute or ordinance made pursuant to Sections 853.5 and 853.6 of the State Penal Code and subject to the provisions hereof.
A person may be arrested without a warrant whenever the Fire Marshal or designated members of the Community Risk Reduction Division have reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed, in their presence, a violation of a statute or ordinance, which he or she has the discretionary duty to enforce. The Fire Marshal or designated members of the Community Risk Reduction Division may issue a notice to appear and to release such a person on his or her written promise to appear in court pursuant to Sections 853.5 or 853.6 of the State Penal Code, as applicable.
The Fire Marshal and designated members of the Community Risk Reduction Division will be the designated officers of the Woodland Fire Department to exercise such arrest and citation authority as to specified violations.
The Chief of the Woodland Fire Department shall establish and cause to be administered a special enforcement training program designed to instruct those members of the fire department who will exercise such arrest and citation authority, regarding the provisions of the statutes and ordinances to be enforced, the evidentiary prerequisites to proper prosecution for violation thereof, the appropriate procedures for making arrests or otherwise prudently exercising such arrest and citation authority and the legal and practical ramifications and limitation attendant thereto.
The Fire Marshal and designated members of the Community Risk Reduction Division shall be appropriately instructed to deposit executed citations or notices within the appropriate agency for filing with the court after review for legal sufficiency.
SECTION 6. Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances. All former ordinances or portions of ordinances conflicting or inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance or of the California Fire Code, including applicable portions of Ordinance No. 1650, and any other ordinance in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
28 SECTION 7. Superseding Ordinances. No ordinance adopted after the adoption of this ordinance shall implicitly supersede or repeal any provision of this ordinance unless that ordinance expressly indicates an intention to do so.
SECTION 8. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase added by this Ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases are declared unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective.
SECTION 9. Publication. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause a summary thereof to be published in the Daily Democrat, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in the City of Woodland and County of Yolo, at least five (5) days prior to the meeting at which the proposed ordinance is to be adopted and shall post a certified copy of the proposed ordinance in the office of the City Clerk, and with fifteen (15) days of its adoption, shall cause a summary of it to be published, including the vote for and against the same, and shall post a certified copy of the adopted ordinance in the office of the City Clerk, in accordance with California Government Code Section 36933.
SECTION 10. CEQA. The City Council finds that the changes made to the Fire Code and Building Code are enacted to mitigate the threats posed to public peace, health and safety from earthquakes, high winds and fire. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that adoption of this Ordinance will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3. Staff are directed to file a notice of exemption within five (5) days of the adoption of this Ordinance.
SECTION 11. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon the latter thirty days after its adoption or January 1, 2026.
29 INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Woodland, California on the 21st day of October 2025 and PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Woodland at a regular meeting held on the 18 th day of November 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
________________________________
Rich Lansburgh, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Marissa Kersey, City Clerk Ethan Walsh, City Attorney
30 Exhibit A
Findings to Support Amendments to the
2025 Editions of the California Fire Code and California Building Code
This Exhibit A provides the express findings and determinations (where necessary pursuant to California Health & Safety Code Sections 17958, 17985.7 and/or 18941.5) justifying the City of Woodland’s amendments to the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code and the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code (codified in Title 24 of the California Building Standards Code) as reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geologic or topographic conditions.
CITY OF WOODLAND – PROFILE
The City of Woodland, incorporated in 1871, lies near the heart of the Great Central Valley of California. It is situated 18 miles to the West of the State Capitol in Sacramento and 81 miles Northeast of San Francisco. Woodland is the County Seat of Yolo County.
The City of Woodland encompasses an area of approximately 15.3 square miles with a population in excess of 61,032 based upon 2020 U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. The City of Woodland Fire Department, through a Contractual Agreement with the Springlake Fire Protection District, also provides fire protection for approximately 51 square miles of rural area surrounding the City, devoted principally to winter grain and summer row crop farming.
The City is the largest industrial area in Yolo County and has experienced a steady, well- planned growth. Woodland is also a key area for the many processing and service activities demanded by the extensive agricultural industries in the region.
Woodland is transcended by several major roadways including Interstate 5 and State Route 113. California Northern Railway maintains a major North-South rail link through Woodland while Yolo Shortline Railway also maintains a local spur line in town from Sacramento. Both rails and highways have created barriers within the town which have significantly affected emergency response routes.
31 Sec 8.20.040 Amendments to California Fire Code
Amendment
Section,
pursuant to
Ord. No.
___XXXX__
Fire Code
Section
Impacted
Subject of Amendment Justification
(see below
key to
justifications)
8.20.030 2308.3.2,
5301.1.1,
5806.2, 6104.2,
5601.9,
5704.2.9.6.1,
5706.5.1,
5706.5.1.1.1
Establish limits for storage, receiving, and
storage of hazardous materials
A, B, C
8.20.040(A) 202 Adds and amends definitions A, D
8.20.040(B) 307.1.1 Prohibits open burning A, D
8.20.040(C) 322.6 Multi-Unit Residential Building
Micromobility Battery Charging and Storage
Requirements
A
8.20.040(D) 324 Fire and Life Safety Standards for
Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes Used
as Primary Residences
A, B
8.20.040(E) Add 325 Wrecking Yard Fire and Life Safety
Requirements A, C
8.20.040(F) Adds 504.5,
Adds 504.6
Access to Building Openings and Roofs –
Access Walkways, Floor Level Identification
in Stairwells
C
8.20.040(G) 505.1,
adds 505.1.1,
adds 501.1.2,
adds 505.1.3
Amends address Identification, adds Internal
or External Illumination, Multi-Unit Building
Addressing, and Multi-Building Clusters
Addressing
C
8.20.040(H) 506,
adds 506.1.1.1,
adds 506.1.1.2,
adds 506.1.1.3,
adds 506.1.1.4,
Amends Key Boxes, adds Manually
Operated Gates and Barriers across Fire
Apparatus Access Roads, adds Electrically
Operated Gates and Barriers across Fire
Apparatus Access Roads, adds Motorized
Gates and Barriers across Fire Apparatus
Access Roads, adds Pedestrian Gates
C
8.20.040(I) 506.3 Key Access Requirements for Gated
Residential Occupancies A, B, C
8.20.040(J) 508.2 Fire Command Center A, B, D
32 8.20.040(K) 511 Fire Department Access and Water Supply for One- and Two-Family Dwellings A, C, D
8.20.040(L) 512 Fire Lane Markings and Access
Requirements for Multi-Unit Residential
Lots
C, D
8.20.040(M) 903.1 Regulations regarding installation of automatic sprinkler systems A, B, C
8.20.040(N) 903.3.1.3.1 NFPA 13D Sprinkler System – spare head box requirement B
8.20.040(O) 903.4.3 Removes fire sprinkler alarm exemption in one- and two- family dwellings A
8.20.040(P) 903.4.3.1 Residential Alarm Requirements C
8.20.040(Q) 1207.11.2.1.2 Residential ESS Disconnect Locations A, C
8.20.040(R) 1207.11.6.1 Residential ESS Fire Detection for unconditioned, unfinished spaces A, C
8.20.040(S) 2306.2.3 Use of above-ground tanks A, C
8.20.040(T) Add 2308.3.2 Establish location limits for storage of compressed natural gases A, C
8.20.040(U) Add 5301.1.1 Establish location limits for storage of compressed natural gases A, C
8.20.040(V) Add 5601.9 Establish limits regarding location and quantity of explosive materials stored A, B, C
8.20.040(W) Add 5706.4.5.1 Establish location limits for receiving and storing of flammable or combustible liquids A, C
8.20.040(X) Add
5706.5.1.1.1
Establish location limits for bulk and process
transfer operations of flammable or
combustible liquids
A, C
6112 Mobile Food Vendors Stored at Residential
Properties A, C
8.20.040(Y) Appendix D:
D102.1, D103.5,
D106.1
Amends Appendix D – Fire Apparatus
Access Roads C
8.20.040(Z) 101.1, 108.1,
112.4
Administration and Fees D
33 Justifications KEY: Findings to Support Amendments to California Fire Code and California Building Code
A. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The climate within the City of Woodland is characteristic of California’s Central Valley and creates conditions that significantly increase fire risk. Woodland receives an average of 20.7 inches of annual rainfall, with 89 percent of precipitation falling between November and April.
Winter storms produce the heaviest rainfall and are often accompanied by strong southerly winds with gusts reaching 45 miles per hour. During the summer months, the region experiences extended dry periods, including intermittent north winds that lower humidity to less than ten percent. These conditions, when combined with combustible construction such as non-rated wood shake and shingle roofs, create a heightened conflagration hazard.
Woodland averages 95 percent of possible daylight hours during the summer, contributing to consistently high summer temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s, and occasional record-setting highs such as 114°F recorded in June of 1961. Winters are mild, with lows in the mid-30s, though heavy fog may persist for days or weeks at a time, impacting visibility and emergency operations. Summer conditions are frequently accompanied by gusty winds, increasing the probability of rapidly spreading fires. These factors, when coupled with the use and storage of flammable and combustible liquids in the community, necessitate limiting high-hazard activities and requiring additional fire safety measures to reduce risk.
Vegetative growth in Woodland is another critical climatic factor. Following the rainy season, vegetation grows extensively during the spring and dries out each summer, creating a widespread source of fuel. Woodland is surrounded by farmland, and during the early summer grain harvest season, agricultural burning and stubble fires often occur at the very edge of residential neighborhoods. This agricultural-urban interface greatly increases the chance of a major conflagration if Red Flag conditions exist, such as low humidity and high winds. To address this risk, stronger requirements for vegetation management, restrictions on hazardous materials, and higher fire protection standards are necessary to prevent fuel accumulation and reduce the chance of fire spread.
The need for reduced fire area thresholds due to climatic conditions within Yolo County is also justified. Buildings located in portions of the City where combustible vegetation is present are at an increased risk of ignition and fire spread. Lowering the threshold for requiring automatic sprinkler systems in new construction and expanding requirements to include modular, mobile, manufactured, or multifamily manufactured homes provides additional life safety and property protection in Woodland’s unique climate. These systems are necessary because prolonged summer heat, high winds, and dry vegetation create conditions where fire growth is rapid and suppression resources may be delayed.
Finally, Woodland’s water supply adds another factor to its climatic conditions. The City relies primarily on treated Sacramento River water provided by the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency. In most years, this supply meets one hundred percent of demand; however, in dry years the allocation may be reduced, requiring supplemental groundwater pumping from
34 aquifer storage and recovery wells. This reliance on limited and potentially reduced water supply during drought conditions makes fire suppression more difficult. Fire safety measures that reduce fuel hazards and require enhanced protection are therefore directly tied to the need to conserve limited water resources during fire events.
