Chapter IX — BUILDING REGULATIONS›Article 7 — BOILERS, UNFIRED PRESSURE VESSELS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
Los Angeles Municipal Code § 97.0303 Safety Orders
Los Angeles Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-19 · Los Angeles
Cite as: Los Angeles Municipal Code § 97.0303 · Text as of 2026-10-19
Section
97.0301 Boiler Permit – Fees.
97.0302 Qualified Installer.
97.0303 Safety Orders.
97.0304 Apparatus – Operation at Excessive Pressure.
97.0305 Safety Valve – Installation – Sealing.
97.0307 Requests for Inspection.
97.0308 Preparation for Inspection.
97.0309 Rechecking of Inspection.
97.0310 Pressure Vessels and Other Equipment to Be Inspected Annually.
97.0311 Inspection by Deputy Pressure Vessel Inspectors.
97.0313 Deputy Inspectors – Equipment to Inspect.
97.0314 Inspection Fees.
97.0314.1 Fees.
97.0315 Payment of Fees and Power to Discontinue the Use of Equipment.
97.0316 Deputy Inspector – Appointment as City Inspector.
97.0317 Deputy Inspectors – Applications.
97.0318 Deputy Inspector.
97.0319 Deputy Inspector – Failure to Report Inspection – Penalty.
97.0320 Falsifying Reports – Penalty.
97.0321 Injuries – Reports – Repairs.
97.0321.1 Notification of Welded Repairs.
97.0322 Moving of Equipment – Permits.
97.0323 Cancellation of Insurance – Notice Required.
97.0324 Responsibility of Persons in Control.
SEC. 97.0301. BOILER PERMIT – FEES.¶
(a) Scope. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) No person shall erect, install, operate, use or cause or permit to be erected, installed, operated or used, any equipment listed in LAMC Sections 97.0310 or 97.0314 or covered by the safety orders incorporated by LAMC Section 97.0303(b) without first obtaining an installation permit in writing from the Department for its installation and a Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) for its use and location.
(b) Installation Permit Fee. The Department shall charge and collect a fee of $20.00 for each and every piece of equipment for which an installation permit is issued pursuant to this section.
Any expiration or revocation of a permit shall be done in accordance with Division 6 of Article 8, Chapter IX of this Code.
SEC. 97.0302. QUALIFIED INSTALLER.¶
No person shall install any boiler regulated by this Code, including any electrical and plumbing work that is incidental to installation, unless that person is a qualified installer or a person working under the direct supervision of a qualified installer.
For the purpose of this section, a qualified installer is a person who holds a valid contractor’s license in the proper classification issued by the State of California.
SEC. 97.0303. SAFETY ORDERS.¶
(a) General. Except for those installed in private residences, every hot water boiler, every steam boiler, or unfired pressure vessel shall be constructed, installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this article and in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Construction Code.
(b) State of California Safety Orders. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.) Subchapters 1, 2, and 7 (Group 3 Article 19) of Chapter 4, Division 1, Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations are adopted by reference, with exceptions, modifications and additions as specifically provided in this article.
SEC. 97.0304. APPARATUS – OPERATION AT EXCESSIVE PRESSURE.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
No person shall operate any equipment or apparatus listed in this Division at a pressure greater than is shown by the Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit), or at a pressure greater than is specified by the manufacturer of the equipment.
SEC. 97.0305. SAFETY VALVE – INSTALLATION – SEALING.¶
No person shall install any steam safety valve, unless the valve is constructed so that the discharge can be piped to some point acceptable to the Department as being safe.
No person shall remove the seal, tamper with, change the setting or repair any safety valve or safety relief valve without having first received permission from the Department.
SEC. 97.0306. RESERVED.¶
SEC. 97.0307. REQUESTS FOR INSPECTION.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
The Department may, upon the request of any person, make an inspection or re- inspection of any of the equipment listed, and a charge shall be made as provided for in LAMC Section 97.0314.
SEC. 97.0308. PREPARATION FOR INSPECTION.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
The owner or user of any equipment or apparatus shall prepare the equipment or apparatus for a test or internal inspection as outlined by the Department, and shall furnish all necessary labor. No equipment or apparatus shall be enclosed or reassembled until the test or internal inspection has been completed by the Department.
