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CC - PUBLIC HEARING: (1) Introduction of an Ordinance Amending and Restating Sections 9.02.005-9.02.060 and Adding Section 9.02.065 (“California Fire Code Adoption and Amendments”) of Chapter 9.02 of Title 9 of the Culver City Municipal Code, and Adopting by Reference the 2025 California Fire Code with Local Amendments; and (2) Adoption of a Resolution Making Express Findings for the Modifications to the 2025 California Fire Code Based on Local Climatic, Geological, and Topographical Conditions.
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Meeting Date: October 13, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Chris Miller/Fire Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5926
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: Publication in the Culver City News (09/18/2025 and 09/25/2025); (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/08/2025)
Department Approval: Kenneth Powell, Fire Chief (09/17/2025) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) conduct a public hearing and introduce a proposed ordinance amending and restating Sections 9.02.005-9.02.060 and adding Section 9.02.065 (“California Fire Code Adoption and Amendments”) of Chapter 9.02 of Title 9 of the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC); and (2) adopt a resolution making express findings for modifications to the 2025 California Fire Code based on local climatic, geological, and topographical conditions.
PROCEDURE
1. Mayor seeks a motion from City Council to receive and file the affidavits of publication and posting of notices, and correspondence received in response to the public hearing notices; and,
2. Mayor calls for a staff report, and the City Council Members may pose questions to staff as desired; and,
3. Mayor seeks a motion to open the public hearing; and,
4. Mayor seeks motion to close the public hearing after all public testimony has been presented; and,
5. The City Council discusses the item and arrives at its decision.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Every three years, the State Fire Marshal amends the International Fire Code (IFC) and adopts it as the California Fire Code (CFC). Accordingly, the State Fire Marshal amended the 2024 IFC and adopted it as the 2025 CFC, which will become state law on January 1, 2026. Local jurisdictions may amend and adopt the CFC to fit local requirements. If no action is taken to amend and adopt the CFC, the local jurisdiction is required to operate solely under the State version of the regulations.
The Fire Department is requesting the current Culver City Fire Code, contained in Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapter 9.02, Sections 9.02.005-9.02.060, be amended and restated, and Section 9.02.065 be added, to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments, including but not limited to incorporating the relevant provisions of Ordinance No. 2025-013, adopted as an urgency ordinance by the City Council on September 29, 2025 (see Proposed Ordinance, Attachment 1). Section 9.02.065 is being added to provide space for the relevant provisions of Ordinance No. 2025-013. In addition to the prior approved urgency ordinance provisions, only minor non-substantive changes are being made to the Fire Code this cycle to update references to chapter and amendment section numbers.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 50022.3, the City must hold a public hearing, and notice of the hearing date, time and location must be published in a local newspaper. The public notice was published in the Culver City News on September 18, 2025, and September 25, 2025. Per Government Code Section 50022.6, a copy of the 2025 California Fire Code was filed with the office of the City Clerk and will be kept there for public inspection. A copy will also be kept in the offices of the Culver City Fire Marshal in Community Risk Reduction.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no direct fiscal impact related to the proposed actions.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025-10-13_ATT 1_Proposed Ordinance
2. 2025-10-13_ATT 2_Proposed Resolution of Local Findings
3. 2025-10-13_ATT 3_Culver City Municipal Code Chapter 9.02 (Current Version)
4. 2025-10-13_ATT 4_Public Notice
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Introduce an Ordinance Amending and Restating Sections 9.02.005-9.02.060 and Adding Section 9.02.065 (“California Fire Code Adoption and Amendments”) of Chapter 9.02 of Title 9 of the Culver City Municipal Code, and Adopting by Reference the 2025 California Fire Code, with Local Amendments; and
2. Adopt a Resolution Making Express Findings for Modifications to the 2025 California Fire Code Based on Local Climatic, Geological, and Topographical Conditions.