For all of these reasons — extreme summer heat, strong winds, extended droughts, rapid vegetation growth, agricultural interface, combustible construction, and limited water supply — the City of Woodland finds that stricter fire protection requirements are reasonably necessary to address local climatic conditions.
B. GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
he City of Woodland lies in the heart of California’s Central Valley, approximately 18 miles west of the State Capitol in Sacramento. The region is one of the fastest growing in the state, and Woodland itself encompasses 15.3 square miles. Through a contractual agreement with the Springlake Fire Protection District, the Woodland Fire Department is also responsible for an additional 51 square miles of rural area. Because the agreement requires equal levels of service in both the City and the District, staffing and resources are heavily stressed when multiple incidents occur at the same time.
The 2018 Woodland Community Profile, prepared in partnership with the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services as part of the Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, identified flooding, earthquakes, and wildfire as the City’s top three risks. Woodland is located within an active seismic area and is subject to moderate to severe shaking and surface ruptures from earthquake faults within or near the city. The Dunnigan Hills Fault lies along the eastern edge of the Coast Range-Sierran Block Boundary and has the potential to cause severe damage to life, property, and infrastructure. In 2016, a magnitude 2.5 earthquake shook Woodland, even though it originated seven miles west of the city in an area where no active faults were previously identified. The Midland Fault, southwest of Davis, is another nearby source of potential shaking, similar to that which caused widespread damage after the 1892 Vacaville- Winters Earthquake.
A major earthquake from any of these sources could grind local infrastructure to a halt by damaging roadways, water supplies, and access routes, all of which are critical for timely fire response. Much of Woodland’s downtown is comprised of historic buildings constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These structures were built with balloon-frame construction, lack modern seismic retrofitting, and are closely spaced, creating a significant risk of fire extension following seismic activity.
In addition to the downtown core, Woodland has experienced tremendous growth in its industrial areas. Several large distribution centers, many exceeding 500,000 square feet, have been built in recent years. The sheer size of these buildings and the variety of commodities they contain create additional risks. A fire caused by seismic activity in one of these large facilities could easily overwhelm the fire department’s available resources, particularly when combined with the likelihood of multiple simultaneous emergencies throughout the City and District.
35 These geological conditions—active faulting, seismic shaking, historic and vulnerable construction, growth of large industrial occupancies, and limited emergency resources— demonstrate the need for enhanced fire safety measures in Woodland. More restrictive standards are necessary to mitigate the increased risk of fire following earthquakes and to ensure that life and property are adequately protected when local infrastructure and resources are strained.
C. TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS
The City of Woodland is subject to a range of topographical and environmental conditions that directly affect the delivery of fire and emergency services. Summertime temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and are often accompanied by strong south winds. These conditions create an elevated potential for dangerous fire behavior. Amendments limiting the amount of explosive materials stored and transferred within the City reduce the risk associated with these extreme weather conditions.
Traffic congestion is another topographical concern, particularly given the City’s ongoing growth and development. Increasing vehicle traffic continues to impact emergency response times. The City is also traversed by a major interstate highway and serves as the junction with another state highway, while also being crossed by a railroad line running north and south. These transportation corridors are used for the shipment of flammable liquids and hazardous materials, presenting additional fire and life safety challenges within City limits.
The roadway system itself presents further concerns. Many surface streets are accompanied by alleyways at the rear of properties. These alleyways are narrow, often overgrown with vegetation, and lack fire hydrant coverage. This makes access for fire apparatus extremely difficult and limits available water supply. In recognition of these conditions, amendments requiring fire sprinklers in modular and manufactured homes, and lowering the sprinkler thresholds for other occupancies, ensure a higher level of fire protection within structures. These requirements also align the City of Woodland with neighboring jurisdictions, promoting consistency across the region.
Woodland also faces vulnerabilities related to water supply. The City relies heavily on the Sacramento River for drinking water, but availability is limited by drought conditions that can lead to curtailment of water rights. During prolonged droughts, the City must depend on wells as backup sources. Limited water availability during such conditions emphasizes the importance of local amendments that ensure sufficient built-in fire protection within buildings.
Flooding further complicates fire response in Woodland. The City is essentially flat, with Cache Creek forming its northern boundary. Storm drain systems, particularly in older parts of the City, are undersized and unable to handle large volumes of runoff, leading to localized street flooding that can last for several hours. Typical flood hazards involve
36 shallow sheet flooding of up to two feet, but major storms and events along Cache Creek or the Yolo Bypass can result in widespread flooding of streets, neighborhoods, and roadways critical to emergency access. Historical floods in 1995 and 2019 demonstrated the very real risk of overtopping and flooding that hampers emergency access and damages infrastructure. Many streets are intentionally used for flood control during major storms, further restricting emergency response and mobility.
Taken together, these topographical conditions—including extreme heat and winds, hazardous materials transport routes, constrained roadway access, water supply limitations, and localized and regional flooding—require the City to adopt local amendments to the Fire Code to ensure adequate fire protection, mitigate risks, and preserve the ability of the Woodland Fire Department to respond effectively to emergencies.
D. ADMINISTRATIVE/PROCEDURAL/PUBLIC SAFETY AMENDMENTS.
1. This amendment is necessary for administrative and procedural clarification and to establish clear standards for the effective enforcement of the fire and building codes within the City of Woodland. These provisions ensure consistency in application, provide guidance to the public and regulated community, and establish enforcement mechanisms tailored to the City’s needs. They do not alter or modify a building standard but rather provide the framework by which those standards are applied, consistent with California Health & Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.7, and 18941.5.
2. These amendments provide the City with necessary tools to ensure compliance with adopted codes and to safeguard life and property. Local enforcement depends on clearly defined procedures, including administrative citation authority, plan check requirements, inspection protocols, and record-keeping processes.
Without such procedures, the City would lack the ability to enforce building and fire codes consistently and effectively, leaving gaps in public safety protection.
3. The administrative amendments also account for Woodland’s unique community risk profile. The City contains a mix of historic downtown structures, industrial facilities, residential developments, and major transportation corridors, all of which present different hazards and regulatory challenges. The amendments provide staff with the authority to adapt enforcement to these conditions, ensuring that code requirements are implemented in a way that directly addresses local risks.
4. These provisions are also necessary to promote regional consistency and to support coordination with neighboring jurisdictions. Aligning administrative and procedural amendments ensures that developers, contractors, and property owners encounter predictable processes across agencies. This reduces confusion, improves compliance, and enhances the overall effectiveness of fire prevention efforts.
37 5. In sum, these administrative and procedural amendments do not modify a building standard pursuant to California Health & Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.7, or 18941.5. They are reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within the City of Woodland by providing clear, enforceable, and locally relevant processes to implement state-adopted building and fire safety standards.
[To be added to the end of Exhibit A]
All proposed local amendments to the 2025 California Fire Code relate to home hardening are necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety. For the administrative changes marked as “D,” those changes result in alterations to a local agency’s postentitlement fee schedule or establish, alter, or remove local programs related to enforcement of building code violations or complaints alleging building code violations.
1. Administrative/Enforcement (HSC §17958(b)(6)(E)), Home Hardening (HSC §17958(b)(3)
These items govern how the Fire Department enforces access and life-safety, not how to design or construct a residential building.
A. Section 506.3 – Key Access for Gated Residential Occupancies • Action: Keep the requirement as an administrative emergency-access program (hardware type, location, programming/hold-open time, and maintenance) enforced by the Fire Code Official as a condition of ongoing occupancy and complaint-based inspections.
• Justification: Locked/malfunctioning gates at residential properties create measurable response delays that jeopardize life safety. Woodland has numerous narrow residential streets that bottleneck with on-street parking, further magnifying any gate delay. As an administrative practice, the City requires approved emergency bypass (e.g., keyed switch/fob) and maintenance so responders are not delayed at the point of entry.
B. Section 512 – Fire Lane Markings and Access for Multi-Unit Residential Lots • Action: Keep as administrative enforcement: designation, signage/striping, and maintenance of clear width and vertical clearance on shared private drives.
• Justification: These rules are not building-fabric requirements; they are post-entitlement operational access controls to ensure emergency vehicles can reach patients and fires in complexes with constrained geometry and chronic on-street parking. The Exhibit A table identifies Section 512 under “multi-unit residential lots,” which we will re-title and place in an enforcement/operations section of the local fire code.
C. Section 6112 – Mobile Food Vendors Stored at Residential Properties • Action: Mark as administrative enforcement in the Fire Code (storage of LPG, disconnection, extinguishers) with complaint-based inspections.
Local Data: Nov 2024, Lincoln Ave — propane from a vendor unit stored at a residence ignited and damaged the rear of the home. • Justification: This regulates use and storage of hazardous materials at homes, not building design. Relocating to enforcement/nuisance authority satisfies §17958(b)(6)(E). See current 6112 text for direct carryover.
2. Home Hardening (HSC §17958(b)(3), Emergency Standards (HSC §17958(b)(2))
For the following new residential provisions, the City justifies the amendments based on changes or modifications that relate to home hardening and emergency standards necessary to protect life and safety based on recent, local incidents (2024–2025) and specific, well-documented state and national risk trends.
A. Section 322.5 – Micromobility Battery Charging & Storage in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
• Local Incidents: Woodland experienced 6 lithium-ion battery fires in the last year. On 3/9/2025 , an e-scooter battery underwent thermal runaway in an apartment, causing a total loss and narrowly avoided fatalities (five residents nearly escaped).
• Gap: The base code lacks specific shared-space charging controls for multifamily garages and common areas.
• Applies to: Section 322.5 (posting, listed equipment, local notification, and Fire Department removal authority for imminently hazardous devices). Exhibit A table lists 322.5 and subject.
B. Sections 1207.11.2.1.2 (ESS Disconnect) & 1207.11.6.1 (ESS Detection) — Residential
• Local Incidents: 5/14/2025 a tool-battery fire damaged home/garage; 9/25/2025 a RC boat battery thermal runaway damaged an exterior shed.
Woodland has also seen park-area scooter fires near playgrounds. • Gap: Residential ESS provisions do not consistently require a readily accessible external disconnect ahead of the batteries and listed heat/smoke alarm coverage in unconditioned spaces where ESS commonly reside (garages/utility rooms).
• Justification: Allows safe isolation and early detection, reducing firefighter and occupant risk. See 1207.11.2.1.2 and 1207.11.6.1 text for the exact measures.
C. Section 435.8.3.2.1 – Exterior Doors Required for Sleeping Rooms in RCFEs Housing Bedridden Clients
• Local Conditions: Woodland has numerous RCFEs. Given
staffing/spacing realities, unsprinklered or legacy layouts plus long travel distances for responding units increase the risk that bedridden residents cannot be evacuated quickly.
• Gap: State code does not universally require direct exterior egress from sleeping rooms in every such RCFE configuration.
• Justification: Address high-consequence, low-margin evacuations for non- ambulatory residents.
