text:
(a) For purposes of this section, “water reuse system” includes both of the following:

(1) A system approved for installation under the California Building Standards Code that uses recycled water, graywater, rainwater, or other nonpotable water sources for nonpotable indoor or outdoor building use, including landscaping, toilet and urinal flushing, floor trap priming, or cooling towers.

(2) A system approved for installation under the California Building Standards Code that captures graywater, rainwater, building foundation water drainage, or other onsite alternative water sources for nonpotable reuse onsite or as part of a multibuilding, district, or campuswide treatment system.

(b) The commission shall, commencing with the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), research, develop, and propose building standards, including voluntary Tier 1 or Tier 2 standards of the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), to reduce potable water use in new nonresidential buildings, including consideration of requiring installation of water reuse systems and consideration of requiring preplumbing of buildings to allow future use of recycled water, onsite treated graywater, or other alternative water sources. In developing these standards, the commission may limit or exempt the application of standards based on occupancy, building type, building size, development size, availability or planned availability of recycled water, or as otherwise determined appropriate.

(c) The commission shall perform a review of water efficiency and water reuse standards in the California Buildings Standards Code every three years thereafter and update as needed.

(d) In developing and proposing building standards under this section, the commission is authorized to expend funds from the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund, upon appropriation pursuant to Section 18931.7.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 884, Sec. 4. (SB 745) Effective January 1, 2024.)


kind: section

code: HSC

text: All building standards shall be administered and enforced and, whenever practicable, written on a performance basis consistent with state and nationally recognized standards for building construction in view of the use and occupancy of each structure to preserve and protect the public health and safety.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 897, Sec. 32. Effective January 1, 1993.)

division: 13. HOUSING

part: 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 4. The California Building Standards Code


text:
(a) (1) Amendments, additions, and deletions to the California Building Standards Code, including, but not limited to, green building standards, adopted by a city, county, or city and county pursuant to Section 18941.5 or pursuant to Section 17958.7, together with all applicable portions of the California Building Standards Code, shall become effective 180 days after publication of the California Building Standards Code by the commission, or at a later date after publication established by the commission.

(2) The publication date established by the commission shall be no earlier than the date the California Building Standards Code is available for purchase by the public.

(b) Neither the State Building Standards Law contained in this part, nor the application of building standards contained in this section, shall limit the authority of a city, county, or city and county to establish more restrictive building standards, including, but not limited to, green building standards, reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The governing body shall make the finding required by Section 17958.7 and the other requirements imposed by Section 17958.7 shall apply to that finding. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of fire protection districts pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13869.7. Further, nothing in this section shall require findings required by Section 17958.7 beyond those currently required for more restrictive building standards related to housing.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), and commencing October 1, 2025, to June 1, 2031, inclusive, a city or county shall not establish more restrictive building standards, including, but not limited to, green building standards, that are applicable to residential units, unless one of the following conditions is met:

(1) The changes or modifications are substantially equivalent to changes or modifications that were previously filed by the governing body of the city or county and were in effect as of September 30, 2025.

(2) The commission deems those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety.

(3) The changes or modifications relate to home hardening.

(4) The building standards relate to home hardening and are proposed for adoption by a fire protection district pursuant to Section 13869.7.

(5) The changes or modifications are necessary to implement a local code amendment that is adopted to align with a general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and that permits mixed-fuel residential construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric construction as part of an adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 22, Sec. 41. (AB 130) Effective June 30, 2025.)

chapter: 4. The California Building Standards Code


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, ordinances and programs adopted on or before January 1, 1993, that contain standards to strengthen potentially hazardous buildings pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8875.2 of the Government Code, shall incorporate the building standards in Appendix Chapter 1 of the Uniform Code for Building Conservation of the International Conference of Building Officials published in the California Building Standards Code, except for standards found by local ordinance to be inapplicable based on local conditions, as defined in subdivision (b), or based on an approved study pursuant to subdivision (c), or both. Ordinances and programs shall be updated in a timely manner to reflect changes in the model code, and more frequently if deemed necessary by local jurisdictions.

(b) For the purpose of subdivision (a), and notwithstanding the meaning of “local conditions” as used elsewhere in this part and Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901), the term “local conditions” shall be limited to those conditions that affect the implementation of seismic strengthening standards on the following only:

(1) The preservation of qualified historic structures as governed by the State Historical Building Code (Part 2.7 (commencing with Section 18950)).

(2) Historic preservation programs, including, but not limited to, the California Mainstreet Program.

(3) The preservation of affordable housing.

(c) Any ordinance or program adopted on or before January 1, 1993, may include exceptions for local conditions not defined in subdivision (b) if the jurisdiction has approved a study on or before January 1, 1993, describing the effects of the exceptions. The study shall include a seismic hazards assessment, seismic retrofit cost comparisons, and earthquake damage estimates for a major earthquake, including the differences in costs, deaths, and injuries between full compliance with Appendix Chapter 1 of the Uniform Code for Building Conservation and the ordinance or program. No study shall be required pursuant to this subdivision if the exceptions for local conditions not defined in subdivision (b) result in standards or requirements that are more stringent than those in Appendix Chapter 1 of the Uniform Code for Building Conservation.

(d) Ordinances and programs adopted pursuant to this section shall be conclusively presumed to comply with the requirements of Chapter 173 of the Statutes of 1991.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1219, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995.)


text: Subject to Section 14877.3 of the Water Code, a city, county, or other local agency may adopt, after a public hearing and enactment of an ordinance or resolution, building standards that are more restrictive than the graywater building standards adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development under Section 17922.12 and published in the California Building Standards Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 577, Sec. 1. (AB 849) Effective January 1, 2012.)


text:
(a) As used in this section, “graywater” has the same meaning as defined in Section 17922.12.

(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 14875) of Division 7 of the Water Code, as a part of the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) adopted after January 1, 2011, the commission shall adopt building standards for the construction, installation, and alteration of graywater systems for indoor and outdoor uses in nonresidential occupancies.

(c) In adopting building standards under this section, the commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure protection of water quality in accordance with applicable provisions of state and federal water quality law.

(2) Consider the adopted building standards for the construction, installation, and alteration of graywater systems for indoor and outdoor uses in residential buildings.

(3) Consider existing research available on the environmental consequences to soil and groundwater of short-term and long-term graywater use for irrigation purposes.

(4) Consider graywater use impacts on human health.

(5) Consider the circumstances under which the use of graywater treatment systems in nonresidential occupancies is recommended.

(6) Consider the use and regulation of graywater in other jurisdictions.

(7) Use Chapter 16 of the Uniform Plumbing Code, adopted by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, as the starting point for the building standards and amend those standards as necessary.

(d) The commission may revise and update the standards adopted under this section at any time.

(e) The commission’s adoption of building standards for graywater systems pursuant to this section shall terminate the authority of the Department of Water Resources to adopt and update standards for the installation, construction, and alteration of graywater systems in nonresidential buildings pursuant to Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 14875) of Division 7 of the Water Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 622, Sec. 1. (SB 518) Effective January 1, 2011.)


text: The commission shall, in the next triennial adoption process for the code adopted after the development of a standard specification by the Department of Transportation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 71400 of the Public Resources Code, consider incorporating that specification as an additional strategy for Heat Island Effect: Hardscape Alternatives in the California Green Building Standards Code (Section A5.106.11.1 of Appendix 5 of Part 11 (commencing with Section 101.1) of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations).

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 667, Sec. 2. (AB 296) Effective January 1, 2013.)


text:
(a) (1) The commission shall, commencing with the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) adopted after January 1, 2014, adopt, approve, codify, and publish mandatory building standards for the installation of future electric vehicle charging infrastructure for parking spaces in multifamily dwellings and nonresidential development.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the Department of Housing and Community Development shall propose mandatory building standards for the installation of future electric vehicle charging infrastructure for parking spaces in multifamily dwellings and submit the proposed mandatory building standards to the commission for consideration.

(b) (1) In proposing and adopting mandatory building standards under this section, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the commission shall use Sections A4.106.6, A4.106.6.1, A4.106.6.2, A5.106.5.1, and A5.106.5.3 of the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) as the starting point for the mandatory building standards and amend those standards as necessary.

