Title
Planning and Building, Building Division, recommending the Board, in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7(c), take the following actions:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolutions that ratify ordinances adopted by each of the following Districts to reflect changes to the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition; delegate the enforcement of the ordinances to the respective Fire Department Chief; and rescind the previous Resolutions Adopted in 2023:
a) Resolution 029-2026 - Cameron Park Community Services District;
b) Resolution 030-2026 - Diamond Spring-El Dorado Fire Protection District;
c) Resolution 031-2026 - El Dorado County Fire Protection District;
d) Resolution 032-2026 - El Dorado Hills County Water District;
e) Resolution 033-2026 - Lake Valley Fire Protection District;
f) Resolution 034-2026 - Pioneer Fire Protection District; and
2) Direct Staff to transmit the Board’s determination to each District within 15 days of the determination.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Every three (3) years the State updates the Statewide California Fire Code (Code). Although local jurisdictions do not have the authority to modify the Code, they may adopt additional or more stringent requirements as are reasonably determined necessary due to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions.
There are twelve (12) special districts (Districts) that provide fire protection services within the County. At this time, the Planning and Building Department (Department) has received approved Code Ordinances from six (6) of the twelve (12) Districts, including the Cameron Park Community Services District, Diamond Springs-El Dorado Fire Protection District, El Dorado County Fire Protection District, El Dorado Hills County Water District (El Dorado Hills Fire Department), Lake Valley Fire Protection District, and Pioneer Fire Protection District.
Due to current staffing levels and individual District response needs, the following Districts anticipate Ordinance adoption in Spring 2026: Garden Valley, Georgetown, Mosquito, Rescue, North Tahoe Fire (for Meeks Bay), and Fallen Leaf Lake Community Services District.
A letter from the El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers Association summarizing the efforts of the Fire Districts is included as Attachment A. Also attached are separate Resolutions for each of the six Districts prepared to update their Fire Code. Each District has provided a cover letter, a copy of the revised Fire Code Ordinance adopted by the applicable District, the Findings necessary to adopt local amendments to the Code, and a summary matrix of all Code changes, noting the significance of the change and why the change was needed. The Resolutions, Ordinances, Findings and matrix are identical for each District. Adoption of the updated Code does not affect the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between the County and Fire Districts which outline the roles and responsibilities for enforcement of the Code for residential structures.
On December 2, 2014 (Legistar file 14-1478), the Board approved and adopted Resolutions 212-2014, 213-204, 2014-2014, 215-2014, 216-2014, 217-2014, 218-2014, 219-2014, 220-2014 to reflect changes to the 2014 Code.
On February 7, 2017 (Legistar file 16-1189), the Board approved and adopted Resolutions 011-2017, 012-2017, 013-2017, 014-2017, 015-2017, 016-2017, 017-2017, 018-2017, 019-2017, and 020-2017 to reflect changes to the 2017 Code.
On March 10, 2020 (Legistar file 20-0203), the Board approved and adopted Resolutions 035-2020, 036-2020, 037-2020, 038-2020, 039-2020, 040-2020, 041-2020, 042-2020, 043-2020, 044-2020 and 045-2020 to reflect changes to the 2020 Code.
On January 3, 2023 (Legistar file 23-0015), the Board approved and adopted Resolutions 007-2023, 008-2023, 009-2023, 010-2023, 011-2023, and 012-2023 to reflect changes to the 2023 Code.
On September 12, 2023 (Legistar file 23-1589), the Board approved and adopted Resolutions 134-2023, 135-2023, 136-2023 to reflect changes to the 2023 Code.
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7(c), the legislative body of the city or county where these Ordinances will apply must ratify, modify, or deny the adopted Ordinances. The Department is recommending the Board, by adoption of the proposed Resolutions, ratify the Ordinances adopted by each of the Districts and delegate the enforcement of each Ordinance to their respective Fire Protection District Chief. Each proposed Resolution rescinds the previous Resolution adopted in 2023.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose to modify or deny all or select adopted Fire Protection District Ordinances as identified in California Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7(c) and direct staff to transmit its determination to each District within fifteen (15) days of the Board’s determination. Any modifications or denial of an adopted Ordinance shall also include a written statement describing the reasons for any modifications or denial.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion/Background above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officer’s Association
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Adopt and ratify the resolutions as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with the Board’s approval as there is no direct fiscal impact to the County and enforcement of the Code is delegated to each District.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on each of the six (6) Resolutions; and
2) The Clerk of the Board will return a fully-executed copy of each Resolution to Don Knight, Deputy Director of Building/Building Official, for distribution to each District.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Don Knight, Deputy Director of Building/Building Official
Planning and Building Department