D. Residential Gate Access Delays — Cross-support for 506.3 & 512 • Operational Evidence: Manually defeating a motorized/locked gate typically adds ~7–10 minutes when no approved emergency operation is present. With NFPA 1710 first-unit benchmarks in the 4–5 minute range, this delay is consequential. Woodland’s narrow residential streets exacerbate the effect when cars park both sides, bottlenecking engines attempting to reach addresses.
• Justification: While we are treating 506.3/512 as administrative, this evidence also supports home hardening and emergency necessity .
E. Sections 903.1, 903.3.1.3.1, 903.4.2, and 903.4.3.1 – Residential Sprinkler Spares and Alarm Notification Requirements
• Local Conditions: Woodland is a commuter-based bedroom community, with many residents traveling daily to Sacramento or the Bay Area for work. Because homes are often unoccupied during the day, fires that occur while residents are away may go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred. In homes equipped with sprinklers, systems can operate for an extended period without notifying neighbors or the fire department, allowing fires to grow and spread before emergency response begins. • Local Example: On July 15, 2023, a fourth-alarm fire on Lincoln Avenue destroyed nearly half a city block of residential structures. While the affected homes did not have sprinklers, the incident illustrates how quickly fires can grow and spread through densely built neighborhoods when there is a delay in detection or notification.
• Gap in the State Code: Current provisions for NFPA 13D systems in one- and two-family dwellings do not require an external water flow alarm, remote monitoring, or spare sprinkler heads to facilitate quick system restoration. In a community where homes are close together and often unoccupied, the absence of local alarm notification creates a substantial risk of extended fire growth and fire spread to adjacent properties. • Justification: Requiring exterior audible water flow alarms, local notification capability, and a minimum spare-head inventory is a necessary measure to ensure timely detection of sprinkler activation, earlier fire department notification, and prompt restoration of system readiness. These enhancements directly address documented risk factors in Woodland and are essential to protect life and property in closely spaced residential neighborhoods.
3. Enforcement & Program Notes (for the above Section 1 &2) The City’s Community Risk Reduction Division is the AHJ for permits, inspections, and code enforcement. Complaint-driven enforcement will continue for open burning, micromobility batteries, and mobile food vendors at residences; plan-review and construction inspections will apply to tiny/manufactured homes, gated access hardware location, access/lanes, sprinklers/alarms, and ESS where retained within allowable AB 130 pathways.
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA: City Council Regular Meeting
DATE: October 21, 2025
ITEM #: F.16
SUBJECT: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Title 15 of the Woodland Municipal Code
and adopting the California Building Standards Code
and Uniform Codes.
Recommendation for Action: Staff recommends that the City Council introduce, waive the first reading and read by title only AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WOODLAND AMENDING CHAPTER 15.04 OF THE WOODLAND MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24), INCLUDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING CODE, AND THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, AND THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, THE 1997 UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, THE 1997 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM HOUSING CODE, AND THE 1997 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM SECURITY CODE, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ADDITIONS, INSERTIONS, DELETIONS AND CHANGES THERETO, and set a public hearing for November 18, 2025, regarding the adoption of the ordinance.
Staff Contact:
Joel Luevano, Chief Building Official - (530) 661-5825; [email protected]
Fiscal Impact:
There is no net new fiscal impact to the City associated with this amendment. Costs for purchasing three sets of the 2025 California Codes at an approximate cost of $6,000 and staff training will be covered within the FY 2025/2026 department budget.
Background:
This adoption of portions of the 2025 California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24), including the Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Residential, Existing Building, Energy, and Green Codes, along with other Uniform Codes, that apply to construction under Title 15 of the Woodland Municipal Code for the City of Woodland. Code adoption is a two-step process. First, at this meeting, the Council introduces the ordinance, adopting the codes by reference and setting a public hearing. At a following Council meeting, a duly noticed public hearing is held and the ordinance is adopted. The Fire Code will be adopted by reference as a separate item.
Every three years, the various State and National Building Codes are revised to reflect the latest in building and fire safety standards. In 2025, the California Building Standards Commission approved for adoption the following codes: 2025 California Building Code, 2025 California Residential Code, 2025 California Electrical Code, 2025 California Mechanical Code, the 2025 California Plumbing Code, 2025 Energy Code, 2025 California Existing Building Code, and 2025 California Green Building Code. Other codes being adopted by the City are the 1997 Uniform Housing Code, the 1997 Uniform Security Code, the 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code with amendments.
According to California law, the 2025 California Building Standards Code applies to a building permit application submitted on or after the effective date to all occupancies throughout the state. The revised code will go into effect on January 1, 2026. The full text of all code material is available for public inspection in the Building Official's office.
Discussion:
While the City of Woodland and other communities are required by state law to utilize the newest State-adopted version of the codes, adoption of the codes (by reference) by local jurisdictions provides greater consistency among jurisdictions. This adoption process also allows for minor modifications (amendments) to the codes to reflect local conditions.
State Building Standards Law does not limit the authority of a City to establish more restrictive building standards than those contained in the code that are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The Council may add amendments as it sees fit, if the findings for the amendments comply with modifications based on local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions.
Each separate amendment is composed of two parts: the findings and the text of the amendment.
The findings are local justification for needing the amendment. These findings are sent to the Building Standards Commission and kept on file. The findings must be based upon local topography, climate, or geology. Administrative amendments do not require findings. See Exhibit “A” to the Ordinance for findings to support amendments to the Standards.
All current City amendments have been reviewed for applicability with the new codes. With this adoption, all former amendments have been rewritten, deleted, or revised to reflect the most current needs of the City of Woodland. Some of the most substantive amendments are:
Concrete Slabs: Minimum thickness is 4 inches, with a 5-sack mix, and reinforced with #4 rebar 18 inches on center each way. Soils having a Plasticity Index (PI) of 15 or greater shall be considered expansive, requiring floor slabs to be designed for expansive soils.
Concrete Driveways: Minimum thickness is 4 inches, with a 5 sack mix, reinforced with #3 bar 18 inches on center each way, with a 3-inch gravel base.
Asphalt Paving: 3 inches of asphalt over an 8-inch Class II aggregate base.
Water piping in or under Concrete Slabs: Not permitted unless specific conditions are met.
Residential roof mount solar: Pigeon proofing shall be required on all new residential developments.
Every effort is being made to keep the amendments to a minimum; this makes for consistency among jurisdictions and helps streamline the building plan checking process.
The government-mandated triennial code adoption can put a tremendous strain on local governments for staff training. Staff will be attending the annual training classes. All Building Division staff will be trained in the critical changes in the new code.
The formal adoption action takes place at a following Council meeting after a public hearing is held.
Prior to that meeting, there will be two public notices: October 21, 2025, and November 18, 2025.
One copy of the 2025 California Building Standards Code, uniform codes, and proposed ordinance will be available for public inspection in the Office of the Building Official. Information on the new
codes will be posted on the City’s website. Many classes and seminars are being taught around the State on the new codes and are available to architects, contractors, and the general public. Links to classes and seminars on the new codes will be posted on the city website.
State Building Standards Law allows the City to establish more restrictive building standards than those contained in the code that are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions if they were in effect as of September 30, 2025, or meet certain criteria under state law. The Council could add amendments, as it sees fit, if the findings for the amendments comply with modifications based on the local topography, climate, or vegetation. Staff recommends adoption of the ordinance as written.
Conclusion: Staff recommends that the City Council introduce, waive the first reading and read by title only AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WOODLAND AMENDING CHAPTER 15.04 OF THE WOODLAND MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24), INCLUDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING CODE, AND THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, AND THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, THE 1997 UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, THE 1997 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM HOUSING CODE, AND THE 1997 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM
SECURITY CODE, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ADDITIONS, INSERTIONS, DELETIONS AND CHANGES THERETO, and set a public hearing for November 18, 2025, regarding the adoption of the ordinance.
Prepared by: Joel Luevano, Chief Building Official
Reviewed by: Brent Meyer, Community Development Director
Attachments:
1. Proposed Ordinance - California Building Codes 2025
ORDINANCE NO. ___
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WOODLAND AMENDING CHAPTER 15.04 OF THE WOODLAND MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING
STANDARDS CODE (CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24), INCLUDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING CODE, AND THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, AND THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, THE
1997 UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, THE 1997 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM HOUSING CODE, AND THE
1997 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM SECURITY CODE, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN
ADDITIONS, INSERTIONS, DELETIONS AND CHANGES THERETO
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code Section 50022.1 et seq. the City of Woodland (“City”) may adopt by reference the California Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition as provided in Title 24 and 25 of the California Code of Regulations and other codes, including, without limitation, the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, the Uniform Housing Code, and the Uniform Security Code; and WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Commission (“Commission”) recently adopted the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code; and WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 and 18941.5 authorize cities to adopt the California Building Standards Code with modifications determined to be reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to adopt the California Building Standards Code with the necessary amendments to assure the Codes are tailored to the particular safety needs of the City as required by its unique climatic, geological and topographical conditions and such amendments are substantially equivalent to changes or modifications that were previously filed by the City Council and were in effect as of September 30, 2025; and WHEREAS, the City held a public hearing on November 18, 2025, at which time all interested persons had the opportunity to appear and be heard on the matter of adopting the Codes as amended herein; and
WHEREAS, the City published notice of the aforementioned public hearing pursuant to California Government Code Section 6066 on October 29, 2025, and November 5, 2025.
WHEREAS, any and all other legal prerequisites relating to the adoption of this
Ordinance have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Woodland does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to amend Chapter 15.04 of the Woodland Municipal Code, adopting by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code as provided in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (“California Building Standards Code”), including the California Building Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2), which incorporates and amends the International Building Code, 2024 Edition; the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2.5), which incorporates and amends the International Residential Code, 2024 Edition; the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3), which incorporates and amends the National Electrical Code, 2017 Edition; the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), which incorporates and amends the Uniform Mechanical Code, 2024 Edition; the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5), which incorporates and amends the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2024 Edition; the California Energy Code, 2025 Edition California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6); the California Existing Building Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 10), which incorporates and amends the International Existing Building Code, 2014; the California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11); and adopting by reference the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Edition, the Uniform Housing Code, 1997 Edition, and the Uniform Security Code, 1997 Edition, together with certain additions, insertions, deletions and changes thereto, to regulate the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, equipment, use, height, area, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and maintenance of all buildings or structures in the City of Woodland; provide for the issuance of permits and collection of fees set forth in the City of Woodland Comprehensive Fee Schedule; and provide for penalties for the violation of the codes adopted herein.
1. SECTION 2. Authority. The City Council enacts this Ordinance under the authority granted to the City as follows:
(a) California Government Code Section 50022 et seq. authorizes the City to adopt by reference the California Building Standards Code and authorizes the City to adopt other uniform codes by reference; and
(b) California Health & Safety Code Section 17958.7 and 18941.5 authorize the City to adopt the California Building Standards Code with modifications determined to be reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions.
