Section 4911 is hereby added to the California Fire Code 2022 Edition to read as follows:
SECTION 4911 ACCESS
4911.1 Objective. The objective of this Section is to establish the minimum requirements for emergency vehicle access for buildings and structures located in the wildland-urban interface areas. Where there are conflicts with these provisions and CCR Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, the most restrictive shall govern.
4911.2 Subdivision Access. New subdivisions, as determined by this jurisdiction, shall be provided with fire apparatus access roads in accordance with the Fire Code and NFPA 1144 and access requirements in accordance with Section 4911.
4911.3 Individual Structure Access. Individual structures hereafter constructed or moved into or within wildland-urban interface areas shall be provided with fire apparatus access in accordance with the Fire Code and NFPA 1144 and driveways in accordance with Section
4911.4 Marking of fire-protection equipment shall be provided in accordance with Section 4911.7 and address markers shall be provided in accordance with Section 4911.8.
4911.5 Existing Conditions. Existing buildings and structures shall be provided with address markers in accordance with Section 4911.8. Existing roads and fire protection equipment shall be provided with markings in accordance with Sections 4911.6 and 4911.7.
4911.6 Restricted Access. Where emergency vehicle access is restricted due to secured access roads or driveways or where immediate access is necessary for life saving or firefighting purposes, the code official is authorized to require a key box to be installed in an accessible location. The key box shall be of a type approved by the code official and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the code official.
4911.5 Driveways. Driveways shall be provided when access is not available at least within 150 feet (45720mm) from any portion of an exterior wall on grade. Driveways shall provide a minimum unobstructed width of 12 feet (3658 mm) and a minimum unobstructed height of 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm). Driveways in excess of 150 feet (45720 mm) in length shall be provided with turnarounds. Driveways in excess of 200 feet (60960 mm) in length shall be provided with turnouts in addition to turnarounds. Driveway lengths shall not exceed one-half the approved maximum access road length. Vehicle load limits shall be posted at both entrances to bridges on driveways. Bridges shall also comply with CFC 503.2.6. Driveway turnarounds shall have an inside turning radius of not less than 28-feet (8540 mm) and outside turning radius of not less than 48-feet (14640 mm). Driveways which connect with a road or roads at more than one point may be considered as having a turnaround if all changes of direction meet the radii requirements for driveway turnarounds. Driveway turnouts shall be an all-weather road surface at least 10 feet (3048 mm) wide and 30 feet (9144mm) long. Driveway turnouts shall be located as required by the code official. A driveway shall be defined as vehicular ingress and egress routes that serve no more than two (2) buildings or structures, not including accessory structures, on one parcel, containing no more than three (3) dwelling units.
EXCEPTIONS:
When topography prevents appropriate fire apparatus access the Fire Chief may consider additional fire protection systems, build-in fire resistive construction or supplementary brush abatement measures, or all of the above, in lieu of the minimum standards established. The Fire Chief or his/her designee shall have discretion on acceptable requirements which shall not be subject to planning commission review.
4911.6 Marking of Roads. Approved signs or other approved notices shall be provided and maintained for access roads and driveways to identify such roads and prohibit the obstruction thereof or both. All road identifications signs shall have minimum 4-inch high (102 mm) letters with 1-1/2 inch (13 mm) stroke on a contrasting 6-inch high (153 mm) sign. Road identification signage shall be mounted at a height of 7 feet (2134 mm) from the road surface to the bottom of the sign.
4911.7 Marking of Fire Protection Equipment. Fire protection equipment and fire hydrants shall be clearly identified in a manner approved by the code official to prevent obstruction.
4911.8 Address Markers. All buildings shall have a permanently posted address, which shall be placed at each driveway entrance and visible from both directions of travel along the road. In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter, and the address shall be visible and legible from the road on which the address is located. Address signs along one-way roads shall be visible from both the intended direction of travel and the opposite direction. Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single post. Where a roadway provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the nearest road intersection providing access to that site.
(Ord. 2007-17, § 1 (part), 2007; Ord. 2010-16 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2013-05 § 2, 2013; Ord. 2019-11 § 4, 2019; Ord. 2022-09 § 4 (part), 2022)