Highland, CA Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- R-3 developments
- Sprinklers in all living and garage areas
- Accessory dwelling units
- Sprinklers when required for the primary dwelling or by the CRC
- Emergency shelters
- Sprinklers installed under the city's fire code
- Section
- Highland Municipal Code § 16.16.040(D)(4)(n)
- Permit-first penalty
- Equal to the permit fee, added to the fee
Summary
In the City of Highland, California, fire sprinklers are mandatory in all living and garage areas of condominium, townhouse and apartment developments in the R-3 Residential District. An accessory dwelling unit needs sprinklers when the primary dwelling requires them or the California Residential Code does.
D. Additional standards for condominium, townhouse, and apartment developments within the R-3 Residential District include the following: ... ... 4. Specific Development Standards. ... ... n. Fire Sprinklers. Fire sprinklers shall be installed in all living and garage areas.
Full Breakdown
The residential sprinkler rule in the City of Highland sits in the Development Code, not in the fire code amendments. Section 16.16.040(D) sets additional standards for condominium, townhouse and apartment developments within the R-3 Residential District, and item 4, Specific Development Standards, closes with paragraph n: fire sprinklers shall be installed in all living and garage areas. That paragraph reaches both the dwelling units and their garages.
The same list of R-3 standards sets the building envelope that the sprinklers serve. No more than eight units for single-story and 16 units for two-story structures can be connected together, and each building cannot exceed 200 feet in any direction. Bedrooms need a minimum of 108 square feet (nine feet by 12 feet), excluding closet space. Every door providing ingress and egress to a dwelling unit needs a peephole and a deadbolt lock attached to the construction studding, and wood shingle roofs are prohibited.
Accessory dwelling units follow their own line in § 16.44.180: ADUs are required to provide fire sprinklers if they are required for the primary dwelling, or as required under the existing California Residential Code, and building an ADU does not trigger a requirement to install sprinklers in the existing primary dwelling. Emergency shelters under § 16.44.270 must have fire sprinklers installed in accordance with the city's fire code.
The city's fire code amendments in § 15.29.030 add standpipe details to Section 905.4: hose connections on every floor of a building, and for every new building with any horizontal dimension greater than 300 feet, access doors or a 2.5-inch outlet so all portions can be reached with 150 feet of hose. The fire marshal administers the fire code under § 15.29.010.
Violations & Fines
Section 16.04.040 makes the building official, code compliance officer, community development director, city attorney and other listed officials responsible for enforcing Title 16. Permits issued in conflict with Title 16 are null and void, and a conviction does not relieve the owner of correcting the prohibited condition. Work started without a required permit draws a penalty equal to the permit fee, on top of that fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which homes in the City of Highland must have fire sprinklers?
Does adding an ADU force me to sprinkler my main house?
Do the sprinklers have to cover the garage?
Who enforces the sprinkler requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highland
California rules heatmap·Compare Highland to another location·View the California building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Fire Sprinkler Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle fire sprinkler requirements.