(A) Required building numbers. Existing residential buildings of any type in all areas of the city and those that are constructed after the effective date of this chapter, shall have approved address numbers affixed to the structure in a location that is clearly visible from the street. The numbers shall be of contrasting color to the structure and six inches in height
(B) Electronic gates. All existing electronic gates that control vehicular access to private property in Monrovia, and those that are erected, installed or made operational after the effective date of this chapter, shall have an approved Knox key box for Fire Department access with placement of said Knox key box to be determined and approved by the Fire Chief, or a designee thereof.
(C) Fuel reduction in the very high fire hazard severity zone. In order to promote fire safety, the occurrence of any of the following actions involving residentially zoned real property of any type in the very high fire severity zone shall require the Fire Chief’s written approval of a fuel modification plan, a landscape plan and an irrigation plan (collectively the “Fire Safety Plans”) that have been prepared by a state licensed landscape architect, landscape designer, landscape contractor, or another individual with expertise acceptable to the Fire Chief.
(1) Subdivision of land or a lot merger. Approval of the fire safety plans shall be obtained before any Technical Code permit is issued pursuant to Title 15 [Building and Construction] of this code.
(2) Submittal of any plan, application or other information to the Planning Division or the Building Division for review or approval of any project concerning an alteration, repair, remodel or addition involving 1,000 square feet or more of an existing building or structure, or any portion thereof. Approval of the Fire Safety Plans shall be obtained before any Technical Code permit is issued pursuant to Title 15 [Building and Construction] of the Monrovia Municipal Code in connection with this project. If the Monrovia Municipal Code does not require Planning Division and/or Building Division review and approval, or same are not obtained for any reason, this project shall not be started in any manner without the Fire Chief’s prior written approval of the Fire Safety Plans.
(3) Submittal of any plan, application or other information to the Planning Division or the Building Division for review or approval of any project concerning the construction or installation of any new building or structure.
(a) Approval of the fire safety plans shall be obtained before any technical code permit is issued pursuant to Title 15 [Building and Construction] of the this code in connection with this project. If this code does not require Planning Division and/or Building Division review and approval, or same are not obtained for any reason, this project shall not be started in any manner without the Fire Chief’s prior written approval of the Fire Safety Plans.
(b) The work that is approved in the fire safety plans shall be fully completed in the manner required by said plans and pass a Fire Prevention Bureau inspection by the date stated in the Fire Chief’s written approval. The Fire Chief may impose conditions on his or her approval, if reasonably necessary to address specific factors of a property that require particular attention or consideration. Failure to obtain approved fire safety plans, or to complete the work authorized by said plans, or to pass an inspection in a timely manner, or to comply with any condition of an approval, is prohibited and unlawful.
(c) All installations that are required by fire safety plans shall be maintained at all times. All vegetation shall be regularly watered, fed and trimmed so as to not constitute hazardous vegetation. All non- vegetative installations shall be maintained in good working order and condition at all times.
(D) Spark arresters required in the very high fire severity zone.
(1) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, use or operate, or allow the use or operation of, any tractor, construction equipment, engine, machinery, or any steam, oil or gasoline-operated, or other combustive stationary or mobile equipment or device (collectively “Equipment”), from which a spark or fire may originate or escape, unless an approved spark arrester or other similar device is installed in, or attached to, an exhaust pipe of the Equipment at all times. Said approved spark arrester or other similar device shall meet the United States Forest Service “standard for spark arresters for internal combustion engines” (Standard 5100-1B, July 1991). For the purpose of this section, any registered motor vehicle operated on a road or highway and which is equipped with a muffler in good working condition, as required by the Vehicle Code, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.
(2) Each chimney of any building or structure, as well as any barbecue, incinerator, or heating appliance or device, that is used in conjunction with any form of solid or liquid fuel in the very high fire severity zone, shall be maintained with an approved spark arrester or other similar device at all times that is constructed with heavy wire mesh or other noncombustible material with openings not to exceed one-half inch.
(E) Open flame device.
(1) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, engage in, or allow the use of, any activity or process involving a welding torch, a tar pot, a decorative torch, or any other device that would, or may, start or cause a fire, unless a written permit is first obtained from the Fire Chief. Conditions may be imposed on this permit in order to protect life or property.