(2) In proposing and adopting mandatory building standards under this section, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the commission shall actively consult with interested parties, including, but not limited to, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, manufacturers, local building officials, commercial building and apartment owners, and the building industry.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 346, Sec. 1. (AB 2075) Effective January 1, 2023.)


text:
(a) (1) Commencing with the next triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), the commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development shall research and develop, and may propose for adoption by the commission, mandatory building standards for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in existing multifamily dwellings, hotels, motels, and nonresidential developments during specified retrofits, additions, and alterations to existing parking facilities for which a permit application is submitted on and after the effective date of those building standards.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), notwithstanding subdivision (d) of Section 17922, Section 17912, or 17958.8, the Department of Housing and Development shall research, develop, and propose for adoption mandatory building standards for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations with low power level 2 or higher electric vehicle chargers in existing parking facilities serving multifamily dwellings, hotels, and motels. The department shall submit the proposed mandatory building standards to the commission for consideration.

(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the commission shall research, develop, and propose for adoption mandatory building standards for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations with low power level 2 or higher electrical vehicle chargers, including direct current fast chargers, in parking facilities serving existing nonresidential buildings.

(b) In researching, developing, and proposing for adoption mandatory building standards under this section, the commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development shall do all the following:

(1) Consult with interested parties, including, but not limited to, the State Air Resources Board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, vehicle and electric vehicle supply equipment manufacturers, local building officials, commercial building and apartment owners, and the building industry.

(2) Invite the participation of the public at large in the development of those building standards.

(3) Propose standards that only apply to certain additions and alterations of existing parking facilities when a building permit is required and other significant construction or repair, as determined by the agencies, is taking place.

(c) The commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development shall review the building standards proposed and adopted pursuant to this section every triennial code cycle pursuant to Section 18942, and, if needed, update those building standards to ensure that the building standards support statewide needs for electric vehicle charging stations that align with the state’s zero-emission vehicle targets until both of the following goals are met:

(1) There is adequate availability of charging given near-term electric vehicle charging needs.

(2) There is sufficient charging capacity to support the long-term goal of achieving 100 percent electric vehicles statewide.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2033, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 687, Sec. 2. (AB 1738) Effective January 1, 2023. Repealed as of January 1, 2033, by its own provisions.)


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any subsequent updates to building standards approved by the commission pursuant to this chapter, an individual submitting a proposed development plan for a residential development may utilize, and a local agency shall allow the utilization of, a template floor plan if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) For use of a template floor plan on or after January 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, all of the following conditions:

(A) The template floor plan was approved, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, by the local agency that oversees development approvals where the proposed residential development is located and the plan complied with all building standards in effect at the time.

(B) The proposed new development is located on the same parcel that contained a residential building that was damaged or destroyed, prior to January 1, 2020, as a result of a disaster in an area for which a state of emergency was proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(C) The owner of the destroyed or damaged residential building did not have code upgrade insurance at the time the building was damaged or destroyed.

(D) The proposed new residential development will be used for owner-occupancy and is not intended to be used as a rental or vacation property.

(E) The template floor plan is being used no more than six years after the date it was approved.

(2) For use of a template floor plan on or after July 1, 2024, both of the following conditions:

(A) All of the conditions in paragraph (1).

(B) The local agency has approved, following every issuance of new state building standards, a resolution that includes findings that the continued use of the template floor plan without regard to subsequent changes to building standards does not pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the building occupants or the community.

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 184, Sec. 1. (AB 2139) Effective January 1, 2023. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions.)


text: At the next triennial building standards rulemaking cycle that commences on or after January 1, 2019, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall develop and submit for approval clarifications in the California Building Code and the California Residential Code pertaining to the requirements for the construction of live/work units.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 573, Sec. 1. (AB 565) Effective January 1, 2019.)


text:
(a) As part of each triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle that commences on or after January 1, 2023, the commission shall convene a workshop or other collaborative process on electric vehicle charging infrastructure standards.

(b) The workshop or other collaborative process shall include the commission, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Division of the State Architect, the State Air Resources Board, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and other relevant stakeholders.

(c) The workshop or other collaborative process shall consider, among other things, projected demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure based on the state’s goals.

(d) As part of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission’s participation in the workshop or other collaborative process, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission shall incorporate the most recent update to the statewide assessment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure prepared pursuant to Section 25229 of the Public Resources Code, any relevant electric load forecasts, and the statewide transportation electrification goals.

(e) If the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission recommends any electric vehicle charging infrastructure standard as part of the workshop or other collaborative process, the recommended standard shall be cost effective when taken in its entirety and when amortized over the economic life of the infrastructure compared with historic practice. When determining cost effectiveness, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission shall consider other relevant factors, as required by Sections 18930 and 18935, including, but not limited to, the impact on housing costs, the total statewide costs and benefits of the standard over its lifetime, the economic impact on California businesses, and any alternative approaches and their associated costs.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 109. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)


text:
(a) (1) The commission shall publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its entirety once every three years. In the intervening period the commission shall publish, or cause to be published, supplements as necessary. For emergency building standards defined in subdivision (a) of Section 18913, an emergency building standards supplement shall be published whenever the commission determines it is necessary.

(2) Changes adopted during the intervening period described in paragraph (1) shall be limited to only the following:

(A) Technical updates to existing code requirements only to the extent necessary to effectuate support or facilitate the incorporation or implementation of those existing code requirements. The updates shall be limited to clarifying, conforming, or coordinating changes that do not materially alter the substance or intent of the existing code provisions.

(B) Emergency building standards.

(C) Amendments by the State Fire Marshal to building standards within the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Part 7 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations).

(D) The building standards are necessary to incorporate errata or emergency updates to the national model codes specified in Section 18916, along with any necessary and related state amendments supporting or facilitating the incorporation of errata or emergency updates to the model codes.

(E) Changes or modifications made pursuant to paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 17958, paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 17958.5, or paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 17958.7.

(F) Building standards necessary to incorporate updates to accessibility requirements that align with minimum federal accessibility laws, standards, and regulations.

(G) Changes or modifications made to building codes relating to facilities described in Section 1200, subdivision (b) of Section 1226, and subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, of Section 1250.

(b) The commission shall publish the text of Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 115920) of Chapter 5 of Part 10 of Division 104, within the requirements for single-family residential occupancies contained in Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, with the following note: “NOTE: These regulations are subject to local government modification. You should verify the applicable local government requirements at the time of application for a building permit.” (c) The commission shall publish the text of Section 116064.2 within Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.

(d) The commission may publish, stockpile, and sell at a reasonable price the code and materials incorporated therein by reference if it deems the latter is insufficiently available to the public, or unavailable at a reasonable price. Each state department concerned and each city, county, or city and county shall have an up-to-date copy of the code available for public inspection.

(e) (1) Each city, county, and city and county, including charter cities, shall obtain and maintain with all revisions on a current basis, at least one copy of the building standards and other state regulations relating to buildings published in Titles 8, 19, 20, 24, and 25 of the California Code of Regulations. These codes shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of this part.

(2) This subdivision shall not apply to a city or county that contracts for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this part with another local government agency that complies with this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2026, Ch. 68, Sec. 3. (AB 179) Effective July 13, 2026.)


text:
(a) If a regulation or order of repeal is filed with the Office of Administrative Law, and if it appears to be a building standard, as defined by Section 18909, which has not been approved by the commission, the Office of Administrative Law shall consult with the commission or the commission’s staff to determine the character and status of the filed regulation or order. Any building standard improperly transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law, as determined according to this section, shall not be then filed with the Secretary of State, but, instead, the Office of Administrative Law shall transmit the building standard to the commission and notify the adopting agency of this action.

