REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing and Ordinance Related to the Adoption and Amendment of the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District:
1. Find the proposed ordinance repealing San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. FPD 23-01 and adopting the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Fire Code, which adopts by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, along with certain changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions to the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, relating to fire regulations; and the 2025 Edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 15061(b)(3).
2. Conduct a public hearing on proposed ordinance repealing San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. FPD 23-01 and adopting the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Fire Code, which adopts by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, along with certain changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions to the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, relating to fire regulations, and the 2025 Edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
3. Make alterations, if necessary, to proposed ordinance.
4. Adopt ordinance repealing San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. FPD 23-01 and adopting the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Fire Code, which adopts by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, along with certain changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions to the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, relating to fire regulations; and the 2025 Edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, which was introduced on April 21, 2026, Item No. 64.
5. Direct the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to file and post the Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the proposed ordinance is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The proposed ordinance repealing San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) Ordinance No. FPD 23-01 and adopting the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Fire Code, which adopts by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, along with certain changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions to the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, relating to fire regulations; and the 2025 Edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, was introduced on April 21, 2026 (Item No. 64). The recommended actions are needed to properly protect the health, safety, and welfare of the existing and future residents, workers, and visitors of the SBCFPD.
Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 13869 and Government Code section 50022 et seq., SBCFPD may adopt by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code and amend as necessary based on certain findings.
The proposed ordinance will adopt the provisions of the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, and provide specific changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions that are reasonably necessary because of the local climatic, geological and topographical conditions that exist within SBCFPD. Implementation of the new ordinance allows SBCFPD to address certain local hazards and emergency response needs throughout the region.
On February 28, 2023 (Item No. 79), the Board of Directors (Board) adopted Ordinance No. FPD 23-01, which incorporated by reference with amendments, the 2022 Edition of the California Fire Code regarding permits for various uses, requirements for fire access and water supply, fire sprinkler systems, and general fire safety regulations. The proposed ordinance would repeal Ordinance No. FPD 23-01.
Existing local amendments were reviewed to determine applicability and were carried over from the previous adoption and amendment of the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code when appropriate. Some of the significant changes to the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
• Deleted Sections 3 through 26 and Sections 28 through 34 of previous ordinance as they have been included in Chapters 1, 3, 5, 50, 57, and 58.
• Adopted Chapter 1 of California Fire Code.
• Adopted California Wildland-Urban Interface Code by reference.
• Increased “idle pallet” storage height to 20 feet in height to match California Fire Code.
• Amended requirements for mechanically operated security gates to require “exit loops” be installed at all fire access gates and require an “infrared automatic gate system” for all new and existing electrically operated gates.
• Adopted Appendix P to provide codes for temporary haunted houses, ghost walks and similar amusement uses.
• Increased penalties for the transportation and storage of dangerous fireworks, from $1,250 to a maximum penalty of $15,000.
Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 13869.7, a copy of the proposed ordinance was sent to all cities within the San Bernardino County (County) where the ordinance will apply, as well as the County’s Land Use Services Department for their 30-day review. Any formal written comments provided by the cities and the County to SBCFPD are included as attachments to this item and are part of the public hearing record.
The proposed ordinance was reviewed pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be exempt from further environmental review in accordance with Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15061(b)(3). The ordinance results in administrative changes that will not have potential for causing significant effects on the environment.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 17, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Ivan Ramirez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on April 21, 2026.