Part 3 — ADDITIONS, DELETES AND AMENDMENTS[[12]]

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2366, § 9, adopted 12-17-19, amended Part 3 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Part 3, §§ 8950—8950.10, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 2342, adopted 12-6-16.

The 2025 California Residential Code is amended to read as follows:

(Ord. No. 2366, § 9, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 9, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 9, 11-18-25)

8950.1. - AMENDMENT.

Section R309.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code is amended to read as follows due to local climatic, geographical, and topographical conditions:

R309.1 Where required. Approved automatic extinguishing systems shall be installed:

1.

In all new R-2 occupancies.

EXCEPTIONS:

A)

Detached Group U occupancies, providing the floor area does not exceed 1000 square feet.

B)

Pool houses, recreation rooms and similar accessory occupancies providing no portion of the exterior wall of the building is more than 150 feet from a public street.

C)

Other minor buildings and/or occupancies as approved by the Fire Chief.

2.

In all existing Group R-2 Occupancies greater than 2500 square feet in living area when enlarged by an addition to the living area of the existing structure.

EXCEPTIONS:

A)

Additions of areas that would not require sprinklers such as closets or bathrooms.

3.

In all existing Group R-2 Occupancies equal to or less than 2500 square feet in living area, when enlarged by an addition to the living area of the existing structure, exceeds 2500 square feet in residential area.

EXCEPTIONS:

A)

Additions of areas that would not require sprinklers such as closets or bathrooms.

(Ord. No. 2366, § 9, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 9, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 9, 11-18-25)

The purpose of the Chapter is to provide an expedited, streamlined solar permitting process that complies with the Solar Rights Act and AB 2188 (Chapter 521, Statutes 2014) to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of small residential rooftop solar energy systems. This Chapter encourages the use of solar systems by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to property owners and the City of Arcadia, and expanding the ability of property owners to install solar energy systems; and allows the City of Arcadia to achieve these goals while protecting the public health and safety.

(Ord. No. 2328, § 1, 9-1-15)

This Chapter applies to the permitting of all small residential rooftop solar energy systems in the City of Arcadia.

Small residential rooftop solar energy systems legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this Ordinance are not subject to the requirements of this Ordinance unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of a small rooftop energy system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements shall not require a permit.

(Ord. No. 2328, § 1, 9-1-15)

a.

A "Solar Energy System" means either of the following:

i.

Any solar collector or other solar energy device whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electric generation, or water heating.

ii.

Any structural design feature of a building, whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation, space heating or cooling, or for water heating.

b.

A "small residential rooftop solar energy system" means all of the following:

i.

A solar energy system that is no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or 30 kilowatts thermal.

ii.

A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the City of Arcadia and all City health and safety standards.

iii.

A solar energy system that is installed on a single or duplex family dwelling.

iv.

A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the City of Arcadia.

c.

"Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:

i.

Email;

ii.

The Internet;

iii.

Facsimile.

d.

An "association" means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association created for the purpose of managing a common interest development.

e.

A "common interest development" means any of the following:

i.

A community apartment project.

ii.

A condominium project.

iii.

A planned development.

iv.

A stock cooperative.

f.

"Specific, adverse impact" means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.

g.

"Reasonable restrictions" on a solar energy system are those restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance, or that allow for an alternative system of comparable cost, efficiency, and energy conservation benefits.

h.

"Restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance" means:

i.

For Water Heater Systems or Solar Swimming Pool Heating Systems: an amount exceeding 10 percent of the cost of the system, but in no case more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or decreasing the efficiency of the solar energy system by an amount exceeding 10 percent, as originally specified and proposed.

ii.

For Photovoltaic Systems: an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) over the system cost as originally specified and proposed, or a decrease in system efficiency of an amount exceeding 10 percent as originally specified and proposed.

(Ord. No. 2328, § 1, 9-1-15)

1.

All solar energy systems shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the City of Arcadia.

2.

Solar energy systems for heating water in single-family residences and for heating water in commercial or swimming pool applications shall be certified by an accredited listing agency as defined by the California Plumbing and Mechanical Code.

