Atascadero Municipal Code Ch. 3 Residential Code (CA)

§ 8-3.101. Modifications to the California Residential Code.¶

(a) Delete all appendices except for the following:

(1) Appendix AA—Board of Appeals, see AMC Section 8-3.101(e)(f)(g) for modifications to the Board of Appeals code.

(2) Appendix AB—Permit Fees, for reference only.

(3) Appendix BB—Tiny Houses, applicable to SFRs that are less than 400 sq ft.

(i) Add Section BB101.1.2 as follows:

The minimum size for a Tiny House is not to be less than 300 sq ft. It shall be noted that a Tiny House is not an Efficiency Dwelling Unit as defined by the California Building Code.

(ii) Add Section BB101.1.3 as follows:

Use Appendix P from the 2025 California Building Code for allowances and limitations on spaces intended for sleeping lofts.

(4) Appendix BF—Patio Covers.

(5) Appendix BH—Automatic Vehicular Gates.

(i) Amend Section BH101.1, General, to read as follows:

The provisions of this appendix shall govern the design and construction of automatic vehicular gates installed on residential lots for single- or two-family dwellings. Permits are required.

(6) Appendix BJ—Strawbale Construction; for reference only.

(7) Appendix BO—Existing Buildings and Structures.

(8) Appendix CH—Private Sewage Disposal—for reference only.

(9) Appendix CI—Swimming Pool Safety Act.

(10) Add the following to Section R105.2 number (11) to read as follows:

(i) Replacement of roofing materials where the structural sheathing has not been damaged in with a combined aggregate of 100 sq ft.

(b) Add Section R105.5.2 to read as follows:

R105.5.2 Permit Expiration by Limitation. A building permit issued under the provisions of this code and the adopted codes shall expire by limitation and become null and void under the following circumstances;

(1) If the project, after the first passed inspection, has a period exceeding 180 days without a passed inspection.

(2) If two or more 180-day extensions have been granted without any passed inspections to keep the permit active.

(3) If a new code cycle has been adopted after the issuance of two or more 180-day extensions, the Chief Building Official may determine—based on the current stage of construction—that code updates must be submitted and approved to proceed with the project.

Inspections applicable to keeping an issued permit active are listed in Section CRC R109 as approved by the Chief Building Official.

R105.5.2.1 Expiration of Permit for Unlawful Construction. Notwithstanding any provision of Section above, or any other provision of this chapter, if a building permit was issued in order to bring an unpermitted structure or other unlawful, substandard, or hazardous condition into compliance with any applicable law, or ordinance, such permit shall expire by limitation and become null and void ninety (90) calendar days after the date on which the permit was issued. The building official may extend the validity of the permit for a period not exceeding ninety (90) calendar days beyond the initial ninety (90) day limit upon written request by the applicant filed with the building official prior to the expiration date of the original permit.

(1) R105.5.3 Expired Permits. Any permit that has exceeded more than 30 days past the expiration date.

(2) R105.5.3.1 Reactivating an Expired Permit. An expired building permit may be reactivated when all the following conditions are met:

(i) A licensed design professional has conducted an observation of the partially completed construction project and provided a written evaluation of the current condition of the work completed to date.

(ii) Trade-specific contractors have evaluated the previously installed components to verify the condition and code compliance of materials and workmanship.

(iii) Updated plans have been submitted to the City for review, incorporating the licensed design professional's observations and reflecting compliance with the current applicable code cycle.

(d) Amend Section R107.1 to include the following:

Exceptions.

(1) Extensions need not be applied for if the temporary permits were issued for jobsite construction trailers and temporary housing during construction as approved by the building official. This would include temporary power as applicable.

(e) Amend Section R112.1 to read as follows: Building Code Appeals Hearing Officers.

R112.1 Building Code Appeals Hearing Officers. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the building official relative to the application and interpretation of the code, there shall be and is hereby created a Building Code Appeals Hearing Officer. The Building Code Appeals Hearing Officer shall be appointed consistent with Section 12-2.08(a) of the Atascadero Municipal Code.

(f) Add section R112.1.1 Appeal Board members.

R112.2.2 Appeal Board Members. The City Manager of the City of Atascadero shall appoint no less than three board members and no more than five members who must be knowledgeable in building codes, regulations, and ordinances, including specialty trades, including, but not limited to, structural engineering and combustible materials, when necessary. In no instance shall an appeal board member be an employee, appointed, or elected official of the City of Atascadero.

(g) Amend Section R112.2 to read as follows: Limitations on authority.

R112.2 Limitations on Authority: An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted hereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply or an equally good or better form or construction is proposed. The hearing officer shall have no authority to waive requirements of this code.

