Definitions.
Riverside Municipal Code § 9.60.030
in effect9.60.030 - Definitions.
The following definitions apply to this chapter:
Community and Economic Development Departments: Included in this chapter entail Code Enforcement and Building and Safety Divisions.
Dangerous properties. If a building or property is determined by the Building Official or Fire Marshall to be uninhabitable or unoccupiable due to a dangerous condition existing on the property, and the building and/or property is posted by the City as "Do Not Occupy," "Do Not Enter," or equivalent, the property owner is liable for costs of emergency fire, medical, police, and public utility responses to the property, including without limitation the expenses of fighting a fire, which are determined by the Fire Chief, Police Chief, or Building Official to have been caused by or attributed to, in whole or part, the dangerous condition. This section shall only apply if the City notified the property owner of the dangerous condition prior to the response per the applicable code.
Emergency means any condition that results in, or could result in, the response of a public official in an authorized emergency vehicle or aircraft.
Emergency incident includes responding to: a hazardous material incident or emergency; an illegal fire; a threat of harm to oneself or others; any person obstructing, removing, tampering with or otherwise damaging any fire hydrant or city fire appliance; a structure demolition or utility line failure; water rescue attempts; a bomb threat; or any other incident where emergency medical, public safety, police, or community and economic development services are necessary.
Emergency response means the dispatch of one or more police officers to a business or property for a disturbance at the property. A response to a security or fire alarm under Riverside Municipal Code Chapters 5.58 or 5.59 does not constitute an "emergency response" under this chapter.
Extraordinary code services or responses means any of the following:
1. The response and issuance of a second or more administrative citation, for an identical violation(s) at the same business or property within a 90-day period.
"Extraordinary fire service or response" refers to fire or emergency medical services (EMS) activities that go beyond routine service levels due to frequency, hazard, or misuse of the emergency system. This includes, but is not limited to, the following circumstances:
1. Emergency Incidents or Hazardous Properties:
◦ Responses involving significant emergency incidents or properties that pose ongoing, unusual, or excessive risk to life, safety, or properties such as vacant structures with repeated fire activity, known hazardous sites, or locations requiring specialized operational resources.
2. Chronic False Medical Alarms:
◦ Five or more false or non-emergency medical alarm activations originating from the same property within a 12-month period.
◦ Note: A false medical alarm is defined as any activation of the emergency medical system where no actual medical emergency exists upon arrival, including accidental, unfounded, or knowingly improper calls for service.
3. Repeated Responses to the Same Location
◦ Five or more emergency responses by fire or EMS personnel to the same property, address, or business within a 30-day period, excluding authorized activities. This includes responses for medical aid, fire alarms, hazardous conditions, or other service calls.
Extraordinary police service or response means any of the following:
1. The response of three or more police officers and a supervisor to a single emergency response; or
2. The second emergency response to the same business or property within a 30-day period; or
3. The third emergency response to the same business or property within a 90-day period.
Extraordinary fire service or response means any of the following:
1. The response of fire/EMS crews to an Emergency Incident or Dangerous Properties;
2. The response of fire/EMS crews to five or more false medical alarms within a one-year period;
3. The response of fire/EMS crews to the same property or business four or more times within a 30-day period.
False report means either:
1. A person reports to the City that an "emergency" exists, knowing that the report is false.
2. A person reports to a Riverside Police Officer or to the Riverside Police Department that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed, knowing the report to be false.
Occupant means any individual person or business entity that occupies or controls the business or property at the time of the emergency response.
Owner means any individual person or business entity that has legal title to the business or property at the time of the emergency response.
(Ord. 7739, § 2—4, 2025; Ord. 7013 § 1, 2008)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT9PESAMO_CH9.60LIFAREEMCROFEXPOSERE_9.60.030DEFetched: 11/1/2026