(b) If an administrative regulation or order of repeal is filed with the commission and it does not directly apply to the implementation or enforcement of a building standard, it shall not be submitted to the commission for action, but, instead, the commission shall transmit the regulations to the Office of Administrative Law and notify the submitting agency of this action.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 897, Sec. 35. Effective January 1, 1993.)


text: Building standards in individual titles of the California Code of Regulations other than the California Building Standards Code shall have no force or effect after January 1, 1985.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 62, Sec. 184. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text: State agencies shall adopt regulations for publication in the titles of the California Code of Regulations containing other regulations of the agency to identify, by reference, the appropriate sections of the California Building Standards Code containing those building standards for which that agency has enforcement responsibility.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 897, Sec. 38. Effective January 1, 1993.)


text: The code shall be binding on the state and other public agencies, including federal agencies to the extent permitted by federal law, in the same manner as it binds private parties or entities.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1152.)


text: The alternative building regulations and building standards authorized under the State Historical Building Code (Part 2.7 (commencing with Section 18950) of Division 13) which have been published in Part 8 of the California Building Standards Code shall be maintained as a separate and distinct part or portion of the California Building Standards Code pursuant to that title.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1194, Sec. 30.)


text: On or before July 1, 2009, any state agency that adopts or proposes building standards for plumbing systems shall consider developing building standards that would govern the use of nonwater-supplied urinals for submission to the California Building Standards Commission in accordance with Sections 17921.4 and 18930.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 499, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2008.)


text:
(a) The California Building Standards Commission, in conjunction with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, shall repeal Section 1226.7 of the 2013 Triennial Edition of the California Building Standards Code, including all cross-references to that section, as soon as possible. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development is granted emergency regulatory authority to implement this subdivision. Notwithstanding the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the regulations adopted under this subdivision shall become permanent without further regulatory action.

(b) The State Department of Public Health shall, no later than July 1, 2014, repeal the regulations relating to abortion services in primary care clinics contained in Article 5 (commencing with Section 75040) of Chapter 7 of Division 5 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 663, Sec. 2. (AB 980) Effective January 1, 2014.)


text:
(a) Upon the next triennial update of the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) that occurs on or after January 1, 2023:

(1) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall research and develop, and may propose for adoption, mandatory building standards for short-term and long-term bicycle parking in multifamily residential buildings, hotels, and motels.

(2) The commission shall research and develop, and may adopt, revised mandatory building standards for short-term and long-term bicycle parking in nonresidential buildings.

(b) In developing the standards pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a), the Department of Housing and Community Development and the commission shall develop minimum mandatory bicycle parking standards using a method that is independent of the number of vehicle parking spaces.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 809, Sec. 2. (AB 2863) Effective January 1, 2023.)


text:
(a) Not later than July 1, 2023, the commission shall consider whether to adopt the most recent versions of the following consensus safety standards, to be codified and published in the California Building Standards Code: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 15-2019; ASHRAE Standard 34-2019; Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 60335-2-89 2nd edition; and UL 60335-2-40 3rd edition.

(b) If the commission does not adopt all of the consensus safety standards listed in subdivision (a), then effective July 1, 2024, no state or local building code provision shall prohibit the use of a refrigerant listed as acceptable under Section 7671k of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.), provided each use is installed in accordance with the most recent version of ASHRAE Standard 15 and the applicable listing standard, such as UL 60335-2-89 or UL 60335-2-40.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 251, Sec. 8. (AB 209) Effective September 6, 2022.)


text:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) There is an urgent need for low-cost, energy-efficient housing in California.

(b) The cost of conventional lumber-framed housing has risen due to a shortage of construction-grade lumber.

(c) Straw is an annually renewable source of cellulose that can be used as an energy-efficient substitute for stud-framed wall construction.

(d) The state has mandated that the burning of rice straw be greatly reduced.

(e) As a result of the mandated burning reduction, growers are experimenting with alternative straw management practices. Various methods of straw incorporation into the soil are the most widely used alternatives. The two most common methods are nonflood incorporation and winter flood incorporation. Economically viable off-farm uses for rice straw are not yet available.

(f) Winter flooding of rice fields encourages the natural decomposition of rice straw and provides valuable waterfowl habitat. According to the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture component of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, in California’s Central Valley, over 400,000 acres of enhanced agricultural lands are needed to restore the depleted migratory waterfowl populations of the Pacific flyway. Flooded rice fields are a key and integral part of the successful restoration of historic waterfowl and shorebird populations.

(g) Winter flooding of rice fields provides significant waterfowl habitat benefits and should be especially encouraged in areas where there is minimal potential to impact salmon as a result of surface water diversions.

(h) An economically viable market for rice straw bales could result from the use of rice straw bales in housing construction.

(i) Practicing architects and engineers have determined that the statutory guidelines established by Chapter 941 of the Statutes of 1995 contain specific requirements that they believe are either unnecessary or detrimental. Some of the requirements are considered costly and severely restrict the development of straw-bale housing.

(j) Statutory guidelines for the use of straw-bale housing would significantly benefit energy conservation, natural resources, low-cost housing, agriculture, and fisheries in California.

(k) Tests and experience with straw-bale construction demonstrate that it is a strong, durable, and thermally superior building system that deserves a larger role in modern construction.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 1. Effective April 26, 2002. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18944.41.)

article: 1. General Provisions and Definitions

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 4.5. Guidelines for Straw-Bale Structures > 1. General Provisions and Definitions


text:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the guidelines established by this chapter shall apply to the construction of all structures that use baled straw as a loadbearing or nonloadbearing material within any city or county that adopted the guidelines established by Chapter 941 of the Statutes of 1995 prior to January 1, 2002. This requirement shall not preclude the city or county from making changes or modifications to the guidelines pursuant to subdivision (b). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the guidelines established by this chapter shall not become operative in a city or county that has not adopted the guidelines prior to January 1, 2002, unless and until the legislative body of the city or county makes an express finding that the application of these guidelines within the city or county is reasonably necessary because of local conditions and the city or county files a copy of that finding with the department.

(b) A city or county may, by ordinance or regulation, make any changes or modifications in the guidelines contained in this chapter as it determines are reasonably necessary because of local conditions, provided the city or county files a copy of the changes or modifications and the express findings for the changes or modifications with the department. No change or modification of that type shall become effective or operative for any purpose until the finding and the change or modification has been filed with the department.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as increasing or decreasing the authority to approve or disapprove of alternative construction methods pursuant to the State Housing Law, Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 17910) or the California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the statutory guidelines of this chapter serve as an interim measure pending the evaluation of straw bales as a construction material through the normal processes used for the testing and listing of building materials, the determination of construction standards, and the adoption of those materials and construction standards into the California Building Standards Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 2. Effective April 26, 2002. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18944.41.)

chapter: 4.5. Guidelines for Straw-Bale Structures

article: 1. General Provisions and Definitions


text: Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as an exemption from Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5500) of, or Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of, Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code relative to preparation of plans, drawings, specifications, or calculations under the direct supervision of a licensed architect or civil engineer, for the construction of structures that deviate from the conventional framing requirements for wood-frame construction.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 941, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)

article: 1. General Provisions and Definitions


text:
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows:

(a) “Bales” means rectangular compressed blocks of straw, bound by strings or wire.

(b) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.

(c) “Flakes” means slabs of straw removed from an untied bale. Flakes are used to fill small gaps between the ends of stacked bales.

(d) “Laid flat” refers to stacking bales so that the sides with the largest cross-sectional area are horizontal and the longest dimension of this area is parallel with the wall plane.

(e) “Laid on edge” refers to stacking bales so that the sides with the largest cross-sectional area are vertical and the longest dimension of this area is horizontal and parallel with the wall plane.

(f) “Loadbearing” refers to plastered straw-bale walls that bear the dead and live loads of the roof and any upper floor.

(g) “Nonloadbearing” refers to plastered straw-bale walls that bear only their own weight, such as infill panels within some type of post and beam structure.

(h) “Plaster” means lime, gypsum, lime cement, or cement plasters, as defined by the California Building Standards Code, or earthen plaster with fiber reinforcing.

(i) “Straw” means the dry stems of cereal grains left after the seed heads have been substantially removed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 3. Effective April 26, 2002. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18944.41.)

article: 1. General Provisions and Definitions


text:
(a) Bales shall be rectangular in shape.

(b) Bales used within a continuous wall shall be of consistent height and width to ensure even distribution of loads within wall systems.

(c) Bales shall be bound with ties of either polypropylene string or baling wire. Bales with broken or loose ties shall not be used unless the broken or loose ties are replaced with ties which restore the original degree of compaction of the bale.

