Cal. Civ. Code § 26A
Automatic sprinklers in high rise buildings; enforcement; appeals
Operative Text
Section 26A. Every building or structure of more than seventy feet in height above the mean grade shall be protected with an adequate system of automatic sprinklers in accordance with the provisions of the state building code, except that sprinklers shall not be required to be installed in patient rooms in hospitals. The head of the fire department shall enforce the provisions of this section. Whoever is aggrieved by the head of the fire department's interpretation, order, requirement, direction or failure to act under the provisions of this section, may, within forty-five days after the service of notice thereof, appeal from such interpretation, order, requirement, direction, or failure to act, to the board of appeals as provided in the state building code and section twenty-three of chapter twenty-three B.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 148 § 26A establishes that any building or structure rising more than seventy feet above mean grade must be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system that meets state building code standards, with a narrow exception carved out for hospital patient rooms. The local fire department chief is responsible for seeing that this requirement is followed. Anyone who disagrees with a fire department chief's decision or inaction under this provision has a 45-day window from the date of notice to appeal to the board of appeals established under the state building code and related statutes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and managers of buildings subject to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 148 § 26A — those exceeding seventy feet in height above mean grade — generally maintain a compliant automatic sprinkler system that satisfies state building code specifications throughout the structure. Operators typically document the system's installation, inspection history, and any correspondence with the local fire department head, who holds enforcement authority under this section. If the fire department issues an order or interpretation that an operator believes is incorrect, the provision provides a formal 45-day appeal pathway to the board of appeals, which compliant operators track carefully from the date notice is served.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of high-rise buildings covered by Mass. Gen. Laws c. 148 § 26A have an interest in knowing that buildings over seventy feet tall are legally required to maintain adequate automatic sprinkler systems under state building code standards. If a tenant has concerns about whether a building's sprinkler system meets this requirement, they may contact the local fire department, whose chief is the designated enforcement authority under this section. Tenants who believe the fire department has failed to act appropriately can explore the appeal process outlined in § 26A, and tenant-rights organizations or legal aid offices can help explain what options may be available in that process.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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