Confirm the Title 24 edition, the local fire authority, and its amendments, then trace fire access, water supply, fire protection systems, and fire department features through the site, architectural, and fire protection drawings. AI can flag conflicts; the fire code official decides compliance.
What does the California Fire Code cover?
The California Fire Code is Part 9 of the California Building Standards Code, Title 24. It is used with the California Building Code and local fire amendments adopted by cities, counties, and fire districts.
The California Building Standards Commission lists the 2025 Title 24 edition, effective January 1, 2026, with Part 9 errata effective January 1, 2026. Checked October 1, 2026. Fire districts and cities often adopt amendments, so the local fire authority’s adoption ordinance matters as much as the state edition.
The California Fire Code is based on the model International Fire Code with state amendments. Building-side requirements follow the California Building Code.
Gather the site, systems, and local fire requirements
Collect the site plan with fire access and hydrants, the fire service and water supply information, sprinkler, standpipe, and fire alarm drawings, fire department connection and key box locations, any hazardous materials information, and the code analysis. Add the local fire authority’s amendments and published standards or checklists.
In wildland-urban interface areas, add the exterior construction and vegetation management documents the fire authority requires.
Connect local fire requirements to the drawings
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Fire authority and amendments | Code analysis, fire notes, local ordinance | Confirm the fire authority and its amendments are named. |
| Fire access | Site plan, civil plans, landscape plans | Trace access roads and turnarounds across disciplines. |
| Water supply | Civil utility plans, hydrant locations, fire service | Match hydrants and fire mains across civil and fire protection sheets. |
| Fire department features | Elevations, site plan, risers, key box notes | Confirm connection and key box locations agree. |
| Fire protection systems | Code analysis, sprinkler, standpipe, alarm drawings | Check systems the code analysis relies on appear in the system drawings. |
| Wildland-urban interface | Exterior wall, roof, vent details, site plan | Ask the designer to confirm the basis where the site is in a mapped zone. |
Use the sprinkler checklist and the NFPA 72 guide for system-level review, and the California page for state references.
Example: a hydrant shown in two different places
Hypothetical example. The civil utility plan shows a new hydrant at the north drive, while the fire access plan submitted to the fire authority shows it at the east entrance. The sprinkler underground drawing connects to the north location.
The civil utility plan and the fire access plan show the new hydrant at different locations. Please confirm the intended location and coordinate the civil, fire access, and underground drawings.
The civil engineer and fire protection designer confirm the location with the fire authority and update every sheet. The conflict is a coordination question.
Review California fire drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the code edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Add the applicable California Fire Code from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it, and add the jurisdiction’s published amendments. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare fire access, hydrants, fire service, fire department connections, and fire protection systems across the civil, architectural, and fire protection drawings and the code analysis. Flag conflicting locations and missing features. Use the supplied California Fire Code and local fire amendments where applicable and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets involved. Verify the local fire authority’s amendments before sending a comment.
Document review does not approve fire access, calculate fire flow, or replace the fire code official or fire protection engineer.