(d) The moisture content of bales, at the time of installation, shall not exceed 20 percent of the total weight of the bale. Moisture content of bales shall be determined through the use of a suitable moisture meter, designed for use with baled rice straw or hay, equipped with a probe of sufficient length to reach the center of the bale, and used to determine the average moisture content of five bales randomly selected from the bales to be used.

(e) Bales in loadbearing walls shall have a minimum calculated dry density of 7.0 pounds per cubic foot. The calculated dry density shall be determined after reducing the actual bale weight by the weight of the moisture content.

(f) Where custom-made partial bales are used, they shall be of the same density, same string or wire tension, and, where possible, use the same number of ties as the standard size bales.

(g) Bales of various types of straw, including wheat, rice, rye, barley, oats, and similar plants, shall be acceptable if they meet the minimum requirements of this chapter for density, shape, moisture content, and ties.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 4. Effective April 26, 2002. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18944.41.)

article: 2. Guidelines for Materials

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 4.5. Guidelines for Straw-Bale Structures > 2. Guidelines for Materials


text:
(a) Straw-bale walls, when covered with plaster, drywall, or stucco, shall be deemed to have the equivalent fire resistive rating as wood-frame construction with the same wall-finishing system.

(b) Minimum bale wall thickness shall be 13 inches.

(c) Buildings with loadbearing bale walls shall not exceed one story in height without substantiating calculations and design by a civil engineer or architect licensed by the state, and the bale portion of the loadbearing walls shall not exceed a height-to-width ratio of 5.6:1 (for example, the maximum height for a wall that is 23 inches thick would be 10 feet 8 inches).

(d) The ratio of unsupported wall length to thickness, for loadbearing walls, shall not exceed 15.7:1 (for example, for a wall that is 23 inches thick, the maximum unsupported length allowed is 30 feet).

(e) The allowable vertical load (live and dead load) on top of loadbearing bale walls plastered with cement or lime cement plaster on both sides shall not exceed 800 pounds per linear foot, and the resultant load shall act at the center of the wall. Straw-bale structures shall be designed to withstand all vertical and horizontal loads, and the resulting overturning and base shear, as specified in the latest edition of the California Building Standards Code. Straw-bale walls plastered with cement or lime cement plaster on both sides shall be capable of resisting in-plane lateral forces from wind or earthquake of 360 pounds per linear foot.

(f) Foundations shall be designed in accordance with the California Building Standards Code to accommodate the load created by the bale wall plus superimposed live and dead loads. Supports for bale walls shall extend to an elevation of at least six inches above adjacent ground at all points, and at least one inch above floor surfaces.

(g) (1) Bale walls shall be anchored to supports to resist lateral forces, as approved by the civil engineer or architect. This may be accomplished with one-half inch reinforcing bars embedded in the foundation and penetrating the bales by at least 12 inches, located along the center line of the bale wall, spaced not more than two feet apart. Other methods as determined by the engineer or architect may also be used.

(2) Nonbale walls abutting bale walls shall be attached by means of one or more of the following methods or by means of an acceptable equivalent:

(A) Wooden dowels of 58 inch minimum diameter and of sufficient length to provide 12 inches of penetration into the bale, driven through holes bored in the abutting wall stud, and spaced to provide one dowel connection per bale.

(B) Pointed wooden stakes, a minimum of 12 inches in length and 1 12 inches by 3 12 inches at the exposed end, fully driven into each course of bales, as anchorage points.

(C) Bolted or threaded rod connection of the abutting wall, through the bale wall, to a steel nut and steel or plywood plate washer, a minimum of 6 inches square and a minimum thickness of 316 of an inch for steel and 12 inch for plywood, in a minimum of three locations.

(3) (A) Bale walls and roof bearing assemblies shall be anchored to the foundation where necessary, as determined by the civil engineer or architect, by means of methods that are adequate to resist uplift forces resulting from the design wind load. There shall be a minimum of two points of anchorage per wall, spaced not more than 6 feet apart, with one located within 36 inches of each end of each wall.

(B) With loadbearing bale walls, the dead load of the roof and ceiling systems will produce vertical compression of the walls. Regardless of the anchoring system used to attach the roof bearing assembly to the foundation, prior to installation of wall finish materials, the nuts, straps, or cables shall be retightened to compensate for this compression.

(h) (1) A moisture barrier shall be used between the top of the foundation and the bottom of the bale wall to prevent moisture from migrating through the foundation so as to come into contact with the bottom course of bales. This barrier shall consist of one of the following:

(A) Cementitious waterproof coating.

(B) Type 30 asphalt felt over an asphalt emulsion.

(C) Sheet metal flashing, sealed at joints.

(D) Another building moisture barrier, as approved by the building official.

(2) All penetrations through the moisture barrier, as well as all joints in the barrier, shall be sealed with asphalt, caulking, or an approved sealant.

(3) There shall also be a drainage plane between the straw and the top of the foundation, such as a one inch layer of pea gravel.

(i) (1) For nonloadbearing walls, bales may be laid either flat or on edge. Bales in loadbearing bale walls shall be laid flat and be stacked in a running bond, where possible, with each bale overlapping the two bales beneath it. Overlaps shall be a minimum of 12 inches. Gaps between the ends of bales which are less than 6 inches in width may be filled by an untied flake inserted snugly into the gap.

(2) Bale wall assemblies shall be held securely together by rebar pins driven through bale centers as described in this chapter, or equivalent methods as approved by the civil engineer or architect.

(3) The first course of bales shall be laid by impaling the bales on the rebar verticals and threaded rods, if any, extending from the foundation. When the fourth course has been laid, vertical #4 rebar pins, or an acceptable equivalent long enough to extend through all four courses, shall be driven down through the bales, two in each bale, located so that they do not pass through the space between the ends of any two bales. The layout of these rebar pins shall approximate the layout of the rebar pins extending from the foundation. As each subsequent course is laid, two pins, long enough to extend through that course and the three courses immediately below it, shall be driven down through each bale. This pinning method shall be continued to the top of the wall. In walls seven or eight courses high, pinning at the fifth course may be eliminated.

(4) Alternative pinning method to the method described in paragraph (3): when the third course has been laid, vertical #4 rebar pins, or an acceptable equivalent, long enough to extend through all three courses, shall be driven down through the bales, two in each bale, located so that they do not pass through the space between the ends of any two bales. The layout of these rebar pins shall approximate the layout of the rebar pins extending from the foundation. As each subsequent course is laid, two pins, long enough to extend through that course and the two courses immediately below it, shall be driven down through each bale. This pinning method shall be continued to the top of the wall.

(5) Only full-length bales shall be used at corners of loadbearing bale walls.

(6) Vertical #4 rebar pins, or an acceptable alternative, shall be located within one foot of all corners or door openings.

(7) Staples, made of #3 or larger rebar formed into a “U” shape, a minimum of 18 inches long with two 6-inch legs, shall be used at all corners of every course, driven with one leg into the top of each abutting corner bale.

(j) (1) All loadbearing bale walls shall have a roof bearing assembly at the top of the walls to bear the roof load and to provide the means of connecting the roof structure to the foundation. The roof bearing assembly shall be continuous along the tops of loadbearing bale walls.

(2) An acceptable roof bearing assembly option shall consist of two double 2-inch by 6-inch, or larger, horizontal top plates, one located at the inner edge of the wall and the other at the outer edge. Connecting the two doubled top plates, and located horizontally and perpendicular to the length of the wall, shall be 2-inch by 6-inch cross members, spaced no more than 72 inches center to center, and as required to align with the threaded rods extending from the anchor bolts in the foundation. The double 2-inch by 6-inch top plates shall be face-nailed with 16d nails staggered at 16-inch o.c., with laps and intersections face-nailed with four 16d nails. The crossmembers shall be face-nailed to the top plates with four 16d nails at each end. Corner connections shall include overlaps nailed as above or an acceptable equivalent, such as plywood gussets or metal plates. Alternatives to this roof bearing assembly option shall provide equal or greater vertical rigidity and provide horizontal rigidity equivalent to a continuous double 2 by 4 top plate.

(3) The connection of roof framing members to the roof plate shall comply with the appropriate sections of the California Building Standards Code.