3.

Solar energy systems for producing electricity shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability.

(Ord. No. 2328, § 1, 9-1-15)

8955. • DUTIES OF BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND BUILDING OFFICIAL.

1.

All documents required for the submission of an expedited solar energy system application shall be made available on the publicly accessible City of Arcadia Website.

2.

Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by [email, the Internet, or facsimile] shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants.

3.

An applicant's electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.

4.

The City of Arcadia's Building Department shall adopt a standard plan and checklist of all requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.

5.

The small residential rooftop solar system permit process, standard plan(s), and checklist(s) shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting, including the checklist and standard

plans contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

6.

All fees prescribed for the permitting of small residential rooftop solar energy system must comply with Government Code Section 65850.55, Government Code Section 66015, Government Code Section 66016, and State Health and Safety Code Section 17951.

(Ord. No. 2328, § 1, 9-1-15)

[a.]

The City of Arcadia Building Department shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems within 30 days of the adoption on this Ordinance. The Building Department shall issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit the same day for over-the-counter applications or within 1-3 business days for electronic applications of receipt of a complete application and meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan. A building official may require an applicant to apply for a use permit if the official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. Such decisions may be appealed to the City of Arcadia Planning Commission.

[b.]

Review of the application shall be limited to the building official's review of whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.

[c.]

If a use permit is required, a building official may deny an application for the use permit if the official makes written findings based upon substantive evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid, as defined, the adverse impact. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for preventing the adverse impact. Such decisions may be appealed to the City of Arcadia Planning Commission.

[d.]

Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

[e.]

"A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact" includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the City of Arcadia on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The City of Arcadia shall use its best efforts to ensure that the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets the conditions of

subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of the Civil Code defining restrictions that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or specified performance.

[f.]

A City, County, or City and County shall not condition approval of an application on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.

[g.]

If an application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

[h.]

Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Department for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

[i.]

The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. An inspection will be scheduled within two business days of a request and provide a two-hour inspection window.

[j.]

If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to the requirements of this Ordinance.

[k.]

A re-inspection fee will be accessed for each subsequent re-inspection required until the proposed solar system complies with all requirements stated on the approve plans. The re-inspection fee is required to be paid prior to re-inspection request.

(Ord. No. 2328, § 1, 9-1-15)

CHAPTER 11.2 - ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS PART 1. - APPLICABILITY

This chapter applies to applications for expedited building permits for electric vehicle charging stations consistent with California Government Code section 65850.7.

(Ord. No. 2394, § 10, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 10, 11-18-25)

PART 2. - DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this chapter:

Electric vehicle charging station or charging station means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electric Code, as it read on the effective date of this Chapter, and delivers electricity from a source outside of an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

Electronic submission means a submission of an application utilizing email, the Internet, and/or facsimile transmission.

Specific, adverse impact means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date an application was deemed complete.

(Ord. No. 2394, § 10, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 10, 11-18-25)

PART 3. - PROCESS

A.

The building official shall adopt a checklist of all application requirements for expedited building permits for electric vehicle charging stations. The checklist shall substantially conform to the most current version of the "Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist" found in the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" published by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. The checklist, application form, and any other documents required by the building official shall be published on the city's website.

B.

Anyone seeking to install an electric vehicle charging station at any site within the city shall apply to the building official for an expedited nondiscretionary building permit.

C.

An application for an expedited building permit for an electric vehicle charging station, and all associated documentation, may be submitted to the building official in person, by mail, or by electronic submission. Electronic signatures may be used in lieu of wet signatures.

D.

An application that, in the opinion of the building official, satisfies the information requirements of the checklist adopted by the city shall be deemed complete.

E.

If an application for an expedited building permit is deemed incomplete, the building official shall provide a written correction notice of the deficiencies and the additional information required to complete the application.

F.

If the building official determines that an application for an expedited building permit is complete, the building official shall review the application. If the building official determines that the proposed charging station meets all health and safety requirements of state and federal law, and would not have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the application shall be approved and a building permit shall be issued.

