12.50.020 Inspection.
A. The Berkeley Fire Department shall conduct an annual fire prevention inspection of every building, property or structure referred to in Section 12.50.040 herein. The Fire Chief or their designee may conduct reinspections of said buildings, properties or structures whenever the Fire Chief deems it necessary to assure the correction of any violation of applicable laws affecting fire safety or of any conditions which would reasonably tend to cause fire or contribute to its spread.
B. Fire prevention inspections shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Berkeley Fire Code, the Health and Safety Code of the state of California and other applicable laws affecting fire safety; and shall include but are not limited to the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to the following:
1. The prevention of fires.
2. The storage, use and handling of explosive, flammable, toxic, corrosive and other hazardous gaseous, solid and liquid materials.
3. The installation and maintenance of automatic, manual and other private fire alarm systems and fire-extinguishing equipment.
4. The maintenance and regulation of fire escapes.
5. The maintenance of fire protection and the elimination of fire hazards on land and in buildings, structures and other property, including those under construction.
6. The means and adequacy of each exit in the event of fire, from factories, schools, hotels, lodging houses, asylums, hospitals, churches, halls, theaters, amphitheaters and all other places in which people work, live or congregate from time to time for any purpose.
C. The Fire Chief or their designee shall notify the owner, operator, occupant, or other person responsible for the building, property or structure of any violations of any applicable laws or ordinances governing fire safety.
D. Every notice shall order compliance with the applicable fire safety laws or ordinances and shall set forth a time limit for compliance dependent upon the Fire Chief’s determination of the degree of hazard and danger created by the violation. If compliance is not completed within the prescribed time limit, the person(s) whose name(s) appear(s) on the notice shall be guilty of an infraction pursuant to Section 1.20.020 of the Berkeley Municipal Code and shall be subject to the penalties thereunder. The penalty provided in this section is in addition to any other penalty or remedy authorized by law. (Ord. 5583-NS § 1 (part), 1983: Ord. 5462-NS § 2, 1982)