SECTION 3. Findings. The City Council hereby finds that the proposed amendments to the 2025 California Building Standards Code are more restrictive than the standards adopted by the California Building Standards Commission, and are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geologic or topographic conditions, based on the express findings and determinations, marked in relation to the respective amendments provided in this ordinance, described in “Exhibit
A” attached hereto, and hereby adopted by the City Council as the findings to support the modifications to the California Building Standards Code.
2. SECTION 4. Amendment. Chapter 15.04 of the City of Woodland Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety as follows:
CHAPTER 15.04
BUILDING CODES
Sections:
Article I. General Provisions
15.04.010 Adoptions of the Codes and Related Appendices
15.04.020 Violation of Codes – Penalties
15.04.030 Amendments to the California Building Code
15.04.040 Amendments to the California Electrical Code
15.04.050 Amendments to the California Mechanical Code
15.04.060 Amendments to the California Plumbing Code
15.04.070 Amendments to the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
15.04.080 Amendments to the Uniform Housing Code
15.04.090 Amendments to the Uniform Security Code
15.04.100 Amendments to the California Residential Code
15.04.110 Amendments to the California Green Building Standards Code
15.04.120 Amendments to the California Existing Building Code
15.04.130 Amendments to the International Property Maintenance Code
15.04.140 Amendments to the California Energy Code
Sec. 15.04.010 Adoption of Codes
(a) The 2025 Edition of the California Building Code contained in Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, which incorporates and amends the 2024 Edition of the International Building Code published by the International Code Council, together with Chapter 1, is hereby adopted by reference as the Building Code of the City of Woodland;
(b) The 2025 Edition of the California Residential Code contained in Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, which incorporates and amends the 2024 Edition of the International Residential Code published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted by reference as the Residential Code of the City of Woodland; (c) The 2025 Edition of the California Electrical Code contained in Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, which incorporates and amends the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection Association, is hereby adopted by reference as the Electrical Code of the City of Woodland;
(d) The 2025 Edition of the California Mechanical Code contained in Part 4 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, which incorporates and amends the 2024 Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, is hereby adopted by reference as the Mechanical Code of the City of Woodland;
(e) The 2025 Edition of the California Plumbing Code contained in Part 5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, which incorporates and amends the 2024 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, together with and Appendix I, not included in the 2024 California Plumbing Code is hereby adopted as the Plumbing Code of the City of Woodland;
(f) The 2025 Edition of the California Energy Code contained in Part 6 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations is hereby adopted as the Energy Code of the City of Woodland;
(g) The 2025 Edition of the California Green Building Standards contained in Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations is hereby adopted as the Green Building Standards Code of the City of Woodland;
(h) The 2025 Edition of the California Existing Building code contained in the Part 10 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations is here by adopted as the Existing Building code of the City of Woodland;
(i) All appendices of the aforementioned Codes that have also been adopted by any state agency will be enforced by the City of Woodland as applicable. (j) The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Edition, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, is hereby adopted by reference as the Dangerous Buildings Code of the City of Woodland; (k) The Uniform Housing Code, 1997 Edition published by the International Conference of Building Officials, as referenced and adopted by the California Department of Housing and Community Development in Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations pursuant to Sections 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, 17958.9 and 17959 of the California Health and Safety Code is hereby adopted by reference as the Housing Code of the City of Woodland;
(l) The Uniform Security Code, 1997 Edition published by the International Conference of Building Officials, is hereby adopted by reference as the Security Building Code of the City of Woodland;
(m) The International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 Edition published by the International Conference of Building Officials, is hereby adopted by reference as the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Woodland;
(n) The above-identified codes in this Section 15.04.010 (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Codes") are adopted for the purpose of prescribing regulations for the erection, construction, modification, repair, maintenance, demolition, use and occupancy of buildings and structures. One copy of each of the Codes shall be maintained for use and examination of the public in the Office of the Building Official.
Sec. 15.04.020 Violation of Codes - Penalties
Violation of any provision of the Codes shall subject the violator to any or all of the following: suit for civil remedy or criminal penalty, or the administrative penalties provided in Chapter 9.20 of the Woodland Municipal Code.
The criminal penalty for the first or second offense shall be punishable as an infraction as defined by the California Penal Code, as amended from time to time. The criminal penalty for a third offense or more, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor as defined by the California Penal Code, as amended from time to time. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as precluding the application of the administrative penalties provided in Chapter 9.20 of the Woodland Municipal Code.
Sec. 15.04.030 Amendments to California Building Code
The provisions of this Section 15.04.030 shall constitute local amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code, and shall be deemed to replace the cross-referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.030.
(a) Section 105.3 is amended by adding Item 8 at the end of the text of that section to read as follows:
“8. The permittee or his authorized agent shall provide a list of the subcontractors whose services are required and will be part of the prime contract. The permittee, who shall be the owner of the improvements for which the permit is to be issued or the general contractor who has assumed the prime contract, shall be responsible for the fees for all permits required for the completion of improvements for which the building permit applied for is to be issued. None of the forgoing shall be construed to prevent subcontractors from applying for and receiving permits upon payment of fees in accordance with other applicable ordinances.”
(b) Section 109.2 is amended by adding at the end of the text of that section, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“Permit fees for each permit shall be as set forth in the “The City of Woodland Comprehensive Fee Schedule,” except for permits issued covering work performed on buildings or structures owned, leased, or operated by any City, County, State, Federal government agency, or any public agency or district.
In addition, Capital Improvement Facilities Fees shall be as set forth below.
(1) Facilities Fees.
(i) Capital improvement facilities fees are hereby established as a condition of the issuance of building permits in the city. In addition to the citywide capital improvement facilities fee (the major projects financing plan fee or “MPFP”), the Spring Lake infrastructure fee (“SLIF”) is hereby established as a condition of the issuance of building permits in the Spring Lake specific plan area, and the Research and Technology Infrastructure fee (“RTIF”) is hereby established as a condition of the issuance of building permits in the Woodland Research and Technology Park specific plan area. The City Council shall, by separate resolutions, set forth the specific amounts of the MPFP, the SLIF, and the RTIF, identify the specific public improvements to be financed thereby, describe the estimated costs of these facilities, describe the reasonable relationship between such facilities and the various types of new developments, and describe the relationship between the need for the public facility and the various types of new developments.
(ii) Facilities fees shall be paid by each applicant concurrent with the issuance of a building permit.
(2) Limited Use of Facilities Fees. The revenues raised by payment of these facilities fees shall be placed in separate and special accounts, and such revenues, along with any interest earnings on each account, shall be used solely to:
(i) Pay for the City’s future construction of each category of facilities described in the resolution enacted pursuant to Section 108.2(1)(i) above, or to reimburse the city for those facilities identified in the resolution which have been constructed by the city with funds advanced from other sources;
(ii) Reimburse developers who have installed such identified facilities which are oversized with supplemental size, length, or capacity; or (iii) Allow temporary borrowing between categories of facilities fee accounts, consistent with Government Code Section 66006(a). (3) Supplemental Fees. An applicant may propose a project, the impact upon public facilities of which, in the judgment of the director of public works, is significantly greater than that used to calculate the standard fees. The director of public works may make such a determination on a case-by-case basis and may impose a supplemental fee on such project.
The determination shall be made based upon the application for a development permit, or upon the application for a building permit if no development permit is required, and any additional information requested by the director of public works. The director of public works may require the developer to submit engineering data, calculations, or other project information which is necessary to make a determination pursuant to this paragraph.
(4) Administrative Guidelines. The City Council shall, by resolution,
adopt Administrative Guidelines to provide procedures for the calculation, adjustment, reimbursement, credit, deferral, or waiver of the Capital Improvement Facilities Fees.
However, in no event shall facilities fees be waived unless an alternative source of funding to replace the fees has been secured.”
(c) Section 109.4 is amended to read as follows:
“109.4 Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences work requiring a permit on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing shall be subject to a fee equal to three times the calculated permit fee for the first offense and five times the calculated permit fee for each subsequent offense.” (d) Section 114 is amended to read as follows:
“Section 114 Violations
114.1 Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, move, remove, demolish or occupy any building, structure or equipment regulated by this code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this code.
114.2 Notice of violation. The building official is authorized to serve a notice of violation or order on the person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, moving, removal, demolition, or occupancy of a building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code, or in violation of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code. Such order shall direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition and the abatement of the violation. 114.3 Prosecution of violation. If the notice of violation is not complied with promptly, the building official is authorized to request the legal counsel of the jurisdiction to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.
114.4 Violation penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who erects, constructs, alters or repairs a building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the building official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed in Section 15.04.020 of the Woodland Municipal Code.”
(e) Section 406.3.1 is amended by adding, at the end of the text of that section, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“All concrete driveways designed to access Group U occupancies associated with private garages or carports shall be constructed with the following requirements:
(i) The minimum thickness of concrete driveway slabs supported
directly on the ground shall not be less than 4 inches. (ii) The minimum concrete mix shall be 5 sacks per cubic yard of concrete. (iii) The concrete driveway shall be reinforced with not less than No.3 bar at 18 inches on center in both directions placed at mid height of the slab or an approved alternate.
(iv) The concrete driveway shall be underlain by a minimum of 3 inches of gravel base material.”
(f) Section 435.8.3.2 is amended to read as follows:
“435.8.3.2 Group R-3.1 Occupancies Housing Bedridden Clients.
In a Group R-3.1 occupancy, bedrooms used for housing bedridden clients shall be provided with a direct exit to the exterior of the building. The exterior exit door shall be side-hinged, not less than three feet (914 mm) in width and six feet eight inches (2032 mm) in height, and shall be capable of opening not less than 90 degrees to provide a minimum clear width of 32 inches (813 mm). The direct exterior exit shall open to a safe and accessible exterior area at grade or to an exterior landing not more than 7 inches (178 mm) below the interior floor level. Doors shall be operable from the inside without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge, and without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.”
(g) Section 903.1 is amended to read as follows:
“903.1 General. Automatic sprinkler systems shall comply with this section and the following:
An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in the occupancies and locations set forth in this Chapter and in the locations and according to the conditions described below:
In all buildings other than Group R, Division 2, 3 and 4 in which the total floor area of all floors is five thousand square feet or more, or any building which are three or more stories regardless of height.
Exceptions:
1. Group U occupancies, not including private garages attached to R-3 Occupancies.
2. In storage and bulk handling facilities for grain, including grain elevators and flat storage buildings, automatic fire sprinklers shall not be required in areas where the grain is stored, provided:
a. An automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler system is not otherwise required for code compliance,
b. The floor area of the building or structure does not exceed the maximum basic allowable floor area permitted for specific types of construction as specified in Table 504.3 and including the allowable increases for clear yard spaces as specified in the California Building Code, and
c. The construction of the building or structure complies with all other code provisions for the properly assigned group occupancy classification and type of construction.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, the requirement described in Section 903.1 shall be applied to alterations, repairs, additions and changes of occupancy of existing buildings as follows:
Where there is no change of occupancy, alterations or repairs not increasing fire area, total height, or number of stories of an existing building may be made without making the entire building comply with this section.
