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Council adopts updated fire code and approves tighter rules for ‘safe and sane’ fireworks sales
Summary
The council adopted ordinances aligning Oroville’s fire code to the 2022 model codes and unanimously approved an ordinance tightening rules for sale and use of safe‑and‑sane fireworks, extending permitted dates and adding storage disclosure and administrative fines.
The Oroville City Council on March 18 adopted an ordinance to align the city’s municipal fire code with the 2022 model building code. Patrick (city staff) told the council the ordinance reorganized local fire code language to match the 2022 building code; council adopted the ordinance on a 7‑0 roll call.
In a separate public hearing, the council also adopted Ordinance 18‑88 to update rules on “safe and sane” fireworks. Staff summarized changes made after an earlier first reading: the ordinance explicitly refers to permissible devices as “safe and sane,” extends permitted use dates to include July 4, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and Veterans Day, and adds criteria for temporarily prohibiting sales and use in the event of weather or public‑safety resource constraints. The ordinance also requires sellers to disclose storage locations for fireworks and creates administrative fines and fees to enforce the rules.
Two nonprofit speakers asked the council to preserve nonprofit fundraising opportunities while addressing safety. Jackie Clover (a nonprofit representative) thanked the council for changes that would still allow sales for other holidays when temporary prohibitions were enacted. Robert Bager, who identified himself as representing veterans’ interests, also urged the council to adopt rules that balance safety and nonprofit fundraising.
Councilmember motion and vote: the council waived ordinance reading and adopted Ordinance 18‑88 at the March 18 meeting on a 7‑0 vote.
Staff said the fireworks ordinance and the fire‑code alignment are intended to provide clearer enforcement options for staff and add a mechanism to temporarily limit fireworks use when public‑safety resources or weather conditions make use unsafe.