(k) All openings in loadbearing bale walls shall be a minimum of one full bale length from any outside corner, unless exceptions are approved by an engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice. Wall or roof load present above any opening shall be carried, or transferred, to the bales below by one of the following:

(1) A frame, such as a structural window or door frame.

(2) A lintel, such as an angle-iron cradle, wooden beam, or wooden box beam. Lintels shall be at least twice as long as the opening is wide and extend a minimum of 24 inches beyond either side of the opening. Lintels shall be centered over openings.

(3) A roof bearing assembly designed to act as a rigid beam over the opening.

(l) (1) All weather-exposed bale walls shall be protected from water damage. No vapor impermeable barrier may be used on bale walls, and the civil engineer or architect may design the bale walls without any membrane barriers between straw and plaster, except as specified in this section, in order to allow natural transpiration of moisture from the bales and to secure a structural bond between plaster and straw.

(2) Bale walls shall have special moisture protection provided at all horizontal surfaces exposed to the weather. This moisture protection shall be installed in a manner that will prevent water from entering the wall system.

(m) (1) Interior and exterior surfaces of bale walls shall be protected from mechanical damage, flame, animals, and prolonged exposure to water. Bale walls adjacent to bath and shower enclosures shall be protected by a moisture barrier.

(2) Cement stucco shall be reinforced with galvanized woven wire stucco netting or an equivalent, as approved by the building official. The reinforcement shall be secured by attachment through the wall at a maximum spacing of 24 inches horizontally and 16 inches vertically, unless substantiated otherwise by a civil engineer or architect.

(3) Where bales abut other materials, the plaster or stucco shall be reinforced with galvanized expanded metal lath, or an acceptable equivalent, extending a minimum of 6 inches onto the bales.

(4) Earthen and lime-based plasters may be applied directly onto bale walls without reinforcement, except where applied over materials other than straw.

(n) (1) All wiring within or on bale walls shall meet all provisions of the California Electrical Code. Type “NM” or “UF” cable may be used, or wiring may be run in metallic or nonmetallic conduit systems.

(2) Electrical boxes shall be securely attached to wooden stakes driven a minimum of 12 inches into the bales, or an acceptable equivalent.

(o) Water or gas pipes within bale walls shall be encased in a continuous pipe sleeve to prevent leakage within the wall. Where pipes are mounted on bale walls, they shall be isolated from the bales by a moisture barrier.

(p) Bales shall be protected from rain and other moisture infiltration at all times until protected by the roof of the structure.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 5. Effective April 26, 2002. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18944.41.)

article: 3. Construction Guidelines

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 4.5. Guidelines for Straw-Bale Structures > 3. Construction Guidelines


text: Sections 18944.30, 18944.31, 18944.33, 18944.35, and 18944.40 shall become inoperative when building standards become effective after approval by the California Building Standards Commission pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) that permit the construction of structures that use baled straw as a loadbearing or nonloadbearing material and that are safe to the public.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 6. Effective April 26, 2002.)

article: 3. Construction Guidelines


text:
(a) Any person adversely affected by any regulation, rules, omission, interpretation, decision, or practice of any state agency respecting the administration of any building standard may appeal the issue for resolution to the commission.

(b) If any local agency having authority to enforce a state building standard and any person adversely affected by any regulation, rule, omission, interpretation, decision, or practice of such agency respecting such building standard both wish to appeal the issue for resolution to the commission, then both parties may appeal to the commission. The commission may accept such appeal only if the commission determines that the issues involved in such appeal have statewide significance.

chapter: 5. Appeals and Enforcement

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 5. Appeals and Enforcement


text: Except as provided in Section 18947, the commission may hear the appeal itself, or by designating a member of the commission to be a hearing officer, or may refer the appealing parties to an advisory panel, a committee, or to a hearing officer appointed by the Office of Administrative Hearings, wherein the hearing officer designated by the commission or appointed by the Office of Administrative Hearings, should, where possible, possess some expertise in the technical aspects of the appeal. If a referral is made, the panel, committee, or hearing officer may make an investigation and conduct hearings as they deem appropriate, provided that all interested agencies or parties shall have a full and fair opportunity to be heard. A proposed written decision shall be submitted to the commission which the commission may adopt, adopt as modified, or reject. The commission shall render its decision or interpretation in writing.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 1003.)


text: Where the appeal issue results from the enforcement of a standard for occupational safety and health by an inspector of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Industrial Relations, the employer shall appeal directly to the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, and the appeal shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6600) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Labor Code. Such an appeal, if sent to the commission in error, shall be forwarded immediately to the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board. The date of receipt of any such appeal by the commission shall be considered the date of filing for purposes of meeting the filing time requirements of Section 6600 of the Labor Code.


text: The responsibility for the enforcement and administration of building standards shall remain in the state or local agency specified by other provisions of law.


text:
(a) Written rules and regulations by a local enforcement agency to clarify the application of the California Building Standards Code shall be made available to the public upon request.

(b) A local enforcement agency may charge a fee to cover the costs of making copies of the written rules and regulations described in subdivision (a).

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 642, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)


text: The commission shall establish a schedule of fees for appeals in an amount sufficient to pay its costs of administration and hearing appeals.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 1082.)


text: Any responsibilities of the State Architect to adopt regulations relating to building standards are hereby transferred to the commission.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 865, Sec. 24.)

chapter: 6. Regulations

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 6. Regulations


text:
(a) Any responsibilities of the State Fire Marshal to adopt, through a formal rulemaking process as provided in Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to building standards, including, but not limited to, Sections 13108, 13143, 13143.6, and 13211, are hereby transferred to the commission.

(b) The State Fire Marshal shall remain the state agency responsible for developing building standards to implement the state’s fire and life safety policy. In its role as the fire and life safety standard developing agency, the State Fire Marshal shall continue its existing activities and forums designed to facilitate compromise and consensus among the various individuals and groups involved in development of the state’s codes related to fire and life safety.

(c) The state’s fire and life safety building standards, as developed by the State Fire Marshal and as adopted by the commission, shall continue to be based on the state’s fire and life safety policy goals and mandates as they existed prior to the enactment of this chapter and as they are amended.

(d) The role of the commission in reviewing and adopting fire and life safety building standards shall be strictly limited to a technical review of those standards, through a process integrated with the technical review of all other state building standards, and a determination as to whether those standards conform to the requirements of Section 18930 commonly known as the “nine point criteria.”

(e) The commission may not rewrite or modify any fire or life safety building standard without the express mutual agreement of the State Fire Marshal. If the State Fire Marshal does not agree with the modification of a fire or life safety building standard as proposed by the commission, the authority of the commission shall be limited to disapproval of the standard, pursuant to the “nine point criteria” in Section 18930.


text: Any responsibilities of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to adopt regulations relating to building standards, including, but not limited to, responsibilities specified in Division 12.5 (commencing with Section 15000), are hereby transferred to the commission.


text: The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission shall submit building standards to the commission for review and approval pursuant to Section 18930 in accordance with the time schedule established by the California Building Standards Commission.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 610, Sec. 2.8. (AB 2762) Effective January 1, 2011.)


text: Any responsibilities of the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt regulations relating to buildings standards are hereby transferred to the commission.


text:
(a) The commission shall adopt regulations setting forth the procedure for the adoption of building standards and administrative regulations that apply directly to the implementation or enforcement of building standards.

(b) Regulatory adoption shall be accomplished so as to facilitate the triennial adoption of the specified model codes pursuant to Section 18928.

(c) The regulations shall allow for the distribution of proposed building standards and regulatory changes to the public for review in compliance with the requirements of the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) and for the acceptance of responses from the public.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 225, Sec. 40. Effective August 16, 2004.)


text: Any responsibilities of the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations relating to building standards are hereby transferred to the commission, except that the commission shall not adopt any regulation without the concurrence of the State Department of Public Health. Nothing in this section shall be construed to change the current process for adopting regulations relating to building standards of health facilities, as defined in Section 1250.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 246, Sec. 1. (AB 2001) Effective January 1, 2011.)


text: For purposes of this chapter, “construction inspector” means any person who is hired or contracted by a local agency in a temporary or permanent capacity for the purpose of inspecting construction for structural, seismic safety, fire and life safety, or building system requirements of adopted uniform codes or standards, as applied to residential, commercial, or industrial buildings.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 18965 by Stats. 1996, Ch. 124, Sec. 60. Effective January 1, 1997.)

