URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 464U
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE FIRE CODE OF THE CITY
OF YUCAIPA
WHEREAS, Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution authorizes the City of Yucaipa ("City") to enact ordinances to protect the public peace, health, and safety; and WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Law (Health & Safety Code § § 18901 et seq.) and the State Housing Law (Health & Safety Code § § 17910 et seq.) authorize cities to adopt building and fire -safety regulations more restrictive than those contained in the California Building Standards Code when reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, provided the City Council makes express findings thereof; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 306 ("AB 306") generally prohibits cities, from October 1 2025 through June 1 2031, from adopting new or amended residential building standards unless such standards are, among other things, substantially equivalent to pre-existing local amendments, necessary emergency standards to protect health and safety and related to home hardening; and
WHEREAS, by this Ordinance, the City of Yucaipa adopts local amendments that fall within one or more exceptions under AB 306; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yucaipa is situated within a very -high fire -hazard severity zone characterized by steep slopes, canyons, Santa Ana wind events, prolonged drought, and combustible native vegetation, all of which create unique and significant risks of catastrophic wildfire threatening life, property, and critical infrastructure; and WHEREAS, recent wildfires in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and nearby jurisdictions demonstrate the clear and present danger posed to Yucaipa residents, requiring enhanced fire -safe construction standards beyond those contained in the existing Fire Code; and WHEREAS, in light of these local conditions, the City Council finds and determines that the adoption of certain amendments to the Fire Code of the City of Yucaipa is reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Yucaipa residents; and WHEREAS, the City Council may adopt an urgency ordinance by a four -fifths (4/5) vote where necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety; and WHEREAS, because of the imminent threat of wildfire, the need to ensure new residential construction incorporates safe materials and design features, and because AB 306 will otherwise bar new residential amendments as of October 1 2025, the City Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance as an urgency measure is necessary for the immediate preservation of public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA as it contains no provision that may cause a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect physical change in the environment and thus is not a "project."
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YUCAIPA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Title.
This Ordinance shall be known as the "2025 Yucaipa Fire Code Update." SECTION 2. Municipal Code Amendment.
A. Yucaipa Municipal Code Section 15.04.115 is hereby amended to add subsection (B)(54) which reads as follows:
54. A new Section 903.2.22 is hereby added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in all new installations of newly constructed or relocated mobile homes, manufactured homes, and multifamily manufactured homes with up to two dwelling units in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.
B. Yucaipa Municipal Code Section 15.04.115 is hereby amended to add subsection (B)(55) which reads as follows:
55. A new Section 701.8 is hereby added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:
When installed within an area designated as a High Fire Severity Zone by the State of California, Department of Forestry (Ca1FIRE), as adopted and amended by the City of Yucaipa, all new installations of newly constructed or relocated mobile homes, manufactured homes, and multifamily manufactured homes with two dwelling units shall be constructed using ignition resistive materials and practices in accordance with the current editions of the Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations, Chapter 7A of the California Building Code and the California Wildlife Urban Interface Code.
SECTION 3. Findings of Fact —Local Conditions
The City Council hereby finds that each amendment in this Ordinance is reasonably necessary due to the following local climatic, geological, and topographical conditions:
1. Climatic Conditions:
The City of Yucaipa is located in southern California and in western San Bernardino County. This part of the County is subject to high temperatures, high velocity wind conditions which may reach or exceed 70 m.p.h., and extended periods with little to no precipitation. These dry climatic
conditions and high winds cause drying of vegetation and building materials which contribute to rapid spread of fires leading to a need for increased levels of protection.
After many years of drought there are times when significant rainfall can affect the City. The runoff from this rainfall can cause flooding and mudslides putting lives and property at risk and cause emergency response delays. Frequent periods of drought and low humidity add to the fire danger.
This predisposes the area to large destructive fires (conflagrations) which necessitates rapid identification, locating, and extinguishment of all fires in the smallest stage possible. In addition to directly damaging or destroying buildings, these fires are also prone to disrupt utility services throughout the City. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, street lights, and utility poles, will negatively impact the response time to reach an incident scene.
Water demand in densely populated southern California far exceeds the quantity supplied by natural precipitation; and although the population continues to grow, the already -taxed water supply does not. California is projected to increase in population by nearly 10 million residents over the next quarter of a century with 50 percent of that growth centered in southern California.
Due to storage capacities and consumption, and a limited amount of rainfall, future water allocation is not fully dependable. This necessitates the need for additional and on -site fire protection features.
2. Topographical Conditions:
Traffic and circulation congestion, along with limited access routes to certain areas, contribute to increased response times to emergencies. These conditions increase response times and makes it necessary to require additional life safety requirements to protect lives and property.
3. Geological Conditions:
The City of Yucaipa is located in an area of substantial seismic activity. Several faults, including the San Andreas Fault, are located near the City. These faults can be expected to have a major impact on the City of Yucaipa and pose a threat to lives and property. Buildings vary in susceptibility, dependent upon construction and the types of soils on which they are built.
Earthquakes destroy power and telephone lines; gas, sewer, or water mains; which in turn may set off fires and/or hinder firefighting or rescue efforts. Ground shaking may occur in areas 65 miles or more from the epicenter (the point of ground surface about the focus). Ground shaking can change the mechanical properties of some fine grained, saturated soils, where upon they liquefy and act as a fluid (liquefaction). Damage to building construction, bridges, gas lines, water, and sewer lines would have a catastrophic impact on the community and City resources would be taxed beyond capabilities.
Previous earthquakes in southern California have been accompanied by disruption of traffic flow and fires. A severe seismic event has the potential to negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression activities because it is likely to create obstacles similar to those indicated under the high wind section above. With the probability of strong aftershocks there exists a need to provide increased protection for anyone on upper floors of buildings.
Road circulation features located throughout the County of San Bernardino and City of Yucaipa also make amendments reasonably necessary. Located through the County and the City of Yucaipa are major roadways, highways, and flood control channels that create barriers and slow response times. Hills, slopes, street and storm drain design, accompanied with occasional heavy rainfall, causes roadway flooding and landslides and at times may make an emergency access route impassable. There are areas in San Bernardino County that naturally have extended emergency times that exceed our response time goal.
The foregoing conditions, individually and collectively, create a unique hazard to life and property and justify the local amendments adopted herein.
ALL CHANGES IN SECTION 2 ABOVE ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY MARKED AND IDENTIFIED AS BEING SUBJECT TO FINDINGS 1, 2 AND 3 ABOVE.
SECTION 4. Urgency Declaration.
The City Council declares that the adoption of this Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. This declaration is based on the findings set forth in the recitals above, which are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 5. CEQA Findings.
The City Council finds that this Ordinance is (i) categorically exempt from CEQA under Guidelines §§ 15307 and 15308 and (ii) not a "project" under Guidelines § 15378 because there is no possibility that the activity in question may cause a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
SECTION 6. Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 7. Codification.
The City Clerk is authorized and directed to cause the provisions of this Ordinance to be codified into the Yucaipa Municipal Code. The City Manager is authorized to take all actions necessary to effectuate the intent of this Ordinance.
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SECTION 8. Effective Date.
This Urgency Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by at least a four -fifths (4/5) vote of the City Council.
SECTION 9. Publication and Posting.
The Mayor shall sign this Ordinance, and the City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption and shall cause the ordinance or a summary thereof to be published in accordance with state law.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 25th day of August, 2025.
Jon Thorp, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM
Ana V. Sauseda, MMC Steven Pacifico, City Attorney
Director of General Services/City Clerk