SEC. 97.0309. RECHECKING OF INSPECTION.¶
(a) Superintendent – Authority to Check Inspection. The Superintendent shall have the right and authority to check or recheck the inspection of any Deputy City Inspector, but no charge shall be made.
The Superintendent of Building may, upon the request of any person, make an inspection or re-inspection of any of the equipment listed in this article, and a charge shall be made as provided for in LAMC Section 97.0314. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
(b) Superintendent – Inspection During Revocation of Commission or License. Pending the re-issuance of authority or commission of any Deputy Inspector, whose authority, commission, or license has been revoked, the Superintendent shall have the right and authority to make inspections of any equipment listed in this article where the certificate of inspection has expired, and a charge shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this article.
SEC. 97.0310. PRESSURE VESSELS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO BE INSPECTED ANNUALLY.¶
The Superintendent of Building shall cause the following to be carefully inspected as provided in this article: (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
(a) Equipment To Be Inspected. Any equipment listed in LAMC Sections 97.0301, 97.0303 or 97.0314 shall be inspected once each year and a new Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) issued. This includes every steam boiler, high pressure boiler, low pressure boiler, hot water boiler, electric boiler, hot water storage tank or hydro-pneumatic tank of over 120 gallons, steam mangle, steam kettle, steam cooker, vulcanizer, sprinkler tank, clothes press (regardless of where steam is obtained), rendering tank, retort or steam kettle, dryer, steam vacuum tank, automotive hoist, heat exchanger, and steam receiver. Air tanks shall be inspected once every 3 years. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) Unfired pressure vessels (other than those that receive steam) including air tanks having a volume of 1-1/2 cubic feet or less which have safety valves set to open at not more than 150 psi.
(2) Portable boilers and portable unfired pressure vessels that require an Operating Permit from the State of California.
(3) Oxygen, hydrogen and non flammable bulk industrial gas tanks. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
(4) Pressure vessels used in refrigerating systems.
(5) Cylinders used in Department of Transportation Service.
(b) Inspection. Unless required elsewhere, an external inspection of equipment shall be required. Where construction and operating conditions permit, the equipment may be subject to inspection internally. The Superintendent may also require a hydrostatic or other test. The Department may accept ultrasonic thickness determination in lieu of, or in conjunction with, internal inspection of air tanks of 36 inch diameter or less. The Department may also require an internal inspection or other non-destructive examination for any equipment listed in this article.
SEC. 97.0311. INSPECTION BY DEPUTY PRESSURE VESSEL INSPECTORS.¶
(a) Authorized Inspection. After the initial inspection and approval by the Department, any equipment listed in this article that is insured and inspected by an insurance company or inspected by any other organization authorized by the State of California to issue Operating Permits employing a Deputy Pressure Vessel Inspector, may be issued a Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit). After the initial inspection, the equipment may be relieved from further inspection by the Department if the required documentation is received within 21 days as required in LAMC Section 97.0318. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
(b) Certificates of Inspection (Operating Permit). Every Deputy Pressure Vessel Inspector for any insurance company, or other organization authorized by the State of California, shall issue to the owner or user of the equipment, upon a completed inspection, a Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) for equipment listed in this article. A copy of the certificate and the inspection report shall be forwarded to the Department. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
SEC. 97.0313. DEPUTY INSPECTORS – EQUIPMENT TO INSPECT.¶
No Deputy Inspector shall be allowed to inspect equipment for any other person than the applicant.
SEC. 97.0314. INSPECTION FEES.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 180,868, Eff. 10/22/09.)