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.5. STATE BUILDING STANDARDS > 7. Construction Inspectors, Plans Examiners, and Building Officials


text: For purposes of this chapter, “plans examiner” means any person who is hired or contracted by a local agency in a temporary or permanent capacity for the purpose of performing construction plan review for structural, seismic safety, fire and life safety, or building system requirements of adopted uniform codes or standards, as applied to residential, commercial, or industrial buildings.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 18966 by Stats. 1996, Ch. 124, Sec. 61. Effective January 1, 1997.)

chapter: 7. Construction Inspectors, Plans Examiners, and Building Officials


text: For purposes of this chapter, “building official” means the individual invested with the responsibility for overseeing local code enforcement activities, including administration of the building department, interpretation of code requirements, and direction of the code adoption process.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 18967 by Stats. 1996, Ch. 124, Sec. 62. Effective January 1, 1997.)


text:
(a) All construction inspectors, plans examiners and building officials who are not exempt from the requirements of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (b), or previously certified, shall complete one year of verifiable experience in the appropriate field, and shall, within one year thereafter, obtain certification from a recognized state, national, or international association, as determined by the local agency. The area of certification shall be closely related to the primary job function, as determined by the local agency.

(b) Any person who is currently and has continuously been employed as a construction inspector, plans examiner, or building official for not less than two years prior to the effective date of this section shall be exempt from the certification provisions of this section, unless and until that person obtains employment as a construction inspector, plans examiner, or building official with a different employer.

(c) Nothing in this article is intended to prohibit a local agency from prescribing additional criteria for the certification of construction inspectors, plans examiners, or building officials.

(d) Nothing in this chapter, as it relates to construction inspectors, plans examiners, or building officials, shall be construed to alter the requirements for licensure, or the jurisdiction, authority, or scope of practice, of architects pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5500) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, professional engineers pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, or land surveyors pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 18968 by Stats. 1996, Ch. 124, Sec. 63. Effective January 1, 1997.)


text:
(a) All construction inspectors, plans examiners, and building officials shall complete a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education for every three-year period, with at least eight hours regarding disability access requirements pursuant to subdivision (d). A local government may charge or increase inspection fees to the extent necessary to offset any added costs incurred in complying with this section.

(b) Providers of continuing education may include any organizations affiliated with the code enforcement profession, community colleges, or other providers of similar quality, as determined by the local agency.

(c) For purposes of this section, “continuing education” is defined as that education relating to the enforcement of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, and any other locally enforced building and construction standards, including, but not limited to, the model uniform codes adopted by the state. When a local agency selects a model code organization as a provider of continuing education or certification programs regarding the enforcement of a model code adopted by the state, the local agency shall give preference to the organization responsible for promulgating or drafting that model code.

(d) Continuing education regarding disability access requirements shall include information and practical guidance concerning requirements imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), state laws that govern access to public facilities, and federal and state regulations adopted pursuant to those laws. Continuing education provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be presented by trainers or educators with knowledge and expertise in these requirements.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 549, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2009.)


text: This chapter does not apply to a registered professional engineer, licensed land surveyor, or licensed architect rendering construction inspection services, plan examination services, or building official services within the scope of his or her registration or licensure, except that this chapter applies to a registered professional engineer, licensed land surveyor, or licensed architect who is an employee of a local agency. This chapter does not apply to a construction inspector or plans examiner employed by any city or county fire department or district providing fire protection services.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 18970 by Stats. 1996, Ch. 124, Sec. 65. Effective January 1, 1997.)


text: The local agency shall bear the costs of certification, certification renewal, and continuing education, as mandated by this chapter. The local agency may impose fees, including, but not limited to, fees for construction inspection and plan checks, which may be used to cover the costs of compliance with this chapter. A local agency’s actual costs of compliance with this chapter may include, but are not limited to, training and certification courses, certification exam and renewal fees, employee salary during training and certification courses, and mileage and other reimbursable costs incurred by the employee. The fees imposed to cover the costs of compliance with this chapter shall reflect these actual costs, and are not limited by Chapter 5 of Division 1 of Title 7.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 18971 by Stats. 1996, Ch. 124, Sec. 66. Effective January 1, 1997.)


text: This part shall be known and may be cited as the “State Historical Building Code.”

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 906.)

part: 2.7. STATE HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

path: 13. HOUSING > 2.7. STATE HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE


text: It is the purpose of this part to provide alternative regulations and standards for the rehabilitation, preservation, restoration (including related reconstruction), or relocation of qualified historical buildings or structures, as defined in Section 18955. These alternative standards and regulations are intended to facilitate the rehabilitation, restoration, or change of occupancy so as to preserve their original or restored architectural elements and features, to encourage energy conservation and a cost-effective approach to preservation, and to provide for the safety of the building occupants.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text: This part shall apply to all qualified historical buildings or structures as defined in Section 18955.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text: It is the intent of this part to provide means for the preservation of the historical value of qualified historical buildings or structures and, concurrently, to provide reasonable safety from fire, seismic forces or other hazards for occupants of these buildings or structures, and to provide reasonable availability to and usability by, the disabled.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text:
Repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, moving, or continued use of a qualified historical building or structure may be made if they conform to this part. The building department of every city or county or other local agency that has jurisdiction over the enforcement of code within its legal authority shall apply the alternative standards and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 18959.5 in permitting repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, moving, or continued use of a qualified historical building or structure. A state agency shall apply the alternative regulations adopted pursuant to Section 18959.5 in permitting repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, moving, or continued use of a qualified historical building or structure.

The application of any alternative standards for the provision of access to the disabled or exemption from access requirements shall be done on a case-by-case and item-by-item basis, and shall not be applied to an entire qualified historical building or structure without individual consideration of each item, and shall not be applied to related sites or areas except on an item-by-item basis.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text: For the purposes of this part, a qualified historical building or structure is any structure or property, collection of structures, and their related sites deemed of importance to the history, architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction. This shall include historical buildings or structures on existing or future national, state or local historical registers or official inventories, such as the National Register of Historic Places, State Historical Landmarks, State Points of Historical Interest, and city or county registers or inventories of historical or architecturally significant sites, places, historic districts, or landmarks. This shall also include places, locations, or sites identified on these historical registers or official inventories and deemed of importance to the history, architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text: The application of the provisions of Part 5.5 (commencing with Section 19955) of Division 13 of this code, Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 4450) of Division 5 of Title 1 of the Government Code, Division 15 (commencing with Section 25000) of the Public Resources Code, and of any other statute or regulation, as they may apply to qualified historical buildings or structures, shall be governed by this part.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 676.)


text: Nothing in this part shall be construed to prevent authorized building or fire officials from the performance of their duties when in the process of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.


text:
Except as provided in Section 18930, the following state agencies, in addition to the State Historical Building Safety Board, shall have the authority to adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the State Historical Building Code governing the rehabilitation, preservation, restoration, related reconstruction, safety, or relocation of qualified historical buildings and structures within their jurisdiction:

(a) The Division of the State Architect.

(b) The State Fire Marshal.

(c) The State Building Standards Commission, but only with respect to approval of building standards.

(d) The Department of Housing and Community Development.

(e) The Department of Transportation.

(f) Other state agencies that may be affected by this part.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901), all state agencies shall administer and enforce this part with respect to qualified historical buildings or structures under their respective jurisdiction.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901), all local authorities shall, within their legal authority, administer and enforce this part with respect to qualified historical buildings or structures under their respective jurisdictions where applicable.

(c) The State Historical Building Safety Board shall coordinate and consult with the other applicable state agencies affected by this part and, except as provided in Section 18943, disseminate provisions adopted pursuant to this part to all local building authorities and state agencies at cost.

(d) Regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this part shall be enforced in the same manner as regulations are enforced under Sections 13145, 13146, and 13146.5.

(e) Regular and alternative building standards published in the California Building Standards Code shall be enforced in the same manner by the same governmental entities as provided by law.

