San Diego Municipal Code § 511.8201 Adoption, Non-Adoption or Local Amendment to California Fire Code Appendix A through Appendix Q
§511.8201 Adoption, Non-Adoption or Local Amendment to California Fire Code Appendix A through Appendix Q
The 2025 California Fire Code, Appendix A through Appendix Q, are hereby adopted, not adopted, or amended as follows:
(a) Appendix A: Not Adopted
(b) Appendix B: is adopted with modifications as follows:
TABLE B105.1(1) REQUIRED FIRE FLOW FOR ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS, GROUP R-3 AND R-4 BUILDINGS AND TOWNHOUSES
Fire-Flow Calculation Area (square feet) | Automatic Sprinkler Systems (Design-Standard) | Minimum Fire Flow (gallons per minute)a | Flow Duration (hours)
0-3,600 | No automatic sprinkler system | Value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the required fire-flow rate
3,601 and greater | No automatic sprinkler system | Value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the required fire-flow rate
0-3,600 | Section 903.3.1.3 of the California Fire Code or Section 313.3 of the California Residential Code | 1,000 | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the required fire-flow rate
3,601 and greater | Section 903.3.1.3 of the California Fire Code or Section 313.3 of | 50% of the value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the original fire-flow rate
the California Residential Code
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. The reduced fire-flow rate shall not be less than 1,000 gallons per minute.
TABLE B105.2 TABLE B105.2 REQUIRED FIRE FLOW FOR BUILDINGS OTHER THAN ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS, GROUP R-3 AND R-4 BUILDINGS AND TOWNHOUSES
Automatic Sprinkler Systems (design-standard) | Minimum Fire-Flow (gallons per minute) | Flow Duration (hours)
No automatic sprinkler system | Value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1(2)
Section 903.3.1.1 of the California Fire Code | 50% of the value in Table B105.1(2)a | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the original flow rate
Section 903.3.1.2 of the California Fire Code | 50% of the value in Table B105.1(2)a | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the original flow rate
For SI: 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m
a. The reduced fire-flow rate shall not be less than 1,500 gallons per minute.
(c) Appendix BB: Adopted
(d) Appendix C is adopted with modifications as follows:
TABLE C102.1 REQUIRED NUMBER AND SPACING OF FIRE HYDRANTSf
FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENT(gpm) | MINIMUM NUMBER OF HYDRANTS | AVERAGE SPACING BETWEEN HYDRANTSa, b, c, (feet) | MAXIMUM DISTANCE FROM ANY POINT ON STREET OR ROAD FRONTAGE TO A HYDRANTd
1,750 or less | 1 | 500 | 250
1,751–2,250 | 2 | 450 | 225
2,251–2,750 | 3 | 400 | 225
2,751–3,250 | 3 | 350 | 210
3,251–4,000 | 4 | 300 | 180
4,001–5,000 | 5 | 300 | 180
5,001–5,500 | 6 | 300 | 180
5,501–6,000 | 6 | 250 | 150
6,001–7,000 | 7 | 250 | 150
7,001 or more | 8 or moree | 200 | 120
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by fire fighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. The Fire Code Official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.
(e) Appendix CC: Adopted
(f) Appendix D is adopted with modifications as follows:
(1) Local Amendment: Section D103.5, Fire Apparatus Access Road Gates, is amended to read as follows:
Gates securing the fire apparatus access roads shall comply with all of the following criteria:
(A) Where a single gate is provided, the gate width shall be not less than 20 feet (6096 mm). Where a fire apparatus road consists of a divided roadway, the gate width shall be not less than 13 feet (3964 mm).
(B) In Wildland-Urban Interface Areas gate entrances shall be at least two feet (610 mm) wider than the width of the traffic lane(s) serving that gate and a minimum width of 14 feet (4267 mm) unobstructed horizontal clearance.
(C) All gates shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm).
(D) Gates shall be of the horizontal swing, horizontal slide, vertical lift or vertical pivot type.
(E) Construction of gates shall be of materials that allow manual operation by one person.
(F) Gate components shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and replaced or repaired when defective.
(G) Electric gates shall be equipped with a means of opening the gate by fire department personnel for emergency access. Emergency opening devices shall be approved by the Fire Code Official.
(H) Methods of locking shall be submitted for approval by the Fire Code Official.
(I) Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325.
(J) Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2200.
(2) Local Amendment. Section D103.6, Fire Lane Markings, is amended to read as follows:
Where required by the Fire Code Official, fire apparatus access roads shall be marked with permanent NO PARKING-FIRE LANE signs or painted curbs or roadways complying with California Vehicle Code Section 22500.1. Signs shall have a minimum dimension of 12 inches (305 mm) wide by 18 inches (457mm) high and have red letters on a white reflective background. Signs shall be posted on one or both sides of the fire apparatus road as required by Section D103.6.1 or D103.6.2.
(3) Local Amendment. Section D103.6.1, Roads 20 to 28 feet in width, is amended to read as follows:
Fire lane markings as specified in section D103.6 shall be posted or painted on both sides of fire apparatus access roads that are 20 to 28 feet wide (6096 to 8534 mm).
(4) Local Amendment. Section D103.6.2, Roads more than 28 feet in width, is amended to read as follows:
Fire lane markings as specified in section D103.6 shall be posted or painted on one side of fire apparatus access roads more than 28 feet wide (8534 mm) and less than 36 feet wide (10 973 mm).
(5) Not Adopted. Section D104.1, Buildings Exceeding Three Stories or 30 Feet in Height, is not adopted.
(6) Local Amendment. Section D106.2, Projects Located in a Wildland-Urban Interface Area, is amended to read as follows:
Multiple-family residential developments of more than 30 dwelling units located in a Wildland-Urban Interface Area, shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads regardless of whether they are equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system.
(7) Local Amendment. Section D 107.1, One- or two-family dwelling residential developments, is amended to read as follows:
Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds 30 shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads, with the following exceptions:
(A) Where there are more than 30 dwelling units, not located in a Wildland-Urban Interface Area, accessed from a single public or private fire apparatus access road and all dwelling units are equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the California Fire Code, access from two directions shall not be required.
(B) The number of dwelling units accessed from a single fire apparatus access road shall not be increased unless fire apparatus access roads will connect with future development, as determined by the Fire Code Official.
(g) Appendix E: Not Adopted
(h) Appendix F: Not Adopted
(i) Appendix G: Not Adopted
(j) Appendix I: Not Adopted
(k) Appendix J: Not Adopted
(l) Appendix K: Not Adopted
(m) Appendix L: Not Adopted
(n) Appendix M: Not Adopted
(o) Appendix N: Not Adopted
(p) Appendix O: Not Adopted
(q) Appendix P: Not Adopted
(r) Appendix Q: Not Adopted
(“Adoption, Non-Adoption or Local Amendment to California Fire Code Appendix A through Appendix O” added 1-27-2022 by O-21409 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.)
(Retitled from “Adoption, Non-Adoption or Local Amendment to California Fire Code Appendix A through Appendix O” to “Adoption, Non-Adoption or Local Amendment to California Fire Code Appendix A through Appendix P” and amended 3-7-2023 by O-21614 N.S.; effective 4-6-2023.)
(Amended 1-29-2026 by O-22043 N.S.; effective 2-28-2026.)