The Department shall collect from every owner or user of any apparatus or equipment a fee of inspection as follows:
INSPECTION FEES - BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
| BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS | BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS | FEE |
|---|---|---|
| (a) High Pressure and Hot Water Boilers: | ||
| 0 to 10 sq. ft. of heating surface | 0 to 10 sq. ft. of heating surface | $58.00 each |
| Over 10 to 20 sq. ft. of heating surface | Over 10 to 20 sq. ft. of heating surface | $71.00 each |
| Over 20 to 35 sq. ft. of heating surface | Over 20 to 35 sq. ft. of heating surface | $97.00 each |
| Over 35 to 75 sq. ft. of heating surface | Over 35 to 75 sq. ft. of heating surface | $117.00 each |
| Over 75 to 250 sq. ft. of heating surface | Over 75 to 250 sq. ft. of heating surface | $156.00 each |
| Over 250 to 500 sq. ft. of heating surface | Over 250 to 500 sq. ft. of heating surface | $169.00 each |
| Over 500 sq. ft. of heating surface | Over 500 sq. ft. of heating surface | $195.00 each |
| (b) Low Pressure Boilers: | (b) Low Pressure Boilers: | |
| Steel plate boilers with maintenance hole | Steel plate boilers with maintenance hole | $143.00 each |
| Steel plate boilers without maintenance hole | Steel plate boilers without maintenance hole | $110.00 each |
| Cast iron boilers | Cast iron boilers | $110.00 each |
| (c) Boilers and fixed pressure vessels erected and assembled on site: | (c) Boilers and fixed pressure vessels erected and assembled on site: | $143.00 per hour (with a one hour minimum) |
| Internal & Ultra-sonic Inspection | External Inspection | |
| (d) Unfired pressure vessels: | ||
| Vessels 36 inches or less in diameter | $84.00 each | $58.00 each |
| Vessels more than 36 inches, but less than 54 inches in diameter | $97.00 each | $84.00 each |
| Vessels 54 inches or more, but less than 96 inches in diameter | $143.00 each | $104.00 each |
| Vessels 96 inches or more in diameter | ||
| BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS | BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS | FEE |
| (e) Unfired pressure vessels erected and assembled on site. | (e) Unfired pressure vessels erected and assembled on site. | $143.00 per hour |
| (f) Unfired vessels: | (f) Unfired vessels: | |
| Unfired pressure vessels, such as, steam mangles, cookers, kettles, etc. | Unfired pressure vessels, such as, steam mangles, cookers, kettles, etc. | $26.00 each |
| Steam clothes presses and vulcanizers | Steam clothes presses and vulcanizers | $10.00 each |
| Unfired pressure vessels subjected to external pressure | Unfired pressure vessels subjected to external pressure | $23.00 each |
| (g) Automotive hoists, including surge tanks (Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.) | (g) Automotive hoists, including surge tanks (Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.) | $41.00 each |
| (h) Other inspections: | (h) Other inspections: | |
| For all inspections not covered in the above schedule | For all inspections not covered in the above schedule | $143.00 per hour |
| Where it becomes necessary for the inspector to witness either hydrostatic tests, or proof tests, as prescribed by the code, or the drilling of shell plates to determine minimum thickness, or to perform ultrasonic thickness tests, or if extensive repairs are necessary, a charge of $143.00 per hour shall be made. | ||
| (i) Shop inspection: The Department shall have the right to make shop and resale inspections of fired or unfired pressure vessels in the process of manufacture upon the request of the manufacturer. The following fee shall be charged at the rate of $143.00 per hour per shop visit, with a 2 hour minimum | ||
| (j) Resale inspection of all fired and unfired pressure vessels shall be at the rate of $143.00 per hour, with a 2 hour minimum. | ||
| (k) Fees for consultation shall be at the rate of $143.00 per hour, with a 2 hour minimum. | ||
| (l) Processing of inspection reports. A processing fee of $19.00 shall be charged and collected for each report of each piece of equipment or apparatus which is required by Section 97.0318. | ||
| (m) Fees for the inspection of repairs to boilers or pressure vessels shall be at the rate of $143.00 per hour. |
SEC. 97.0314.1. FEES.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
(a) Issuing Fee. Prior to issuance of a permit pursuant to Division 3, Article 1, Chapter IX of the LAMC, the owner shall pay the issuing fee specified in LAMC Section 98.0415.
(b) Minimum Inspection Fee. The owner shall pay a minimum inspection fee, as specified in LAMC Section 98.0412, to the Department to use any equipment, machinery or apparatus for which a certificate, license or permit is required by this Code. Where the cumulative fees set forth in LAMC Section 97.0314 are less than the minimum inspection fee, the minimum inspection fee shall be paid.
SEC. 97.0315. PAYMENT OF FEES AND POWER TO DISCONTINUE THE USE OF EQUIPMENT.¶
The Department shall have the power to order the use of any equipment governed by this code discontinued for the following reasons:
No person shall use or operate any of the equipment or apparatus listed in this article until the equipment or apparatus has been inspected, all permit and inspection fees paid, and a certificate issued. The Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) shall be good for the periods provided in this article. Failure to obtain proper permits and to pay permit fees and inspection fees within 60 days after notification shall constitute cause for the Department to prohibit use of the equipment.
