Article 1. Fire Protection of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 4. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 10. >> Article 1.
The legislative body of a city may provide fire engines and
all other necessary or proper apparatus for the prevention and
extinguishment of fires.
The legislative body of a city may:
(a) Establish and maintain fire limits.
(b) Regulate building and construction and removal of buildings
within the city.
The legislative body of a city organized under general law
shall establish a fire department for the city. The fire department
shall be under the charge of a chief who shall have had previous
training and experience as a fireman. The other members of the fire
department shall consist of paid firemen or such companies of
volunteer firemen as the legislative body may determine. The city
legislative body shall fix and pay the compensation of the chief and
other paid firemen.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, and of subdivision
(e) of Section 36501, no general law city shall be required to
appoint or elect a fire chief or establish a fire department if such
city is included within the boundaries of an established fire
protection district.