No change shall be made in the character of the occupancy or use of any existing building or structure unless the entire building or structure is made to comply with this section.
Exceptions:
1. The character of the occupancy of existing buildings may be changed subject to the approval of the building official and the approval of the fire chief, and the building may be occupied for purposes in other occupancy groups without conforming to all the requirements of this section or the California Building Code for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is not more hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the existing use.
2. No change in the character of occupancy of a building shall be made without a certificate of occupancy, as required by the California Building Code. The building official may issue a certificate of occupancy pursuant to the intent of the above exception without certifying that the building complies with all provisions of this section and provisions of the California Building Code.
In other areas and occupancies as required in Section 903 of the California Building Code.”
(h) Section 1907.3 is amended to read as follows:
“1907.3 Thickness. The thickness of concrete floor slabs supported directly on the ground shall not be less than 4 inches (101.6 mm). A 10- mil (0.010 inch; 0.25 mm) polyethylene vapor retarder with joints lapped not less than 6 inches (152 mm) shall be placed between the base course or subgrade and the concrete floor slab, or other approved equivalent methods or materials shall be used to retard vapor transmission through
the floor slab. The minimum concrete mix shall be 5 sacks per cubic yard of concrete. The floor slab shall be reinforced with a minimum No. 4 bar 18 inches on center in both directions. All soils having a Plasticity Index (PI) of 15 or greater, determined in accordance with ASTM D 4318, shall be considered expansive requiring floor slabs designed complying with CBC 1808.6.2.”
(i) Section 1907.4 is deleted.
(j) The following local regulation related to asphalt paving (not involving regulations contained in the California Building Standards Code) is hereby adopted to include the following requirements for asphalt paving:
“(i) The minimum structural section of on-site asphalt paving shall be 3 inches of asphalt concrete over 8 inches of Class II aggregate base.
(ii) The Class II aggregate base shall be compacted to a minimum 95% over subgrade compacted to 92 %.
(iii) The shipping areas, or other areas paved in anticipation of regular truck traffic, the minimum structural section shall be based upon the recommendations of the certified soils
engineering report according to an appropriate traffic index for the anticipated use.”
Sec. 15.04.040 Amendments to California Electrical Code The provisions of this Section 15.04.040 shall constitute local amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Electrical Code and shall be deemed to replace the cross- referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.040.
(a) Section 89.108.4.2 is amended by adding, at the end of the text of that section, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“Permit fees for each permit shall be as set forth in the “The City of Woodland Comprehensive Fee Schedule,” except for permits issued covering work performed on buildings or structures owned, leased, or operated by any City, County, State, Federal government agency, or any public agency or district.”
Sec. 15.04.050 Amendments to California Mechanical Code The provisions of this Section 15.04.050 shall constitute local amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Mechanical Code and shall be deemed to replace the cross-
referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.050.
(a) Section 1.8.4.2 is amended by adding, at the end of the text of that section, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“Permit fees for each permit shall be as set forth in the “The City of Woodland Comprehensive Fee Schedule,” except for permits issued covering work performed on buildings or structures owned, leased, or operated by any City, County, State, Federal government agency, or any public agency or district.”
Sec. 15.04.060 Amendments to California Plumbing Code
The provisions of this Section 15.04.060 shall constitute local amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Plumbing Code, and shall be deemed to replace the cross- referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.060.
(a) Section 104.3.2 is amended by adding, at the end of the text of that section, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“Permit fees for each application shall be as set forth in the “The City of Woodland Comprehensive Fee Schedule,” except for permits issued covering work performed on buildings or structures owned, leased, or operated by any City, County, State, Federal government agency, or any public agency or district.”
(b) Section 312.10 is amended by adding, at the end of the first sentence and before the exception, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“Water lines covered by hardscaping (concrete, bricks, pavers, asphalt, and concrete masonry) shall be sleeved with a sleeve large enough to accommodate the water line and any water line fittings. (c) Section 609.3 is amended by adding, at the beginning of the text of that section, a new paragraph to read as follows:
“Water piping within a building shall not be installed in or under a concrete slab resting on the ground without prior approval of the Building Official.”
Sec. 15.04.070 Amendments to the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
The provisions of this Section 15.04.070 shall constitute local amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 1997 Edition of the
Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings and shall be deemed to replace the cross-referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.070. (a) Section 201 is amended, by adding at the end of the text of that section, the following new subsections:
“201.4 Authority to Disconnect Utilities. The Building Official or the Building Official's authorized representative shall have the authority to disconnect a utility service or energy supplied to the building, structure or building equipment therein regulated by this Code, or the City of Woodland’s Building Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, or Electrical Code, in case of emergency where necessary to eliminate an immediate hazard to life or property. The Building Official shall, whenever possible, notify the serving utility, the owner and occupant of the building, structure or building service equipment of the decision to disconnect prior to taking such action, and shall notify such serving utility, owner and occupant of the building, structure or building service equipment, in writing, of such disconnection immediately thereafter. 201.5 Authority to Condemn Building Service Equipment. When the Building Official ascertains that building service equipment regulated in the City of Woodland’s
Building Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, or Electrical Code has become hazardous to life, health, or property, or has become unsanitary, the Building Official shall order in writing that such equipment either be removed or restored to a safe or sanitary condition, as appropriate. The written notice itself shall fix a time limit of compliance with such order. Defective building service equipment shall not be maintained after receiving such notice.
When such equipment or installation is to be disconnected, a written notice of such disconnection and causes therefore shall be given within 24 hours to the serving utility, the owner, and occupant of such building, structure, or premises.
When any building service equipment is maintained in violation of the City of Woodland’s Building Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, or Electrical Code, and in violation of a notice issued pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Building Official shall institute appropriate action to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate the violation.
201.6 Connection after Order to Disconnect. Persons shall not make connections from an energy, fuel or power supply nor supply energy or fuel to building service equipment which has been disconnected or ordered to be disconnected by the Building Official or the use of which
has been ordered to be discontinued by the Building Official until the Building Official authorizes the reconnection and use of such equipment.” (b) Section 302 is hereby deleted and replaced to read as follows:
“Section 302 Dangerous Buildings.
For the purpose of this code, the words set out in this section shall have the following meaning:
A. “Abandoned building or structure” means any building or structure which has not been actively utilized for a lawful purpose, which has not been maintained, and which has not been rendered inaccessible to members of the public by boarding or similar means, for a continuous period of not less than six months.
B. A “dangerous building or structure” means that the condition or defect hereinafter described exists to the extent that life, health, property or safety of the public or its occupants are endangered:
(1) Whenever any door, aisle, passageway, stairway or other means of exit is not of sufficient width or size, or is not so arranged as to provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of fire or panic; (2) Whenever the walking surface of any aisle, passageway, stairway or other means of exit is so warped, worn, loose, torn or otherwise unsafe as to not provide safe and adequate means of exit in case of a fire or panic;
(3) Whenever the stress in any materials, member or portion thereof, due to all dead and live loads, is more than one and one half times the working stress or stresses allowed in the city building code for new buildings of similar structure, purpose or location;
(4) Whenever any portion thereof has been damaged by fire, earthquake, wind, flood, or by any other cause, to such an extent that the structural strength or stability thereof is materially less than it was before such catastrophe and is less than the minimum requirements of the city building code for new buildings of similar structure, purpose or location; (5) Whenever any portion or member or appurtenance thereof is likely to fail, or to become detached or dislodged, or to collapse and thereby injure persons or damage property;
(6) Whenever any portion of a building, or any member, appurtenance or ornamentation on the exterior thereof is not of sufficient strength or stability, or is not so anchored, attached or fastened in place so as to be capable of resisting a wind pressure of one-half of that specified in the city building code for new buildings of similar structure, purpose or location without exceeding the working stresses permitted in the city building code
for such buildings;
(7) Whenever any portion thereof has wracked, warped, buckled or settled to such an extent that walls or other structural portions have materially less resistance to winds or earthquakes than is required in the case of similar new construction;
(8) Whenever the building or structure, or any portion thereof, because of dilapidation, deterioration, or decay; faulty construction; the removal, movement or instability of any portion to the ground necessary for the purpose of supporting such building; the deterioration, decay or inadequacy of its foundation; or any other cause, is likely to partially or completely collapse;
(9) Whenever for any reason, the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is manifestly unsafe for the purpose for which it is being used; (10) Whenever the exterior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb-line passing through the center of gravity does not fall inside the middle of one-third of the base; (11) Whenever the building or structure, exclusive of the foundation, shows thirty-three percent or more damage or deterioration of its supporting member or members, fifty percent damage or deterioration of its nonsupporting members, enclosing or outside walls or coverings; (12) Whenever the building or structure has been so damaged by fire, wind, earthquake or flood, or has become so dilapidated or deteriorated through lack of maintenance, as to become an attractive nuisance to children; a harbor for vagrants, criminals or immoral persons; or as to enable persons to resort thereto for the purpose of committing unlawful or immoral acts;
(13) Whenever any building or structure which, whether or not erected in accordance with all applicable laws and ordinances, has in any nonsupporting part, member or portion, less than fifty percent, or in any supporting part, member or portion less than sixty-six percent of the strength, fire-resisting qualities or characteristics, or weather-resisting qualities or characteristics required by law in the case of a newly constructed building of like area, height and occupancy in the same location;
(14) Whenever a building or structure, used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes, because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, decay, damage, faulty construction or arrangement, inadequate light, air or sanitation facilities, or otherwise is determined by the code enforcement officer, to be unsanitary, unfit for human habitation or in such condition that is likely to cause sickness or disease;
(15) Whenever any building or structure, because of obsolescence, dilapidated condition, deterioration, damage, inadequate exits, lack of sufficient fire- resistive construction, faulty electric wiring, faulty gas connections or heating apparatus, faulty construction, or other cause, is determined by the code enforcement officer to be a fire, health, or safety hazard; (16) Whenever any portion of a building or structure remains on a site after the demolition or destruction of the building or structure; (17) Wherever any building or structure is abandoned.”
Sec. 15.04.080 Amendments to Uniform Housing Code
The provisions of this Section shall constitute local amendments to the cross-referenced provisions of the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Housing Code and shall be deemed to replace the cross-referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this chapter.
Chapter 10 is hereby deleted and replaced to read as follows:
“Chapter 10
SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS
Section 1001 Definitions
1001.1 General. Any building or portion thereof that is determined to be an unsafe building in accordance with Section 1.1.2 of the California Building Code, or any building or portion thereof, including any dwelling unit, guest room or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the conditions referenced in this section and the definition of “substandard building” as set forth in California Health and Safety Code section 17920.3, as amended, to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety or welfare of the public or the occupants thereof, shall be deemed and hereby are declared to be substandard a building.
