Building Industry Assn. v. City of Livermore

Opinion

PARRILLI, J.

This case presents a single straightforward issue: can California cities require builders to install residential fire sprinkler systems in new or substantially remodeled single-family dwellings? The simple answer to this question is “yes.” Unfortunately, because the Legislature has not spoken clearly concerning this issue, the analysis which leads to this conclusion is neither straightforward nor simple.

I

Facts

In 1992 the City of Livermore (City) updated its building code by enacting ordinance No. 1389. Ordinance No. 1389 adopted the 1991 version of the Uniform Building…