In the case of an emergency or in the opinion of the Superintendent of Building, any equipment or apparatus covered by this Code is in any condition as to render it unsafe for operation.
For willful failure to comply with requirements issued by the Department for the correction of violations.
SEC. 97.0316. DEPUTY INSPECTOR – APPOINTMENT AS CITY INSPECTOR.¶
An inspector of an insurance company, or other qualified organization, may be deputized as a Deputy City Inspector, but shall receive no compensation from the City for this service.
SEC. 97.0317. DEPUTY INSPECTORS – APPLICATIONS.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
Every Deputy Inspector of any insurance company or other organization making an application for a permit to be deputized as Deputy Inspector to inspect any of the equipment listed in this article, shall designate in the application for appointment the name of the insurance company or other organization, and the application shall be countersigned by that insurance company or other organization. No Deputy City Inspector shall be allowed to inspect any equipment for any organization other than that for which the application has been made and approved.
SEC. 97.0318. DEPUTY INSPECTOR.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 179,329, Eff. 12/10/07, Oper. 1/1/08.)
Every Deputy Inspector shall, within 21 days after inspecting any equipment or apparatus listed in this article, forward to the Department reports and copies of operating permits on forms approved by the Department. These reports shall be in addition to those furnished to the Division of Industrial Safety of the State of California.
SEC. 97.0319. DEPUTY INSPECTOR – FAILURE TO REPORT INSPECTION – PENALTY.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
Every Deputy Inspector that fails to render reports of inspection in writing within 21 days to the Department shall be deemed guilty of negligence, and the Department shall have the right and authority to cancel or revoke the commission and authority of that inspector as a Deputy City Inspector. Revocations shall be in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, Chapter IX of the LAMC.
SEC. 97.0320. FALSIFYING REPORTS – PENALTY.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
Any Deputy Inspector who willfully falsifies a report or Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) of any equipment or apparatus shall, in addition to any other penalties provided in this Code, have their license revoked by the Superintendent of Building. Any revocation shall be in accordance with the provisions of Article 8, Chapter IX of the LAMC.
SEC. 97.0321. INJURIES – REPORTS – REPAIRS.¶
Any injury to any person resulting from, or caused by, any equipment, machinery or apparatus listed in this article shall be reported immediately to the Superintendent. No person shall repair or replace any part of the equipment on which the injury occurred until after the Superintendent has made an inspection and authorized the removal, repairs or replacement. The Superintendent shall inspect within 18 hours after receipt of the report of any accident or injury.
SEC. 97.0321.1. NOTIFICATION OF WELDED REPAIRS.¶
The Department shall be notified prior to the commencement of welded repairs or alterations of a boiler or pressure vessel. The Department shall receive a copy of any State required approvals, authorization or documentation for equipment listed in this article.
SEC. 97.0322. MOVING OF EQUIPMENT – PERMITS.¶
No person shall transfer or relocate any apparatus, machinery or equipment listed in this article without first obtaining a new permit and a new Certificate of Inspection (Operating Permit) from the Department.
SEC. 97.0323. CANCELLATION OF INSURANCE – NOTICE REQUIRED.¶
Every insurance company, or organization employing a Deputy Inspector, shall immediately notify the Department of the issuance, refusal, cancellation, suspension or discontinuance of any insurance upon any apparatus or equipment, giving the name of the owner or user, the location, and State serial number of the apparatus or equipment, and the reason for the suspension or cancellation of insurance.
SEC. 97.0324. RESPONSIBILITY OF PERSONS IN CONTROL.¶
(Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)
It shall be unlawful for any person having possession or custody of or authority or control over any premises where any equipment or apparatus listed in this Code is installed, whether as owner, lessee, licensee, trustee, mortgagee, management company, or representative, officer, employer or agent, or as building manager or custodian:
To permit on the premises the installation of any equipment or apparatus for which a permit is required by this article unless the permit has first been obtained from the Department.
To permit on the premises any work for which a Certificate of Registration is required by this article, except by a person holding the certificate.
To use or permit the use of any equipment or apparatus required by this article to be inspected and approved by the Department unless the equipment has been inspected and approved and all fees paid.
To use or permit the use of any equipment or apparatus, the use or operation of which has been prohibited by the Department.
To obstruct or interfere with the Department in making any inspection required by law or ordered by the Superintendent of Building.
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