1001.2 Inadequate Sanitation shall, include but not limited to, the following:
1. Lack of, or improper water closet, lavatory, or bathtub or shower in a dwelling unit.
2. Lack of, or improper water closets, lavatories, and bathtubs or showers per number of guests in a hotel.
3. Lack of, or improper kitchen sink.
4. Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fixtures in a hotel.
5. Lack of hot and cold running water to plumbing fixtures in a dwelling
unit.
6. Lack of adequate heating.
7. Lack of, or improper operation of required ventilating equipment.
8. Lack of minimum amounts of natural light and ventilation required by this code.
9. Room and space dimensions less than required by this code.
10. Lack of required electrical lighting.
11. Dampness of habitable rooms.
12. Infestation of insects, vermin or rodents as determined by the code enforcement officer.
13. Visible mold growth, as determined by a code enforcement officer, excluding the presence of mold that is minor and found on surfaces that can accumulate moisture as part of their properly functioning and intended use.
14. General dilapidation or improper maintenance.
15. Lack of connection to a functional sewage disposal system.
16. Lack of adequate garbage and rubbish storage and removal facilities as determined by the code enforcement officer.
17. Lack of an adequate and safe water supply.
1001.3 Structural Hazards shall include, but not limited to, the following:
1. Deteriorated or inadequate foundations.
2. Defective or deteriorated flooring or floor supports.
3. Flooring or floor supports of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with safety.
4. Members of walls, partitions, or other vertical supports that split, lean, list, or buckle due to defective material or deterioration.
5. Members of walls, partitions, or other vertical supports that are of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with safety.
6. Members of ceilings, roofs, ceilings and roof supports, or other horizontal members which sag, split, or buckle due to defective material
or deterioration.
7. Members of ceilings, roofs, ceiling and roof supports, or other horizontal members that are of insufficient size to carry imposed loads with safety.
8. Fireplaces or chimneys which list, bulge or have settled, due to defective materials or deterioration.
9. Fireplaces or chimneys which are of insufficient size or strength to carry imposed loads with safety.
10. Cesspools and septic tanks which are structurally unsound. 1001.4 Any nuisance. Any condition constituting a nuisance in Chapter 9.04 of the Woodland Municipal Code.
1001.5 Hazardous Electrical wiring. Electrical wiring that was installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of installation or electrical wiring not installed in accordance with generally accepted construction practices in areas where no codes were in effect or that has not been maintained in good condition or that is not being used in a safe manner.
1001.6 Hazardous Plumbing. Plumbing that was installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of installation or plumbing not installed in accordance with generally accepted construction practices in areas where no codes were in effect or that has not been maintained in good condition or that is not free of cross-connections or siphonage between fixtures or that is not being used in a safe manner.
1001.7 Hazardous Mechanical Equipment. Mechanical equipment, including vents, that was installed in violation of code requirements in effect at the time of installation or mechanical equipment not installed in accordance with generally accepted construction practices in areas where no codes were in effect or that has not been maintained in good and safe condition.
1001.8 Faulty Weather Protection shall include, but not limited to, the following:
1. Deteriorated, crumbling, or loose plaster.
2. Deteriorated or ineffective waterproofing of exterior walls, roof, foundations, or floors, including broken window or doors.
3. Defective or lack of weather protection for exterior wall coverings, including lack of paint or weathering due to lack of paint or other approved protective covering.
4. Broken, rotted, split, or buckled exterior wall coverings or roof coverings.
1001.9 Fire Hazard. Any building or portion thereof, device, apparatus, equipment, combustible waste, or vegetation that, in the opinion of the chief of the fire department or his deputy, is in such a condition as to cause a fire or explosion or provide a ready fuel to augment the spread and intensity of fire or explosion arising from any cause.
1001.10 Faulty Materials of Construction. All materials of construction, except those which are specifically allowed or approved by this code and the Building Code, and which have been adequately maintained in good and safe condition. 1001.11 Hazardous or unsanitary premises. Those premises on which an accumulation of weeds, vegetation, junk, dead organic matter, debris, garbage, offal, rodent harborages, stagnant water, combustible materials, and similar materials or conditions constitute fire, health, or safety hazards. 1001.12 Inadequate Maintenance. Any building or portion thereof that is determined to be an unsafe building due to inadequate maintenance in accordance with the attest edition of the Building Code.
1001.13 Inadequate Exits. All buildings or portions thereof not provided with adequate exit facilities as required by this code, except those buildings or portions thereof whose exit facilities conformed with all applicable laws at the time of their construction and that have been adequately maintained and increased in relation to any increase in occupant load, alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy.
When an unsafe condition exists through lack of, or improper location of, exits, additional exits may be required to be installed.
1001.14 Inadequate Fire-protection or Firefighting Equipment. All buildings or portions thereof not provided with the fire-resistive construction or fire- extinguishing systems or equipment required by this code, except those buildings or portions thereof that conformed with all applicable laws at the time of their construction and whose fire-resistive integrity and fire extinguishing systems or equipment have been adequately maintained and improved in relation to any increase in occupant load, alteration or addition, or any change in occupancy. 1001.15 Improper Occupancy. All buildings or portions thereof occupied for living, sleeping, cooking, or dining purposes that were not designed or intended to be used for those occupancies.
1001.16 Inadequate Structural Resistance. Any building or portion thereof that is determined to be an unsafe building due to inadequate structural resistance to horizontal forces in accordance with the Building Code.” Sec. 15.04.090 Amendments to Uniform Security Code
The provisions of this Section shall constitute local amendments to the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Security Code.
(a) Section 1020 is hereby added to read as follows:
“Section 1020 Residential Buildings.
A. Street numbers and other identifying data shall be displayed as follows:
(1) All residential dwellings shall display a lighted street number in a prominent location on the street side of the residence entrance in such a position that the number is easily visible to approaching emergency vehicles. The numerals shall be no less than four inches in height. If the house number is located on the garage wall it shall be on the wall closest to the front entrance.
(2) There shall be positioned at each entrance of a multiple- family dwelling complex an illuminated diagrammatic
representation of the complex which shows the location of the viewer and the unit designations within the complex. In addition, each individual unit within the complex shall display a prominent identification number, not less than four inches in height and illuminated which is easily visible to approaching vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic.
(3) The above two sections may be modified by the Fire Marshal.
B. Lighting in multiple-family dwellings shall be as follows:
(1) Aisles, passageways, and recesses related to and within the building complex shall be illuminated with an intensity of at least twenty-five one hundredth foot-candles at the ground level during the hours of darkness. Lighting devices shall be protected by weather and vandalism resistant covers.
(2) Open parking lots and carports shall be provided with a maintained minimum of one foot-candle of light on the parking surface during the hours of darkness. Lighting devices shall be protected by weather and vandalism resistant covers.”
(b) Section 1021 is hereby added to read as follows:
“Section 1021 Commercial Buildings.
(a) Windows shall be deemed accessible if less than twelve feet above ground.
Accessible windows having a pane exceeding ninety-six square inches in
an area
with the smallest dimension exceeding six inches and not visible from a public or
private thoroughfare shall be protected in the following manner:
(1) Fully tempered glass or burglary resistant glazing (Fire Department approval required); or
(2) The following window barriers may be used but shall be secured with nonremovable bolts:
(b) Inside or outside iron bars of at least one-half-inch round or one by one-quarter- inch flat steel material spaced not more than five inches apart and securely fastened; or
(c) Inside or outside iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth inch material with not more than a two-inch mesh and securely fastened.
(1) If a side or rear window is of the type that can be opened, it shall, where applicable, be secured on the inside with either a slide bar, bolt, crossbar, auxiliary locking device, and/or padlock with hardened steel shackle, a minimum four pin tumbler operation.
(2) The protective bars or grills shall not interfere with the operation of opening windows if such windows are required to be openable by the Building Code or by the Fire Code for required access openings for firefighting purposes. (Fire Department approval required).
(d) All exterior transoms exceeding ninety-six square inches on the side and rear of any building or premises used for business purposes shall be protected by one of the following:
(1) Fully tempered glass or rated burglary resistant glazing (Fire Department approval may be required); or
(2) The following barriers may be used but shall be secured with non-removable bolts:
i. Outside iron bars of at least one-half inch round or one by one-quarter- inch flat steel material, spaced no more than five inches apart and securely fastened, or
ii. Outside iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth inch with not more than a two-inch mesh and securely fastened;
iii. The protective bars or grills shall not interfere with the
operation of opening the transoms if such transoms are
required to be openable by the Building Code.
(e) Roof openings shall be equipped as follows:
(1) All skylights on the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes shall be provided with:
i. Rated burglary resistant glazing; or
ii. Iron bars of at least one-half-inch round or one by one- fourth-inch flat steel material under the skylight and
securely fastened.
iii. Steel grill of at least one-eighth-inch material with a maximum two-inch mesh under the skylight and securely
fastened.
(2) All hatchway openings on the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes shall be secured as follows:
i. If the hatchway is of wooden material, it shall be covered on the inside with at least sixteen U.S. gauge sheet metal, or its equivalent, attached with screws.
ii. The hatchway shall be secured from the inside with a slide bar or slide bolts. (Fire Department approval required.) iii. Outside hinges on all hatchway openings shall be
provided with nonremovable pins when using pin-type
hinges.
(3) All air duct or air vent openings exceeding ninety-six square inches on the roof or exterior walls of any building or premises used for business purposes shall be secured by covering the same with either of the following:
i. Iron bars on at least one-half inch round or one by one- fourth inch flat steel material spaced no more than five inches apart and securely fastened; or
ii. Iron or steel grills of at least one-eighth-inch material with a maximum two-inch mesh and securely fastened.
(4) If the barrier is on the outside, it shall be secured with bolts which are nonremovable from the exterior.
(5) The above (3) and (4) must not interfere with venting requirements creating a potentially hazardous condition to
health and safety or conflict with the provisions of the Building Code or Mechanical Code.
(f) Permanently affixed ladders leading to roofs shall be fully enclosed with sheet metal to a height of eight feet. This covering shall be locked against the ladder with a case hardened hasp, secured with non-removable screws or bolts. Hinges on the cover shall be provided with non-removable pins when using pin-type hinges. If a padlock is used, it shall have a hardened steel shackle, locking at both heel and toe, and a minimum five pin tumbler operation with non-removable key when in an unlocked position. (g) A building located within eight feet of utility poles or similar structures which can be used to gain access to the building's roof, windows, or other openings shall have such access area barricaded or fenced with materials to deter human climbing.