(2) A permit is not be required if said activity or process is conducted on occupied premises and at least 30 feet from any grass, brush or forest covered lands.
(F) Outdoor fires.
(1) (a) Outdoor fires shall not be built, ignited or maintained in the very high fire severity zone, unless a responsible person has first obtained a written permit from the Fire Chief. Conditions may be imposed on this permit in order to reasonably protect life or property. Notwithstanding any permit, an outdoor fire shall not be conducted at any time when high winds are blowing or when a person of at least 17 years of age, is not present at all times to watch and tend such fire, or when a public announcement is made that open burning is prohibited.
(b) Exceptions. Propane or natural gas outdoor fires on occupied premises where such fires are conducted in a permanent barbecue structure, in a portable barbecue, or in an outdoor fireplace incinerator or grill structure, do not require a permit provided the fire is a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm) from any grass, grain, brush or forest covered lands.
(2) Permanent barbecues, portable barbecues, as well as outdoor fireplace incinerator or grill structures shall not be used for the collection, storage or disposal of rubbish, trash or other combustible matter at any time.
(G) Incinerators and fireplaces.
(1) Incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent barbecues and grills shall not be built, installed or maintained in the very high fire severity zone without prior approval of the Fire Chief, or a designee thereof. This obligation also applies to incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent barbecues and grills, or similar devices or installations that were in existence prior to the adoption of this chapter and regardless of whether or not the city issued technical code permits or Zoning approvals in connection with same.
(2) (a) Incinerators, outdoor fireplaces, permanent barbecues and grills shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe condition at all times. Openings in such appliances shall be provided with an approved spark arrester, screen or door.
(b) Exceptions. Unprotected openings in permanent barbecues and grills that are necessary for proper functioning as determined by the manufacturer are exempt from the requirement of an approved spark arrester, screen or door.
(H) Smoking.
(1) Lighting, igniting or otherwise setting fire to, or smoking, tobacco products of any kind, including but not limited to, cigarettes, pipes or cigars in the very high fire severity zone is prohibited.
(2) Exceptions. Lighting, igniting or otherwise setting fire to, or smoking, tobacco products is allowed within a lawfully erected building, as well as in approved smoking areas as designated by the Fire Chief.
(I) Tracer bullets, tracer charges, rockets and model aircraft.
(1) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, possess, fire, or allow the possessing or firing of tracer bullets and tracer charges.
(2) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, fire, use, or allow the firing or use of, rockets, model aircraft, gliders and balloons that are powered with a combustive engine, propellant or other feature that may start, or cause a fire.
(J) Explosives and blasting. No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, possess, keep, sell, offer for sale, give away, store, use, fire, discharge, transport or dispose of explosive or blasting devices, or allow any of these activities to occur, without first obtaining a written permit from the Fire Chief. Conditions may be imposed on this permit in order to protect life and property
(K) Fireworks.
(1) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, possess, keep, sell, offer for sale, give away, store, use, fire, discharge, transport or dispose of fireworks, or allow any of these activities to occur.
(2) The Fire Chief is authorized to seize, take, remove, or cause to be removed, fireworks in the very high fire severity zone as authorized by the code or by state law.
(L) Dumping. No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, discard or dump, or allow the discarding or dumping of, garbage, refuse, trash, or other combustible material including, but not limited to, cans, bottles, papers, ashes, upon any public or private land or public rights-of-way.
(M) Tampering with Fire Department locks, devices, barricades and signs.
(1) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, tamper with, mutilate, destroy or remove installed Fire Department locks, barricades, seals, cables, signs and markers, or allow any of these activities to occur.
(2) No responsible person shall, in the very high fire severity zone, unlock installed Fire Department gates, doors, barriers and locks, or allow any of these activities to occur.
(N) Conflicts. If any requirement or regulation in this section conflicts with another provision of the Monrovia Municipal Code, the section in this chapter shall control.
(O) Civil Liability for Violations of this chapter. The expenses and costs of fighting fires that result from a violation of this code shall be a charge against all responsible persons. Damages and other claims of the city that are caused by such fires shall constitute a debt of all such responsible persons and are recoverable by the city in any manner allowed by law.
(Ord. 2007-22 § 4 (part), 2007)