G.

If the building official finds, based on substantial evidence, that a proposed charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, the city may require the applicant to apply for an electric vehicle charging station use permit in order to install the proposed charging station.

H.

An application for an electric vehicle charging station use permit shall be reviewed by the building official. The building official shall not deny such an application without making written findings, based upon substantial evidence in the record, that the proposed charging station would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety which could not feasibly be satisfactorily mitigated or avoided. The written findings required for rejection of an electric vehicle charging station use permit application shall include the building official's basis for rejecting any potentially feasible alternatives that could mitigate or prevent the alleged adverse impact. Pursuant to Government Code section 65850.7, the building official's review shall be limited to health and safety issues. Aesthetic concerns, or other items not related to public health or safety may not be considered.

I.

A decision of the building official made pursuant to subsection F, G, or H of this section may be appealed to the planning commission. The planning commission's review shall also be limited to health and safety issues.

J.

Any condition imposed on an application for an expedited building permit or electric vehicle charging station use permit shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

(Ord. No. 2394, § 10, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 10, 11-18-25)

CHAPTER 12. - DANGEROUS BUILDING PART 1. - ADOPTION

8960. • ADOPTION.

Subject to certain changes and amendments as hereinafter set forth in this Chapter, the City Council hereby adopts, by reference, the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings as published by the International Code Council. The Code shall govern, regulate and control all of the activities therein referred to and the same is made a part of this Chapter as though set forth in this Chapter in full.

One (1) copy of said Code is on file in the office of the Building Official for use and examination by the public.

(Added by Ord. 2279 adopted 12-7-10; Ord. No. 2342, § 11, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 2366, § 10, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 11, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 11, 11-18-25)

PART 2. - PURPOSE

The purpose of this Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures within the City of Arcadia and certain equipment specifically regulated herein.

(Added by Ord. 2279 adopted 12-7-10; Ord. No. 2342, § 11, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 2366, § 10, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 11, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 11, 11-18-25)

CHAPTER 13. - LOS ANGELES COUNTY GRADING CODE PART 1. - ADOPTION

Subject to certain changes and amendments as hereinafter set forth in this Chapter, the City Council hereby adopts, by reference, Appendix J of the Los Angeles County Building Code amending the 2025 California Building Code. The Code shall govern, regulate and control all of the activities therein referred to and the same is made a part of this Chapter as though set forth in this Chapter in full.

One (1) copy of said Code is on file in the office of the City Clerk for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. No. 2312, § 13, 12-3-13; Ord. No. 2342, § 12, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 2366, § 11, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 12, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 12, 11-18-25)

CHAPTER 14. - CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE PART 1. - ADOPTION

Subject to certain changes and amendments as hereinafter set forth in this Chapter, the City Council hereby adopts, by reference, the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code. The Code shall govern, regulate and control all of the activities therein referred to and the same is made a part of this Chapter as though set forth in this Chapter in full.

One (1) copy of said Code is on file in the office of the Building Official for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. No. 2312, § 14, 12-3-13; Ord. No. 2342, § 13, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 2366, § 12, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 13, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 13, 11-18-25)

PART 2. - PURPOSE

The purpose of this Code is to improve public health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of building concepts having a reduced negative impact or positive environmental impact and encouraging sustainable construction practices in the following categories:

1.

Planning and design.

2.

Energy efficiency.

3.

Water efficiency and conservation.

4.

Material conservation and resource efficiency.

5.

Environmental quality.

(Ord. No. 2312, § 14, 12-3-13; Ord. No. 2342, § 13, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 2366, § 12, 12-17-19; Ord. No. 2394, § 13, 11-15-22; Ord. No. 2408, § 13, 11-18-25)

CHAPTER 15. - RESERVED[[13]]

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2342, § 14, adopted December 6, 2016, repealed § 8995, which pertained to Adoption of 2013 Edition of the Los Angeles Region Uniform Code Program. See Code Comparative Table and Disposition List for complete derivation.