(f) When administering and enforcing this part, each local agency may make changes or modifications in the requirements contained in the California Historical Building Code, as described in Section 18944.7, as it determines are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, seismic, and topographical conditions. The local agency shall make an express finding that the modifications or changes are needed, and the finding shall be available as a public record. A copy of the finding and change or modification shall be filed with the State Historical Building Safety Board. No modification or change shall become effective or operative for any purpose until the finding and modification or change has been filed with the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text: Subject to the applicable provisions of Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901) of this division, the State Historical Building Safety Board shall adopt and submit alternative building standards for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 of this division and may adopt, amend, and repeal other alternative rules and regulations under this part which the board has recommended for adoption under subdivision (b) of Section 18960 by the State Architect or other appropriate state agencies.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1314) by Stats. 1990, Ch. 625, Sec. 7.)


text:
(a) A State Historical Building Safety Board is hereby established as a unit within the Division of the State Architect. The board shall be composed of qualified experts in their respective fields who shall represent various state and local public agencies, professional design societies and building and preservation oriented organizations.

(b) This board shall act as a consultant to the State Architect and to the other applicable state agencies for purposes of this part. The board shall recommend to the State Architect and the other applicable state agencies rules and regulations for adoption pursuant to this part.

(c) The board shall also act as a review body to state and local agencies with respect to interpretations of this part as well as on matters of administration and enforcement of it. The board’s decisions shall be reported in printed form.

(1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 18945, if any local agency administering and enforcing this part or any person adversely affected by any regulation, rule, omission, interpretation, decision, or practice of this agency representing a building standard wishes to appeal the issue for resolution to the State Historical Building Safety Board, these parties may appeal to the board. The board may accept the appeal only if it determines that issues involved in the appeal have statewide significance.

(2) The State Historical Building Safety Board shall, upon making a decision on an appeal pursuant to paragraph (1), send a copy to the State Building Standards Commission.

(3) Requests for interpretation by local agencies of the provisions of this part may be accepted for review by the State Historical Building Safety Board. A copy of an interpretation decision shall be sent to the State Building Standards Commission in the same manner as paragraph (2).

(4) The State Historical Building Safety Board may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of the service, for requests for copies of their decisions and for requests for reviews by the board pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3). All funds collected pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the State Historical Building Code Fund, which is hereby established, for use by the State Historical Building Safety Board. The State Historical Building Code Fund and the fees collected therefor, and the budget of the State Historical Building Safety Board, shall be subject to annual appropriation in the Budget Act.

(5) Local agencies may also charge reasonable fees not to exceed the cost for making an appeal pursuant to paragraph (1) to persons adversely affected as described in that appeal.

(6) All other appeals involving building standards under this part shall be made as set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 18945.

(d) The board shall be composed of representatives of state agencies and public and professional building design, construction, and preservation organizations experienced in dealing with historic buildings. Unless otherwise indicated, each named organization shall appoint its own representatives. Each of the following shall have one member on the board who shall serve without pay, but shall receive actual and necessary expenses incurred while serving on the board:

(1) The Division of the State Architect.

(2) The State Fire Marshal.

(3) The State Historical Resources Commission.

(4) The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.

(5) California Council, American Institute of Architects.

(6) Structural Engineers Association of California.

(7) A mechanical engineer, Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California.

(8) An electrical engineer, Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California.

(9) California Council of Landscape Architects.

(10) The Department of Housing and Community Development.

(11) The Department of Parks and Recreation.

(12) The California State Association of Counties.

(13) League of California Cities.

(14) The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

(15) The Department of Rehabilitation.

(16) The California Chapter of the American Planning Association.

(17) The Department of Transportation.

(18) The California Preservation Foundation.

(19) The Seismic Safety Commission.

(20) The California Building Officials.

(21) The Building Owners and Managers Association of California.

The 21 members listed above shall select a building contractor as a member of the board, who shall serve without pay, but shall receive actual and necessary expenses incurred while serving on the board.

Each of the appointing authorities shall appoint, in the same manner as for members, an alternate in addition to a member. The alternate member shall serve in place of the member at the meetings of the board that the member is unable to attend. The alternate shall have all of the authority that the member would have when the alternate is attending in the place of the member. The board may appoint, from time to time, as it deems necessary, consultants who shall serve without pay but shall receive actual and necessary expenses as approved by the board.

(e) The term of membership on the board shall be for four years, with the State Architect’s representative serving continually until replaced. Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments. The board shall annually select a chairperson from among the members of the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 55, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)


text: All state agencies that enforce and administer approvals, variances, or appeals procedures or decisions affecting the preservation or safety of the historical aspects of qualified historical buildings or structures shall use the alternative provisions of this part and shall consult with the State Historical Building Safety Board to obtain its review prior to undertaking action or making decisions on variances or appeals that affect qualified historical buildings or structures.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 504, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2004.)


text:
(a) For a development project in which a designated historical resource is being converted or adapted, a local agency shall provide the following reductions in required parking, unless otherwise required by a local historical preservation or adaptive reuse ordinance:

(1) For a project converting or adapting a designated historical resource to a residential use that is located within one-half mile of a major transit stop, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code, a local agency shall not require the project to provide parking spaces greater than the number of parking spaces that existed on the project site at the time the project application was submitted.

(2) For a project converting or adapting a designated historical resource to a nonresidential use, a local agency shall provide a 25-percent reduction in the amount of parking spaces that would otherwise be required.

(b) A development project in which a designated historical resource is being converted or adapted that is eligible for reductions in required parking pursuant to this section shall comply with all federal, state, and local alternative regulations and standards necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, relocation, or continued use of the designated historical resource.

(c) For purposes of this section, “designated historical resource” means a structure or property officially designated on a local register of historical resources, the California Register of Historical Resources, or the National Register of Historic Places.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 234, Sec. 1. (AB 2263) Effective January 1, 2019.)


text: Any provision in this part which is inconsistent with any provision in the State Housing Law, or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant thereto, is inapplicable to buildings subject to that law.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1844.)

part: 3. MISCELLANEOUS

chapter: 1. Scope and Application

path: 13. HOUSING > 3. MISCELLANEOUS > 1. Scope and Application


text:
This chapter does not apply to any of the following buildings:

(a) Any building not intended primarily for occupancy by human beings and located entirely outside the limits of a city or city and county.

(b) Any building designed and constructed for use exclusively as a dwelling by not more than two families and located entirely outside the limits of a city or city and county.

(c) Any building designed and constructed primarily for use in housing poultry, livestock, hay, grain, or farm machinery and supplies, even though persons may work in, or may otherwise be present in, such building from time to time.

(d) Any building under construction on and prior to May 26, 1933.

(e) Any building in an unincorporated area and used for human habitation and of wood frame construction and not more than two stories in height, in which the span between bearing walls does not exceed twenty-four feet (24’), no room in which contains an area of more than one thousand square feet (1,000 sq. ft.), and which is located in a labor camp as defined in Section 2410 of the Labor Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1968, Ch. 367.)

chapter: 2. Earthquake Protection

article: 1. Scope and Application

path: 13. HOUSING > 3. MISCELLANEOUS > 2. Earthquake Protection > 1. Scope and Application


text: Any city, city and county, or county may establish by ordinance construction standards higher than those established by this chapter.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1939, Ch. 60.)

article: 1. Scope and Application


text:
The building department of every city and city and county shall enforce this chapter within the city or city and county.

“Building department” means the department, bureau, or officer charged with the enforcement of laws or ordinances regulating the erection, construction, or alteration of buildings.

article: 2. Enforcement

path: 13. HOUSING > 3. MISCELLANEOUS > 2. Earthquake Protection > 2. Enforcement


text: The department, officer, or officers of a county who are charged with the enforcement of ordinances or laws regulating the erection, construction, or alteration of buildings shall enforce this chapter within the county but outside the territorial limits of any city.

article: 2. Enforcement


text: Any city or county may, by ordinance, designate any department or officer, other than a department or officer mentioned in this chapter, to enforce all or any part of this chapter.

article: 2. Enforcement


text:
In any city where there is no department or officer charged with or designated for the enforcement of this chapter, the appropriate department, officer, or officers of the county in which such city is located shall enforce this chapter.

