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Council adopts findings to amend local building and fire codes; ordinance introduced for second reading
Summary
The council adopted findings that local amendments to the California Building Code, California Mechanical Code, California Fire Code and existing building and property maintenance codes are reasonably necessary because of Kingsburg's local climatic and geological conditions, and waived first reading of the ordinance to return Feb. 7 for adoption.
Kingsburg — City staff proposed seven local amendments to state building and fire codes intended to reflect Kingsburg’s particular climatic, geological and operational conditions; the City Council adopted findings that the changes are reasonably necessary and introduced an ordinance that will return for final adoption at the second reading.
Building Official A.J. O'Connell told the council the amendments grew out of field inspections, entitlement and plan review and emergency‑response experience. He summarized seven proposals: rules for relocatable buildings (for ADUs and park restrooms), mandatory permanent roof fall‑protection where equipment is serviced, a mechanism for fire department cost recovery tied to code violations, clarified requirements for when fire sprinklers are required, clarification of fire access road width measurements, a sliding scale for address number height to improve visibility in fog, and operational requirements for commercial pet‑boarding facilities.
O'Connell said the address‑number change is intended to help emergency responders locate commercial and multifamily buildings set farther back from the street and that the pet‑boarding measures would address staffing, smoke/carbon monoxide detection and suppression at facilities that house animals for extended periods. He also noted a technical correction requested to the ordinance’s cross‑references prior to final adoption.
Why it matters: Local amendments must be substantiated by climatic, geological or topographic necessity under California law. The council adopted Resolution 2025‑005, which establishes the required factual findings, and then waived the first reading of the implementing ordinance and passed it to a second reading scheduled for Feb. 7, 2025.
Council discussion focused on the address‑identification proposal and the pet‑boarding standards. Councilmember Laura asked whether emergency personnel had raised the address visibility issue; O'Connell deferred to Interim Fire Chief John Banaski for operational context, while noting that commercial buildings set farther back create visibility challenges for the 4½‑inch minimum address standard in the state code.
On the cost‑recovery proposal O'Connell said the mechanism is intended to allow the fire department to recoup expenses tied to code violations or incidents where owners engaged in unsafe or unlawful activity, rather than to bill ordinary responses.
The council’s actions: The council adopted the resolution making required findings (Resolution 2025‑005) and introduced the ordinance for amendment of Title 15, waiving the first reading and scheduling the ordinance for a second reading and adoption on Feb. 7, 2025.
Next steps: Staff will file the local amendments with the California Building Standards Commission, the State Housing and Community Development and the State Fire Marshal as required; the council will consider the ordinance’s second reading on Feb. 7.
