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LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE CODE: Amended Ord. 1710

12-1.1 Los Angeles County Fire Code Adopted: Amended Ord. 1710

Except as hereinafter provided, the county of Los Angeles fire code (“County Fire Code” or “Fire Code”), as adopted by the county of Los Angeles as of the date of commencement of county fire service in the city of Lynwood, and the appendices and subsequent amendments thereto, is adopted by reference and incorporated herein as though fully set forth and shall constitute the fire code of the city. A copy of that code has been deposited in the office of the city clerk for use and examination by the public. In case of any conflict between the county fire code and the amendments thereto adopted by the city and set forth in subsection 12-1.2 of this section, the city amendments shall take precedence unless an impracticality of enforcement can be demonstrated. In the event of any conflict between a provision of the county fire code and a provision of the California fire code that is applicable to cities, as contained in part 9 of title 24 of the Code of California Regulations, the provision of the California fire code will prevail. (Code 1972 §12-1; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1208 §1; Ord. #1428, §1; Ord. #1498, §§1, 2)

12-1.2 Amendments To The County Fire Code: Amended Ord. 1710

a. Subsection 105.2.2 of the county fire code, entitled “Expiration”, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

A permit issued under this Fire Code shall continue until revoked or for such a period of time as designated therein at the time of issuance; provided, however, that no permit shall continue in effect for more than five (5) years. Permits shall not be transferable, and any change in use, occupancy, operation or ownership shall require a new permit.

b. Subsection 7802.3 of article 78 of the county fire code, entitled “Prohibition”, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Except as specifically provided in this subsection and in Section 12-2 of this Chapter 12, it is unlawful for any person to possess, store, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks; provided, that the Chief is authorized to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the granting of permits for supervised public displays of fireworks by the City, fair associations, amusement parks, and other organizations, or for the use of fireworks by artisans in pursuit of their trade. Every such display or use must be handled by a qualified operator approved by the Chief, and shall be of such a nature, and located, discharged or fired in such a manner that, in the opinion of the Chief after proper investigation, it will not be hazardous to property or endanger any person.

c. Section 1003 (“Fire-Extinguishing Systems”) of the county fire code is amended by adding the following language to subsection 1003.1 thereof:

Subject to the approval of the building official and with the concurrence of the Chief, an automatic sprinkler system is required to be installed in connection with the following:

(a) Any new building constructed as a nonresidential occupancy that exceeds ten thousand (10,000) square feet of floor area; and

(b) Any existing nonresidential building having less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet of floor area which, after completion of major alterations or additions, will have in excess of ten thousand (10,000) square feet of floor area.

Any automatic sprinkler system installed in a nonresidential building described above in subparagraphs (a) and (b) must be equipped with a device, approved by the Chief that automatically transmits a water flow alarm to the Fire Department upon activation of the system.

Exception: These requirements do not apply to any freestanding parking structure. The term “freestanding parking structure” means a garage with one or more levels devoted solely to parking that is structurally independent and not part of a larger building. A garage is deemed to be structurally independent even though it is connected to another building by pedestrian bridges.

d. Article 79 (“Flammable and Combustible Liquids”) of the county fire code is amended by amending subsection 7902.2.2.1 thereof to read as follows:

7902.2.2.1 Locations where aboveground tanks are prohibited. Storage of Class I and II liquids in aboveground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited everywhere within the City limits except on property zoned M by the Zoning Ordinance.

e. Article 79 (“Flammable and Combustible Liquids”) of the county fire code is amended by adding the following language to subsection 7904.4.1:

No new bulk plants or terminals may be located anywhere within the city limits except on property zoned M by the zoning ordinance.

f. Article 82 (“liquified petroleum gases”) of the county fire code is amended by adding the following language to subsection 8204.2:

No bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is authorized anywhere within the city limits except on property zoned M or C-3 by the zoning ordinance.

g. Article 77 (“explosive materials”) of the county fire code is amended by amending subsection 7701.7.2 thereof to read as follows:

7701.7.2 Limits Established By Law. Storage of explosive materials is prohibited everywhere within the city limits except on property zoned M by the zoning ordinance.

h. Subsection 103.1.4 of the county fire code, entitled “appeals”, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

103.1.4 Board Of Appeals

a. General. In order to determine the suitability of alternate materials and types of construction and to provide for reasonable interpretations of the provisions of this fire code, a board of appeals is established consisting of five members, all of whom shall be duly elected members of the city council. The chief shall be an ex officio member and shall act as secretary of the board. The board may adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its proceedings.

b. Appeals. Appeals to the board of appeals shall be processed and determined in accordance with the provisions contained in subsection 11-1.2 of the municipal code.