(h) The following standards shall apply to lighting, address identification and parking
areas:
(1) The address number of every commercial building shall be internally illuminated during the hours of darkness so that it shall be easily visible from the street. The numerals in these numbers shall be no less than six inches in height. This standard may be modified by the Fire Marshal.
(2) All exterior commercial doors, during the hours of darkness, shall be illuminated with a minimum of one foot-candle of light.
All exterior bulbs shall be protected by weather and vandalism resistant cover(s).
(3) Open parking lots, and access thereto, providing more than ten parking spaces and for use by the general public, shall be provided with a maintained minimum of one foot-candle of light on the parking surface from dusk until the termination of business every operating day.”
Sec. 15.04.100 Amendments to the California Residential Code The provisions of this Section 15.04.100 shall constitute local amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Residential Code, and shall be deemed to replace the cross- referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.100.
(a) Section R105.3 is amended by adding Item 8 at the end of the text of that section to read as follows:
“8. Include a list of the subcontractors whose services are required and will be part of the prime contract. The permittee, who shall be the owner of the improvements for which the permit is to be issued or the general contractor who has assumed the prime contract, shall be responsible for the fees for all permits required for the completion of improvements for which the building permit applied for is to be issued. None of the forgoing shall be construed to prevent subcontractors from applying for and receiving permits upon payment of fees in accordance with other applicable ordinances.”
(b) Section R108.2 is amended to read as follows:
“R108.2 Schedule of permit fees. On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, the fee for each permit shall be as set forth in the “The City of Woodland Comprehensive Fee Schedule,” except for permits issued covering work performed on buildings or structures owned, leased, or operated by any City, County, State, Federal government agency, or any public agency or district.”
(c) Section R108.6 is amended to read as follows:
R108.6 Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences work requiring a permit on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing shall be subject to a fee equal to three times the calculated permit fee for the first offense and five times the calculated permit fee for each subsequent offense.
(d) Section R113 is amended to read as follows:
“Section R113 Violations.
R113.1 Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, move, remove, demolish or occupy any building, structure or equipment regulated by this code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this code.
R113.2 Notice of violation. The building official is authorized to serve a notice of violation or order on the person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, moving, removal, demolition or occupancy of a building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code, or in violation of a detail statement or a plan approved thereunder, or in violation of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code. Such order shall direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition and the abatement of the violation.
R113.3 Prosecution of violation. If the notice of violation is not
complied with in the time prescribed by such notice, the building official is authorized to request the legal counsel of the jurisdiction to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.
R113.4 Violation penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who erects, constructs, alters or, repairs a building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the building official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be subject to penalties as prescribed in Section 15.04.020 of the Woodland Municipal Code.”
(e) Section R403.1.8 is amended by deleting the “Exception” and replacing with:
“Note: Refer to Section R506 for alterations, additions, and accessory buildings.” (f) Section R506 is amended by adding after the section heading:
“Note: This section is limited to alterations, additions, and accessory buildings.” (g) Section R506.1 is amended to read as follows:
R506.1 General. Concrete slab-on-ground floors shall be a minimum 4 inches (101.6mm) thick (for expansive soils, see Section R403.1.8). The specified compressive strength of concrete shall be as set forth in Section R402.2.
(h) Section R506.3.4 of the California Residential Code is deleted and replaced with the following:
“R506.3.4 Reinforcement support. Where provided in slabs on ground, reinforcement shall be supported to remain in place from the center to upper one third of the slab for the duration of the concrete placement.
Reinforcement shall be a minimum of #4-bar at 18 inches on center in both directions.”
Sec. 15.04.110 Amendments to California Green Building Standards Code – Reserved.
Sec. 15.04.120 Amendments to California Existing Building Code – Reserved.
Sec. 15.04.130 Amendments to International Property Maintenance Code – Reserved.
Sec. 15.04.140 Amendments to California Energy Code
The provisions of this Section 15.04.140 shall constitute local
amendments to the cross- referenced provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Energy Code, and shall be deemed to replace the cross- referenced section in said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Section 15.04.140.
Section 150.1is amended by adding (c)(14)(iv) to read as follows:
“iv. Pigeon proofing shall be required on roof mount solar in new residential development.”
SECTION 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase added by this Ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases are declared unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective.
SECTION 6. Publication. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause a summary thereof to be published at least five (5) days prior to the meeting at which the proposed ordinance is to be adopted and shall post a certified copy of the proposed ordinance in the office of the City Clerk, and with fifteen (15) days of its adoption, shall cause a summary of it to be published, including the vote for and against the same, and shall post a certified copy of the adopted ordinance in the office of the City Clerk, in accordance with California Government Code Section 36933.
SECTION 7. Effective Date. This ordinance and the rules, regulations, provisions, requirements, orders and matters established and adopted hereby shall take effect and be in full force and effect on January 1, 2026 which is to be no less than thirty (30) days from and after the date of its final passage and adoption.
SECTION 8. CEQA. The City Council finds that it can be seen with certainty that adoption of this Ordinance will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment and is therefore exempt from California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. Staff is directed to file a notice of exemption within five (5) days of the adoption of this Ordinance.
INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Woodland, California on the 21 st day of October 2025, and PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Woodland at a regular meeting held on the 18 th day of November 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_______________________________
Rich Lansburgh, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Marissa Kersey, City Clerk Ethan Walsh, City Attorney
EXHIBIT A
Findings to Support Amendments to the
2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code
This Exhibit A provides the express findings and determinations (where necessary pursuant to California Health & Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.7 and/or 18941.5) justifying the City of Woodland’s amendments to the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code, the 2025 Edition of the California Electrical Code, the 2025 Edition of the California Mechanical Code, the 2025 Edition of the California Plumbing Code, the 2025 Edition of the California Residential Code and the 2025 California Energy Code (codified in Title 24 of the California Building Standards Code) as reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geologic or topographic conditions.
Sec 15.04.030 Amendments to California Building Code
Woodland
Municipal Code
Section Amended
Building Code
Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below key
to
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 105.3 Adds text regarding subcontractors and permits
A
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 109.2 Adds text authorizing permit fees, as established by separate City Council
resolutions
A
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 109.4 Amends text regarding violations and penalties
A
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 114 Amends text regarding violations and penalties
A
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 406.3.1 Adds text regarding concrete driveways B Sec. 15.04.030 435.8.3.2 Exterior Doors Required for Sleeping Rooms in RCFEs Housing Bedridden
Clients
A, C(vii)
Sec. 15.04.030 903.1 Regulations regarding installation of automatic sprinkler systems
C(vii)
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 1907.3 Replaces language regarding concrete floor slabs
B
Sec. 15.04.030 Section 1907.4 Deletes 1907.4 regarding vapor retarder B Sec. 15.04.030 N/A Adds local language related to asphalt paving
B
Sec 15.04.040 Amendments to California Electrical Code
Municipal Code
Section Amended
Electrical Code
Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.040 Section
89.108.4.2
Adds text regarding how permits fees
are set forth in “The City of Woodland
Comprehensive Fee Schedule”
A
Sec 15.04.050 Amendments to California Mechanical Code
Woodland Mechanical Amendment Justification
Municipal Code Code Section (see below
Section for
Impacted
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.050 Section 1.8.4.2 Adds text regarding how permits fees are set forth in “The City of Woodland
Comprehensive Fee Schedule”
A
Sec 15.04.060 Amendments to California Plumbing Code
Woodland
Municipal Code
Section
Plumbing
Code Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.060 Section 104.3.2 Deletes text and adds text regarding how permits fees are set forth in “The City of
Woodland Comprehensive Fee
Schedule”
A
Sec. 15.04.060 Section 312.10 Adds text regarding installation of water lines
C
Sec. 15.04.060 Section 609.3 Adds text regarding installation of water piping
C
Sec 15.04.070 Amendments to Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings Woodland
Municipal Code
Section
Uniform Code
for the
Abatement of
Dangerous
Buildings,
Section Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.070 Section 201 Authority to disconnect a utility service A Sec. 15.04.060 Section 302 Defines dangerous building A
Sec 15.04.080 Amendments to Uniform Housing Code
Woodland
Municipal Code
Section
Uniform
Housing
Code Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.070 Chapter 10 Substandard Buildings A
Sec 15.04.090 Amendments to Uniform Security Code
Woodland
Municipal Code
Section
Uniform
Housing
Code Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.070 Section 1020 Residential Buildings A
Sec. 15.04.070 Section 1021 Commercial Buildings A
Sec 15.04.100 Amendments to California Residential Code Woodland
Municipal Code
Section
Residential
Code Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.100 Section R105.3 Adds text regarding subcontractors and permits
A
Sec. 15.04.100 Section R108.2 Deletes text and adds text regarding how permits fees are set forth in “The City of
Woodland Comprehensive Fee
Schedule”
A
Sec. 15.04.100 Section R108.6 Amends text regarding violations and penalties
A
Sec. 15.04.100 Section R113 Amends text regarding violations and penalties
A
Sec. 15.04.100 Section
R403.1.8
Deletes text and adds text regarding
foundations and floor slabs
B
Sec. 15.04.100 Section R506 Adds text regarding a note that this section refers to alterations, additions
and accessory buildings
B
Sec. 15.04.100 Section R506.1 Deletes and replaces text regarding concrete floor slabs
B
Sec. 15.04.100 Section
R506.3.4
Deletes and replaces text regarding
reinforcement for ground slabs
B
Sec 15.04.140 Amendments to California Energy Code
Woodland
Municipal Code
Section
Energy Code
Section
Impacted
Amendment Justification
(see below for
justifications)
Sec. 15.04.140 Section
150.1(c)(14)
Adds text requiring pigeon proofing on
roof mount solar in new residential
development.
A
Justifications KEY: Findings to Support Amendments to California Building Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code and California Residential Code
A - This amendment is necessary for administrative clarification and does not modify a building standard pursuant to California Health & Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.7 and/or 18941.5.
This amendment establishes administrative standards for the effective enforcement of the building standards in the City of Woodland.
B - This amendment is reasonably necessary because of the following local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions:
(i) Local soil conditions (clay soils) tend to be highly expansive, thereby subject to shrinking and swelling during seasonal drying and wetting conditions, and can cause damage to the foundation and other parts of a structure; (ii) The minimum requirements set forth in the amendment is a more restrictive standard, which will better avoid damage due to the pumping action caused by local expansive soils;
(iii) The type and thickness of the materials set forth in the amendment are more restrictive and will better prevent damage, which can occur from the local condition of highly expansive soils in the City of Woodland.
C – This amendment is reasonably necessary because of the following local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions:
(i) City of Woodland is within an active seismic area;
(ii) Local soil conditions (clay soils) tend to be highly expansive (i.e. shrink—swell behavior);
(iii) The local climate is characterized by markedly delineated rainy and dry seasons, which tend to maximize the expansive characteristics of the soil; (iv) City of Woodland has hard water, which is corrosive to ferrous and non-ferrous metals;
(v) The ground water table is unusually high in many places; (vi) Therefore, restrictions on the installation of water piping in or under a concrete slab floor as set forth in the amendment is a more restrictive standard which will better prevent damage which can result from these local conditions described here in items (i) through (v).
