Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)

The County of Orange Health Care Agency Environmental Health Division was designated by the State Secretary for Environmental Protection on January 1, 1996, as the CUPA for the County of Orange. The CUPA is the local administrative agency that coordinates 6 programs regulating hazardous materials and hazardous wastes in Orange County.

Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST)

Business Plan

California Accidental Release Program (CalARP)

Hazardous Materials Disclosure (HMD)

Hazardous Waste

Underground Storage Tanks (UST)

Orange City Fire Department has joined the CUPA, as a "participating agency," to form a partnership with the County's Unified Program.

Administering Services

In the city of Orange, the Hazardous Waste, Aboveground Storage Tank and CalARP programs are administered by the County of Orange Health Care Agency, while the City of Orange administers the other three elements in the bullet-point list above.

Contact the Orange City Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau, Hazardous Materials Section for specific information regarding the requirements for USTs, Business Plans and Hazardous Materials Disclosure, please call (714) 288-2551 .

The CUPA will offer businesses the benefit of a single-fee system incorporating all the fees from the 6 programs. For more information regarding billing, Hazardous Waste, Aboveground Storage Tanks or the CalARP program, please call (714) 433-6000.

The Fire/Arson Investigation is integral to reducing risk to the community. In addition to advancing fire prevention and suppression, the Fire Investigation Unit increases efficiency by reducing the number of false alarms received by the fire department. This allows fire crews to stay available for genuine fire, medical, and other emergency response.

The Orange City Fire Department has one (1) full-time Fire/Arson Investigator and two (2) Ancillary Investigators. Collaboratively this unit is responsible for investigating and determining the cause and origin of suspicious fires involving death or injury, and fires of undetermined origin. The Unit also pursues potentially fraudulent private sector fire inspections.

The safety of people, protection of property, and preservation of the environment is of primary importance during the planning stages of any residence or business. For new buildings, safety is addressed through the plan review process.

New construction and tenant improvement projects undergo site inspection to confirm that projects are built per plan, and that no special conditions were overlooked during the plan review process.

Permit Requirements

Plans drawn in compliance with the current California Fire and Building Code requirements, as adopted by the City of Orange, must be submitted wherever permits are required.

Orange City Fire Safety Specialists are available to help you with permit questions regulated by the California State Fire Marshal, fire protection systems, hazardous processes and equipment, site access and water supply, hazardous materials storage and use, and other miscellaneous topics regulated by the fire code official.

Please browse our website for general information about general submittal requirements, design standards, standard notes to include on plans, a consultant list, and new businesses/leases.

If you have any questions please contact one of our Plan Examiners directly at (714)288-2546 or (714)288-2536.

High-rise buildings are required to meet specialized requirements to minimize the possibility of fire and smoke spread. There are 29 high-rise buildings located in the city of Orange. Each building is inspected annually, as required by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The State of California requires all high-rise office buildings to establish and maintain evacuation plans in accordance with the California Code of Regulations, and to submit a copy of those plans to the Orange City Fire Department for approval. High-rise buildings are also required to meet State Fire Marshal regulations related to fire and panic safety as found in the California Building Code.

For specific High-rise questions please contact Fire Prevention at (714)288-2541.

Many special events require issuance of a fire permit. To obtain a permit, the event must pass the fire inspection process and fees associated with obtaining a permit must be paid.

All the following special events require a fire permit:

Carnivals and Fairs

Christmas Tree Lots

Exhibits

Tents and Canopies

Miscellaneous Special Events, such as dances or events with live music

Public Display Permit for Fireworks

To schedule a special event inspection, or for questions about obtaining a fire permit for your special event, please call (714) 288-2553.

The Orange City Fire Department conducts State Fire Clearance inspections of State-licensed residential facilities and educational facilities.

Large Family Day-Care Requirements

A Large Family Day-Care Home is a provider's own home licensed to provide daycare for periods less than 24 hours a day for 9 to 14 persons, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at the home. They require operation licenses from the State of California, and may be classified as "Adult Day-care Facilities, Family Day-care Homes, Adult Day-support Centers, Day-care Centers for Mildly Ill Children, Infant Care Centers, and School Age Child Day-care Centers." As part of the licensing process, the City of Orange Fire Department assists home operators by conducting site inspections to achieve a fire clearance. Fire clearance requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

A reinspection fee of $50 to be paid prior to a site inspection.

A permit application must be obtained from the Planning Division. Contact the Planning Division at (714)744-7220 for an application.

A business license is required. Contact the Finance Department at (714)744-2270 for information on how to obtain a business license.

Large family daycare homes shall be equipped with state fire marshal-approved and listed single-station residential-type smoke detectors. The number and placement of smoke detectors shall be determined by the Fire Department.

Large family daycare homes shall be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher and have a minimum 2-A:10-B:C rating. All fire extinguishers shall have a California State Fire Marshal tag certifying that they have been serviced within the past 12 months.

Every large family day-care home shall provide and maintain devices suitable for sounding a fire alarm. The location of the fire alarm and plan submittal must be approved by the Fire Department. One manual pull station and a bell or horn must be provided. An electrical and building permit must be obtained from the Building Department, and the work must be completed by a "C-10 inches state-licensed electrical contractor.

Submit four sets of plans – The following information must be submitted for the fire alarm plan approval by the Fire Department:

Identify on the floor plan the manufacturer name, model number and California State Fire Marshal listing number for each device.

Provide the manufacturer specifications and California State Fire Marshal listing sheets for each device.

Identify on the plan that the fire alarm is on a dedicated circuit.

Identify on the plan how the wiring is connected from the main electrical panel to the devices.

