A. Pursuant to Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7(a) of the State of California Health and Safety Code, the City Council of the City of Belvedere hereby determines and finds that all the changes or modifications in this chapter to Part 2, “California Building Code,” and Chapter 2.5, “California Residential Code,” of Title 24, 2022 Edition of the California Code of Regulations are reasonably necessary because of the local climatic, geological and/or topographical conditions within the City of Belvedere as discussed below.

B. The City is densely populated with most structures being of wood frame construction, most having combustible exterior materials.

C. Many buildings were erected prior to the enforcement of zoning and building laws, with the result that many are located extremely close to each other with no provisions for fire protection.

D. The hilly topography of much of the City, often combined with narrow roads, reduces the fire department’s ability to respond to emergency situations.

E. Much of the City contains heavy vegetation, including groves of eucalyptus and pine trees with interconnecting canopies.

F. The City is located in an area of high seismic activities as indicated by the U.S. Geological Survey and California Geological Survey.

G. The general marine environment within the City is conducive to organisms which produce dry rot conditions in wood structures.

H. The hillside topography in much of the City results in the susceptibility to earth sliding due to uncontrolled stormwater drainage. (Ord. 2023-01 §§ 2, 3, 2023.)