(Code 1972 §12-7; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1208, §1; Ord. #1387, §1; Ord. #1428, §1; Ord. #1498, §3)

12-1.3 Definitions: Amended Ord. 1710

As used in this chapter:

Corporation counsel, as used in the county fire code, shall mean the city attorney of the city of Lynwood.

Jurisdiction, as used in the county fire code, shall mean the city of Lynwood. (Code 1972 §12-3; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1498, §4)

12-1.4 Establishment And Duties Of Bureau Of Fire Prevention: Amended Ord. 1710

a. The county fire code shall be enforced by the bureau of fire prevention in the fire department of the city which is hereby established and which shall be operated under the supervision of the chief of the fire department.

b. The chief of the fire department may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall, from time to time, be necessary. The chief of the fire department shall recommend to the city manager the employment of technical inspectors, who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination shall be open to members and nonmembers of the fire department and appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term with removal only for cause. (Code 1972 §12-2; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1498, §4)

12-1.5 Establishment Of Limits Of Districts In Which Storage Of Flammable Or Combustible Liquids In Outside Aboveground Tanks Is To Be Prohibited: Amended Ord. 1710

a. The limits referred to in section 79.501 of the county fire code, in which the storage of flammable or combustible liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited, are hereby established as follows: No flammable or combustible liquids may be stored in aboveground tanks anywhere within the city limits except:

1. Upon property zoned M by the zoning ordinance; or

2. For used lubricating oil only, as defined in state Public Resources Code section 48618, upon property zoned C-2, C-2A and C-3 after securing site plan review approval and complying with the provisions of chapter 25, article 25 of this code.

b. No new bulk plants for flammable or combustible liquids shall be located anywhere within the city limits except on property zoned M by the zoning ordinance. (Code 1972 §12-4; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1208, §1; Ord. #1411, §1; Ord. #1498, §4)

12-1.6 Establishment Of Limits In Which Bulk Storage Of Liquefied Petroleum Gases Is To Be Restricted: Amended Ord. 1710

The limits referred to in section 82.105 of the county fire code, in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted, are hereby established as follows: No such storage shall be permitted anywhere within the city limits except, pursuant to proper permits therefor, on property zoned M or C-3 by the zoning ordinance. (Code 1972 §12-5; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1208, §1; Ord. #1498, §4)

12-1.7 Establishment Of Limits Of Districts In Which Storage Of Explosives And Blasting Agents Is To Be Prohibited: Amended Ord. 1710

The limits referred to in section 77.106(b) of the county fire code, in which storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited, are hereby established as follows: No such storage shall be permitted anywhere within the city limits except, pursuant to proper permits therefor, on property zoned M by the zoning ordinance. (Code 1972 §12-6; Ord. #904, §1; Ord. #1208, §1; Ord. #1498, §4)

12-1.8 Dispensing Of Gasoline: Amended Ord. 1710

No delivery of gasoline shall be made into a portable container unless such container is of material and construction approved pursuant to the county fire code, and has a tie closure with screwed or spring cover so designed that the contents can be dispensed without spilling; and not more than one gallon of gasoline shall be delivered into a portable container in connection with the sale of gasoline. (Code 1972 §12-10.1; Ord. #1068, §1; Ord. #1498, §4)

12-1.9 Appeals: Amended Ord. 1710

Whenever the chief shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the chief to the city council within thirty (30) days from the date of the decision appealed. (Code 1972 §12-8; Ord. #904, §1)

12-1.10 New Materials, Processes Or Occupancies Which May Require Permits: Amended Ord. 1710

The city manager, the chief, and the chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall act as a committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies, which shall require permits, in addition to those now enumerated in the code. The chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall post such literature in a conspicuous place in his office and distribute copies thereof to interested persons. (Code 1972 §12-9; Ord. #904, §1)