Identify on the circuit breaker of the panel with a non-removable label or lettering to include "FIRE ALARM - DO NOT TURN-OFF."

Plans shall be signed by the person taking responsibility for design and installation.

Identify on the plan the manufacturer and gauge size of the wire to be used.

Provide the manufacturer specification sheet for the fire alarm cable used.

The Building Division must conduct an electrical inspection prior to the Fire Department inspection. Building Division: (714) 744-7200, Inspection Request Line: (714) 744-7216.

Room used for daycare purposes shall not be located above the first story. The use of the second story is prohibited unless the home is equipped with fire sprinklers.

All large family daycare homes shall be provided with two exits which are remotely located from each other. Every required exit shall be of a size to permit the installation of a door not less than 32 inches in clear width and not less than 6 feet 8 inches in height. A manually operated horizontal sliding door may be used as one of the two exits.

Exit doors, including manually operated horizontal sliding doors, shall be openable from the inside without use of a key or any special knowledge or effort.

Fire drills are recommended once a month. Post an emergency evacuation plan showing the primary and secondary exit routes on the floor plan.

Please call (714) 288-2561 for questions regarding these facilities.

One of the ways the Orange City Fire Department helps the community stay fire safe is to ensure that overgrown brush does not accumulate. By doing so, we can establish a defensible space between urban development and the "wildland" areas.

Orange City Fire Prevention Division is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of families living in the urban-wildland interface. Nature can be fierce and unforgiving. Fuel modification is the most effective step our community can take to prevent loss of life and property in the future.

Weed Abatement Program
The purpose of the Weed Abatement program is to reduce potential fire hazards due to the accumulation of weeds, dry vegetation and/or rubbish.

There are generally two cycles per year when weeds are cleared from property lines, road frontages, and building notices are sent to property owners to advise them that the vegetation needs to be cleared.

Weed Abatement inspections are conducted twice annually, Spring inspections begin in March and the Fall inspections begin in September.

Weed and Rubbish Abatement Standards

Areas within 100 feet of combustible structures shall be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth.

Areas within 10 feet of roads or highways shall be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth. Fifty feet of clearance is recommended.

On hillsides where erosion can become a problem, weeds shall be cut and removed to leave a maximum of three inches of uncut vegetation as measured from the soil surface.

In areas not prone to erosion, weeds shall be cut and removed to leave a maximum of three inches of uncut vegetation as measured from the soil surface. All cuttings shall be removed or disked into the ground.

Combustible hazards, such as trash, furniture and wood shall be cleared as required to assure fire safety.

Any obstruction that hinders the clearance of hazardous combustible material and flammable and combustible vegetation shall be removed.

Vegetation trimming, combustible debris and dead or dying plant material shall be removed.

Limbs on trees must be removed six feet from the ground to prevent grass fires from climbing up the trees.

A 13-foot, 6-inch vertical clearance must be maintained under trees that hang over access for Fire Department vehicles.

A second phase of weed removal may be required due to climatic conditions that may cause a second growth of flammable and combustible vegetation.

Wood chipping used on horse trails, etc. to prevent weed or grass growth shall be limited to a 5-inch depth.

Shrubs within 100 feet of combustible structures and 10 feet of roadways shall be limited to two to three feet in height.

Remove portions of trees that extend within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney.

Fuel Modification
The City of Orange enjoys a natural "wildland" environment on the eastern side of the city. This environment affords wonderful views, a relaxed country atmosphere, and plentiful recreation opportunities.

However, the threat of fire is prevalent. The City of Orange, like the entire State of California, has experienced severe property losses due to wildland fires. These losses caused the fire service to scrutinize the safety of structures in the urban-wildland interface. It’s important to remember that fire behavior is dictated by three factors: the lay of the land, Weather, and Fuel.

Southern California experiences some of the fiercest wildland fires in the nation largely due to the chaparral native to the region, combined with the strong, extremely dry Santa Ana winds.

Fortunately, we can tame fire behavior by controlling the fuel in and around our structures. "Fuel modification" is a term used to describe the transition area beginning with wild vegetation and ending with irrigated, fire-resistant vegetation.

Fuel Zones

Fuel modification zones are carefully designed fire breaks between wildland areas and structures. By modifying the fuel around our homes, we can create a "defensible space" in which firefighters can work. Fuel is modified in four zones: A, B, C, and D.

"A" Zone (also known as the "set back" zone) is closest to structures and, as such, is the most highly fire resistant. This zone is 20 feet wide, automatically irrigated, contains no combustible construction, and is pruned to reduce fuel load. Builders occasionally place this zone within the back yards of houses when planning neighborhoods.

"B" Zone is irrigated and planted with a selected number of fire-resistant plant species. Combustible construction is not allowed in “B" zone. This zone is a minimum of 50 feet in width.

"C" Zone is thinned to 50% to further slow the fire. It is also 50 feet wide.

"D" Zone is essentially the thinning of the naturally growing vegetation by 30%. All dead and dying plants are removed, as well as undesirable species. This is the zone designed to initially slow the fire and is generally 50 feet wide.

The zones are initially proposed to the Fire Department by the builders, in blueprint form, when neighborhoods are developed. The plans are then approved by fire department plan checkers just as any other fire protection system would be.

Homeowners' associations generally assume the responsibility to maintain those zones as originally approved by the fire department. If the "A" zone falls within homeowners' back yards, the association is responsible for ensuring that the homeowner maintains the Approved Landscaping, and that no combustible construction occurs.

Please contact our Fire Safety Specialist for more questions regarding Vegetation Management, (714) 288-2561.