The ordinances and standards listed on this page are in PDF format. To view these files, you may need to download Adobe Reader.
Ordinances and standards are adopted by the Fire Protection District's Board of Directors. These policies have been designed to protect life, environment and property from fire and other natural and human-caused disasters.
Fire Prevention Requirements "At a Glance" (pdf) – provides a quick run-down of some of our most common fire prevention issues. For more detailed information about fire prevention requirements, please refer to our specific Fire District Ordinances and Standards listed below.
- Fees
- Fire Code
- Ignition-Resistive Construction
- Knox® Switch
- Outdoors
- Roadways/Driveways
- Sprinklers, Fire
- Vegetation
- Wildland/Urban Interface
- Additional Resources
- Contact Us
- Schedule of Fire Prevention Services and Fees (pdf) – includes list and description of fees.
- Fee Schedule page
- 2009 Consolidated Fire Code (pdf) – This Consolidated Fire Code includes the County amendments to the 2007 California Fire Code and the ordinances of the 16 unincorporated County fire protection districts.
- Ordinance 2011 Fire Code (pdf) – 2010 California Fire Code with Amendments, including wildland requirements
- San Diego County Code Amendments (pdf) – Amendements to the county building, electircal, plumbing, mechanical, and fire codes.
Ignition-Resistant Construction
- Ignition Resistant Eave Construction (pdf) – outlines guidelines for eave construction and materials. Please note: Residents served by the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District are subject to the "Enhanced" fire-resistive construction requirements.
- County Approved Construction Materials
- AZEK Deck (pdf)
- ChoiceDeck® and MoistureShield® (pdf)
- GAF Decking Systems (pdf)
- LifeTime Lumber™ (pdf)
- TimberTech™ (pdf)
- Trex Fire Defense (pdf)
- TUFdeck™ (pdf)
- Knox® Switch Requirements – all automatic gates across fire access roadways, including driveways, must be equipped with an approved emergency key-operated switch overriding all command functions to open the gate. Automatic gates must meet RSF Fire District policies, deemed necessary by the Chief for rapid, reliable access.
- Complete Knox® Switch District requirements
- List of Knox Key Switch Installers
- ATTENTION KNOX APPLICANTS:
Please mail completed applications to:
Knox Company
1601 W. Deer Valley Road
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Faxed applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please contact the Fire Marshal at 858-756-6040. Thank you for your cooperation. - For further information on our Knox requirements, click here.
- Fire Pit Guidelines (pdf) - Highlights the ordinace in the Fire Code pertaining to fire pits.
- Outdoor Propane Heaters (pdf) – defines requirements for the use, placement of, safety and maintenance of outdoor propane heaters.
- Propane Tank Requirements (pdf) – outline California Fire Code requirements for propane tank use.
- Application for Tent or Canopy Permit
- Fire Access Road Requirements (Includes driveways & roadways) – Outlines fire district requirements for fire access road width, as well as additional requirements for district-approved turn arounds and turn outs.
- Fire Sprinkler Standards - General (pdf) – outlines the Fire District's Residential Fire Sprinkler Policies regarding design criteria and plans submittal, as well as water source, riser and alarm bell information.
- Sprinkler Contractors Phone List (pdf) – list of sprinkler contractors who have done work in Rancho Santa Fe.
- Ordinance 2004-002 (pdf) – defines vegetation management requirements, as well as the abatement of weeds, brush, and other potential fire hazards.
- Palm Tree Requirements 2008 (pdf)
- Vegetation Management Contractor List (pdf) – list of vegetation management contractors who have done work in Rancho Santa Fe.
- California Fire Code Ordinance 2011 (pdf) – Portions of the CA fire code relate to adopting the International Urban-Wildland Interface Code, 2006 edition, regulating and governing the mitigation of hazard to life and property from the intrusion of fire from wildland exposures, fire from adjacent structures and prevention of structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels in the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District.
- County Wildland Fire Protection Plan (pdf)
- Builders Wildfire Mitigation Guide
Information compiled by UC Berkeley on how to make your home more fire safe. - SRA Fire Safe Regulations (pdf)
California Board of Forestry's basic wildland fire protection standards
- Wildland/Uran Interface Demonstration Building
A demonstration structure built at UC Richmond Field Station to demonstrate various aspects of wildfire exposures. - Wildland/Urban Interface Development Standard Guidelines (pdf)
- Wildland Fire Protection Plan Expectations (pdf)
- Fire Rebuild Conceptual Policy (pdf)
- Fire, Brush,and Building Information for Municipalities and Fire Protection Districts in the County of San Diego
- Fire Flow Requirements
From the California State Fire Marshal's Office (Please note that RSFFPD ordinances and standards may be more stringent than those represented here.)
- State Standards and Codes Emergency Supplement
- Exterior Construction
- Roofing Standards
- Ventilation Standards
- Wildland Urban Interface Products
For answers to your basic questions about our ordinances and standards, please contact us via email. If more in depth information is needed please call us 858-756-5971 and make an appointment. Thank you.