(vii) Geological conditions - active faulting, seismic shaking, historic and vulnerable construction, growth of large industrial occupancies, and limited emergency resources; More restrictive standards are necessary to mitigate the increased risk of fire following earthquakes
and to ensure that life and property are adequately protected when local infrastructure and resources are strained.
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA: City Council Regular Meeting
DATE: October 21, 2025
ITEM #: G.17
SUBJECT: Road Maintenance Program
Recommendation for Action: Staff recommends that the City Council receive a presentation on the Road Maintenance Program.
Staff Contact:
Diana Ayón, Senior Associate Civil Engineer, (530) 661-5967, [email protected]
Fiscal Impact:
No fiscal impact. This item is informational.
The City’s road maintenance program is funded through a combination of local sales tax measures (Measures E and F), state sales tax (SB1, Gas Tax) and state and federal grant funding (STIP, RSTP, HSIP). Over the past ten years, the City has invested $77 million dollars in roadway maintenance and rehabilitation projects. Of this total, $34.5 million has been state and federal grants. These grant funds are competitive and require a local funding match. The City's primary source of match funding for these grants has been local sales taxes revenues from Measures E and F. Specifically, over the 12-year life of Measure F, it is anticipated that approximately $37 million will be allocated to the Road Maintenance Program. Of this total, approximately $11.2 million will be directed to fund the Public Works road crew. This funding is allocated on an annual basis as needed to balance the deficit from the declining available gas tax revneues (the traditional fund source for this work). The Public Works road crew is a critical piece of the road maintenance program as they perform preparatory work (crack sealing, base failure repair) necessary in advance of maintenance surface seal projects. This approach significantly reduces the contract cost and construction time for the larger surface seal projects. They also perform safety and minor repair work (pothole and trench repair, minor repaving) on the roadways.
Background:
There are 439 lane miles of paved roadways within Woodland. The City maintains a pavement management program that tracks pavement conditions of the entire roadway network and aims to address citywide roadway maintenance and rehabilitation. Pavement maintenance is significantly different than pavement rehabilitation. The goal of pavement maintenance is to prevent reactive road repair by proactively preserving and maintaining pavements in good to fair condition which have not yet deteriorated to the point of needing rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is the reconstruction of roadways which have failed beyond a maintainable condition.
To increase cost efficiency and minimize public inconvenience, pavement maintenance for local/residential streets has historically been completed in discrete ‘zones’ of the city. Geographically bounding projects reduces the cost for construction and traffic control; it also increases the effectiveness of management and inspection. Between 2008 and 2018, the city completed pavement maintenance projects on local/residential roads in all 14 zones within the City. With road maintenance having been completed on local/residential roads in all zones, the focus over the last several years has been on arterial and collector streets in need of maintenance. The streets identified for treatment were chosen because they were at an age and condition which were prime for pavement surface work to preserve their condition and extend their useful life or were incorporated
into a grant funded project.
Discussion:
Staff will present the history and progress of the Road Maintenance Program, including the current road conditions and planned roadway improvement projects.
Conclusion:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive a presentation on the Road Maintenance Program.
Prepared by: Diana Ayón, Senior Associate Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Brent Meyer, Community Development Director / City Engineer
Attachments:
1. Road Presentation for Publication
2025
Road Maintenance Program
Update
October 21,
2025
Council Meeting
1
Road Program Funding
Funding Totals for FY15
-
25 Over the past 10 years the City has invested over $77 million in the road program. Of this total, 45% has been state and federal grants and another 43% has been our local sales tax Measures E & F . The remaining funding is comprised of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding used primarily for ADA improvements and the relatively new Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Act/Senate Bill 1 (RMRA/SB1) funding.
Over the 12
-
year life of Measure F (our current tax measure which sunsets in 2028), it is anticipated that a total of $37 million will be allocated to the road program.
Approximately $1 million per year of the Measure F roadway investment is directed to fund the Public Works road crew. Funding this crew is crucial to the road program as they are responsible for the preparatory work on our roads before surface seal is applied. This includes crack sealing and base repairs which are significantly more costly to have a contractor perform. This work is performed in addition to all regular the pothole filling, emergency repair and minor repaving work they do. 2
Road Program Costs
Full Road Reconstruction
~$7M per mile
Grind & Overlay
~$1.5M per mile
Surface Seal
~$100
–
400K per mile
A complete pavement reconstruction project with very little sidewalk/curb/gutter work, like Gibson or
Matmor
and Gum costs about $7 million per mile. A grind and
overlay rehabilitation, similar to what was performed on Third Street this past summer, costs about $1.5 million per mile.
To avoid these very costly rehabilitation and keep roads in good condition, we aim to perform preventative maintenance surface seals on local streets. When doing this, we can typically surface seal an entire zone (which is about 12 -
15 miles of local roads) for
under $2 million.
On average the City programs approximately $2.5 million per year in local funding toward road maintenance and rehabilitation. The larger reconstruction projects we perform are made possible by state and federal grants matched with local funding. 3
Roadway Maintenance Zones
Pavement maintenance is generally performed within a maintenance zone. These zones are generally defined by major streets as you can see on this map.
Prior to 2008, road maintenance was performed on roadways without regard to their geographic locations. To increase cost efficiency and minimize public inconvenience, in 2008, we switched to pavement maintenance for local streets being completed in discrete zones of the City. Geographically bounding projects reduces the cost for construction and traffic control; it also increases the effectiveness of management and inspection. Additionally, public inconvenience is reduced as there is not often impactful road work in your neighborhood year after year. 4
5 Work Performed on Local Streets
2009/10
2014
2016
2016
2017
2017
2018
2018
2018
2008
2012
This map is a quick visual to show the maintenance performed between 2008 and 2018. Local streets in all zones throughout the city were treated using different types of surface treatments that I’ll show in the next few slides.
Sixth Street
Surface Seal
Sixth St received a surface seal and was upgraded with separated bike lanes. 6
Woodland Avenue
Surface Seal
Woodland Ave received a surface seal and was also restriped with bike lanes 7
Woodland Avenue
Surface Seal
This is another location on Woodland Avenue resurfacing and restriping project 8
N. Walnut Street
Surface Seal
N. Walnut Street was resurfaced and restriped.
With road maintenance resurfacing, many streets also get new bike lane striping. This proactive effort through the road maintenance program has been a large part of how we’ve expanded the local bike network over the past few years. 9
2008
-
PCI 59
Local Street Condition
2018
–
PCI 66
2025
–
PCI 64
Street conditions are rated on a 0
-
100 scale based on the physical condition of the
asphalt where 100 is the best score possible and 0 is a failed roadway.
Looking at the maps you can see the Local street PCI in 2008 when we started zone maintenance was 59. By 2018 we had performed seal work on all local roads in all zones and the PCI increased to 66 which is a fairly good condition (many of our geographic neighbors have average PCI’s in the lower 60’s).
As a result of this success, and the availability of state and federal grant funding which is only able to be used on arterial & collector roads, in 2018, the City switched focus to maintenance and rehabilitation to primarily arterial and collectors.
The impact of this switch can be seen in the 2025 map where local road conditions are starting to degrade and the PCI is 64. This is not a severe decline, meaning that the treatments we’ve done have been effective at maintaining roadways in serviceable condition. However it is an indication that we need to refocus on local streets. 10
Work Performed on Arterial & Collector Streets
2008
-
2018
2018
-
2025
The blue boxes on the maps show work performed on arterial and collector roadways during the noted time periods.
Between 2008 and 2018, while we were focused primarily on local roadways, we still performed some major road work on streets such as Kentucky, Ashley and California In 2018 switched to focus primarily on arterial and collectors and between 2018 and 2025, a substantial amount of road rehabilitation was performed. Including major projects on: Cottonwood, W. Court St, W. Main St, El Dorado Dr, Gibson Road, E. Main, Matmor
and Gum.
11
Kentucky Ave
Reconstruction
The next few slides are some before and after images of the major road work that was performed since 2018.
Kentucky just east of College
12
Kentucky Ave
Reconstruction
Kentucky west of College
13
West Main Street
Reconstruction
W. Main near Ashley, road reconstruction included adding sidewalk curb & gutter and storm system improvements near Ashely where previously none existed. 14
W. Court Street
Reconstruction
Reconstruction of W. Court near Ashely where lanes were narrowed to improve bike facilities
15
East Main Street
Surface Seal & Bike/Ped
E. Main road section was surface sealed with this project. This project was a major Bike/Ped improvement which constructed an off
-
street bike path and eliminated the
roadside bike/ped hazard associated with lacking storm system coupled with unpaved shoulders.
16
Gibson Road
–
East to West
Reconstruction
Gibson just east of College
17
Gibson Road
–
West to CR98
Reconstruction
Gibson just west of Ashely
18
Matmor
Rd.
Reconstruction
Matmor
north of Gum
19
E. Gum Ave.
Reconstruction
E. Gum near the fairgrounds
20
W. El Dorado Drive
Surface Seal
W. El Dorado near Ashely
21
El Dorado Drive
Grind & Overlay
El dorado near Spruce
22
Arterial & Collector Street Condition
2008
–
PCI 62
2018
–
PCI 62
2025
–
PCI 72
These maps show the impact on arterials and collectors of focusing primarily on local roads
2008 to 2018
–
arterials/collectors generally started to get worse which you can see in the map coloring. However, from a PCI basis there isn’t much change due to work that was performed during this time on streets like Kentucky Avenue, Ashley and California From 2018 to 2025, the road work performed
significantly
improved the PCI for the
arterial and collector streets and the current PCI is 72 23
Tentative Road Maintenance Schedule
Looking to the future, road maintenance is programmed to switch back to working on local streets in a global manner while reserving some funding for work on collectors and arterials as funding allows. This will blend the benefits of the “local only” and “arterial/collector only” methods of maintenance & repair.
The map shows a very tentative schedule for zone maintenance based on current road conditions in each zone and expected available funding. For the purposes of this graphic and schedule, the assumption is made that the local sales tax is extended. If the sales tax measure is not extended, the amount of work that will be performed in this same time period will be less than half what is shown on the slide, meaning it would take until roughly 2045 to complete all the work shown on the slide.
Part of the consideration with road maintenance scheduling is the ever -
increasing
costs of performing road work, the uncertainty of state and federal funding and the requirement to construct ADA and sidewalk upgrades when performing certain types of road maintenance and rehabilitation. Also, when scheduling, consideration must be given to coordination with other private and public projects (internet providers, utility work, etc.).
24
Staff Contact
Diana
Ayón
Sr. Associate Civil Engineer
[email protected]
25