In any county where there is no department or officer charged with or designated for the enforcement of this chapter, this chapter shall be enforced by the county engineer, if there is a county engineer, and if not, then by the county surveyor.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1941, Ch. 301.)

article: 2. Enforcement


text: The Division of Codes and Standards of the Department of Housing and Community Development may enforce any provision of this chapter or any building standards published in the State Building Standards Code which it finds is being violated in a building hereafter constructed, after it has given the enforcement agency written notice of the violation and the enforcement agency has failed to secure correction of the violation within the following 10 days. In such cases where the division processes applications for building permits, the fees prescribed in this chapter shall be payable to the division.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1152.)

article: 2. Enforcement


text: No person shall construct a building subject to this chapter unless he has obtained a written permit for that purpose from the appropriate enforcement agency.

article: 2a. Building Permits

path: 13. HOUSING > 3. MISCELLANEOUS > 2. Earthquake Protection > 2a. Building Permits


text:
Any person desiring a permit shall file an application therefor with the appropriate enforcement agency, which application shall contain:

(a) The name and address of the applicant.

(b) A detailed written statement of the work to be done.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text:
The applicant shall file with his application:

(a) A complete set of the plans of the work proposed.

(b) A set of specifications describing the materials to be used in the work.

(c) The fee prescribed for filing an application for a building permit.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1945, Ch. 1147.)

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The governing body of any county or city, including a charter city, may adopt an ordinance prescribing fees for filing applications pursuant to this chapter, but the fees shall not exceed the amount reasonably required by the local enforcement agency to issue permits pursuant to this chapter, and shall not be levied for general revenue purposes. The fees shall be imposed pursuant to Section 66016 of the Government Code. Where the Department of Housing and Community Development is the enforcement agency, the Commission of Housing and Community Development may establish a schedule of fees to pay the cost of administration and enforcement of this chapter. All rules and regulations promulgated by the commission under the authority of this part shall be promulgated pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1572, Sec. 25.)

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: Where work for which a permit is required by this chapter is started or proceeded with prior to the obtaining of such permit, the fees prescribed in Section 19132.3 shall be doubled. The payment of such double fee does not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this chapter in the execution of the work.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1945, Ch. 1147.)

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The enforcement agency shall determine the cost of the work to be done for which the applicant desires a permit, and shall be guided by approved estimating practices. The enforcement agency shall keep a permanent account of all fees received under this chapter, the names of the persons upon whose account the same were paid, the date and the amount thereof, and the location of the building or premises to which they relate. All fees received shall be paid into the treasury of the city or county.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The United States, the State of California, school or other districts, counties and cities shall not be required to pay a fee for filing an application for a building permit pursuant to this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1973, Ch. 692.)

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The enforcement agency shall examine the application, plans, and specifications filed with it by an applicant, and if it appears that the work to be done will not result in a violation of this chapter, shall approve them and issue a permit to the applicant.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The enforcement agency may approve changes in any application, plans, or specifications previously approved by it.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The enforcement agency may revoke any permit if the permittee refuses, fails, or neglects to comply with any provision of this chapter, or if it finds that any false statement or misrepresentation was made in the application, plans, or specifications filed by the permittee.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The work authorized by a permit shall be performed only in accordance with the application, plans, and specifications filed by the permittee.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: The issuance of a permit does not constitute approval of any violation of any provision of this chapter.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: In any case where a building subject to this chapter is also subject to any permit provisions of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the provision of the State Housing Law, it shall not be necessary to make duplicate filings of plans and specifications hereunder, to include in the application a detailed statement of the work to be done, nor shall it be necessary to pay a fee for filing an application for a building permit under this chapter if a fee is prescribed by local ordinance for a permit under the State Housing Law. In such cases, the application hereunder may contain a general statement of the work to be done, with a specific reference to the application, plans, and specifications filed under the State Housing Law.

article: 2a. Building Permits


text: Every building or structure and every portion thereof shall be designed and constructed to resist stresses produced by lateral forces as provided in the State Building Standards Code. In areas where the Division of Codes and Standards of the Department of Housing and Community Development is the enforcement agency, plumbing and electrical equipment and installations shall be subject to building standards published in the State Building Standards Code and the other rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Sections 17921 and 17922 of this code.

article: 3. Design and Construction

path: 13. HOUSING > 3. MISCELLANEOUS > 2. Earthquake Protection > 3. Design and Construction


text:
The Legislature finds and declares that:

(a) Because of the generally acknowledged fact that California will experience moderate to severe earthquakes in the foreseeable future, increased efforts to reduce earthquake hazards should be encouraged and supported.

(b) Tens of thousands of buildings subject to severe earthquake hazards continue to be a serious danger to the life and safety of hundreds of thousands of Californians who live and work in them in the event of an earthquake.

(c) Improvement of safety to life is the primary goal of building reconstruction to reduce earthquake hazards.

(d) In order to make building reconstruction economically feasible for, and to provide improvement of the safety of life in, seismically hazardous buildings, building standards enacted by local government for building reconstruction may differ from building standards which govern new building construction.

(e) “Soft story” residential buildings are a subset of multistory woodframe structures that may have inadequately braced lower stories that may not be able to resist earthquake motion.

(f) Soft story residential buildings are an important component of the state’s housing stock and are in jeopardy of being lost in the event of a major earthquake.

(g) Soft story residential buildings were responsible for 7,700 of the 16,000 housing units rendered uninhabitable by the Loma Prieta earthquake and over 34,000 of the housing units rendered uninhabitable by the Northridge earthquake.

(h) During an earthquake, soft story residential buildings may create dangerous conditions as illustrated in the Northridge Meadows apartment failure that claimed the lives of 16 residents.

(i) The collapse of soft story residential buildings can ignite fires that threaten trapped occupants and neighboring buildings and complicates emergency response.

(j) The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) estimates that soft story residential buildings will be responsible for 66 percent of the uninhabitable housing following an event on the Hayward fault.

(k) The failure of soft story residential buildings is estimated by ABAG to be the source of a disproportionate share of the public shelter population because they tend to be occupied by the very poor, the very old, and the very young.

(l) The Seismic Safety Commission has recommended that legislation be enacted to require state and local building code enforcement agencies to identify potentially hazardous buildings and to adopt mandatory mitigation programs that will significantly reduce unacceptable hazards in buildings by 2020.

(m) The current nationally recognized model code relating to the retrofit of existing buildings is Appendix Chapter A4 of the International Existing Building Code. However, it is not the intent of the Legislature, if other model codes relating to the retrofit of existing buildings are developed, to limit the California Building Standards Commission or a local government, pursuant to Section 19162, to adopting a particular model code.

(n) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage cities and counties to address the seismic safety of soft story residential buildings and encourage local governments to initiate efforts to reduce the seismic risk in vulnerable soft story residential buildings.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 525, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.)

path: 13. HOUSING > 3. MISCELLANEOUS > 2. Earthquake Protection > 4. Earthquake Hazardous Building Reconstruction


text:
(a) Each city, city and county, or county, may assess the earthquake hazard in its jurisdiction and identify buildings subject to its jurisdiction as being potentially hazardous to life in the event of an earthquake. Potentially hazardous buildings include the following:

(1) Unreinforced masonry buildings constructed prior to the adoption of local building codes requiring earthquake resistant design of buildings that are constructed of unreinforced masonry wall construction and exhibit any of the following characteristics:

(A) Exterior parapets or ornamentation that may fall.

(B) Exterior walls that are not anchored to the floors or roof.

(C) Lack of an effective system to resist seismic forces.

(2) Woodframe, multiunit residential buildings constructed before January 1, 1978, where the ground floor portion of the structure contains parking or other similar open floor space that causes soft, weak, or open-front wall lines, as provided in a nationally recognized model code relating to the retrofit of existing buildings or substantially equivalent standards.

(b) Structural evaluations made pursuant to this section shall be made by an architect as defined in Section 5500 of the Business and Professions Code, or a civil or structural engineer registered pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, or staff of the enforcing agency, as described in Section 17960, supervised by an architect or civil or structural engineer authorized by this subdivision to make the structural evaluations.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 375. Effective January 1, 2007.)

article: 4. Earthquake Hazardous Building Reconstruction