(h) Remove Section R112.3 and replace with Hearing Procedure.

Hearing procedure shall be consistent with Title 12, Chapter 2 of the Atascadero Municipal Code.

(i) R301.2 Table with Info.

TABLE R301.2(1) Climatic And Geographic Design Criteria

Ground Snow Load	Wind Design	Wind Design	Wind Design	Wind Design	Seismic Design Category f	Subject To Damage From	Subject To Damage From	Subject To Damage From	Winter Design Temp e	Ice Barrier Under-Layment Required h	Flood Hazards g	Air Freezing Index i	Mean Annual Temp j
Ground Snow Load	Speed mph d	Topographic effects k	Special Wind Region l	Wind-borne debris zone m	Seismic Design Category f	Weathering a	Frost line depth b	Termite	Winter Design Temp e	Ice Barrier Under-Layment Required h	Flood Hazards g	Air Freezing Index i	Mean Annual Temp j
Zero	95	No	No	No	D 0 , D 1 , D 2 , E	Negligible	N/A	No	29°	No	1981	Negligible	60°
Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n	Manual J Design Criteria n
Elevation	Elevation	Latitude	Winter heating	Winter heating	Summer cooling	Summer cooling	Altitude correction factor	Altitude correction factor	Indoor design temperature	Indoor design temperature	Design temperature cooling	Heating temperature difference	Heating temperature difference
837 ft.	837 ft.	36'	32°	32°	88°	88°	Negligible	Negligible	70°	70°	72°	16°	16°
Cooling temperature difference	Cooling temperature difference	Cooling temperature difference	Wind velocity heating	Wind velocity heating	Wind velocity cooling	Wind velocity cooling	Coincident wet bulb	Coincident wet bulb	Daily range	Daily range	Winter humidity	Summer humidity	Summer humidity
38°	38°	38°	15 mph	15 mph	7.9 mph	7.9 mph	67	67	42%	42%	64%	53%	53%

For SI: 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s.

(j) Amend CRC Section R401.4.1.1.5 (Alternate Procedures) to read as follows:

(1) In lieu of obtaining a Preliminary Soils Report or Soils Investigation, the following footing & foundation parameters can be considered.

(i) 121 SF - 450 SF = 18" depth footing/12" width

(ii) 451 SF - 750 SF = 21" depth footing/15" width

(iii) 751 SF - 1000 SF = 27" depth footing/15" width AND statement of site suitability from a Licensed Design Professional.

(2) Over 1,000 SF requires engineered footing & foundation design with an applicable Soils Report.

(k) Add Section R401.4.1.1.5.1 to read as follows:

Detached Accessory Structures under 500 SF shall have a minimum of a 5" slab foundation and #3 at 18" o/c OR #4 at 24" o/c. Requirements may vary depending on whether the location is consistent with Sections R403.1.7.1 and R403.1.7.2.

(Ord. 693, 2/24/2026)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 8-3.102. Applicability for remodel, renovation or repair to existing buildings.¶

When the estimated value of proposed remodel, renovation or repair work to an existing building exceeds 75% of the current valuation for a new building, all City of Atascadero Building Construction Code (Title 8) requirements for new buildings, including, but not limited to, an automatic fire suppression system, California Wildland-Urban Interface compliance, Title 24 energy analysis, etc., will apply.

Note: The Chief Building Official shall determine instances of natural disaster or uncontrollable events (e.g., fire).

(Ord. 693, 2/24/2026)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 8-3.103. Off-grid requirements.¶

(a) Electrical. See Section 8-4.103.

(Ord. 693, 2/24/2026)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 8-3.104. Residential pool setbacks from SFR and property line.¶

(a) Minimum Setback Requirements from Dwelling Unit or Detached Accessory Structures.

(1) Surcharge conditions to be compliant with the applicable provisions from the CRC.

(2) Minimum setback shall be five feet. If additional surcharges exceed the limitations of the adjacent structures' foundation then additional details are required. The influence line is a 1:1 ratio at a 45-degree angle from the base of the structure's footing. See Figure R403.1.7.1.

(b) Minimum Setback Requirements from the Property Line. The minimum side setback is 12 feet unless the following conditions exist (may be reduced to no less than five feet):

(1) The sloping conditions of the pool cannot be permitted to create a surcharge to an adjacent property/structure depending on descending and ascending slope setback.

(2) There are no concerns about excess drainage to adjacent properties and in no way affects adjacent properties AND is routed to a City approved location.

(3) Setback to toe of ascending slope shall not be less than 1.5 feet and setback to top of descending slope shall not be less than 2.5 feet.

(Ord. 693, 2/24/2026)

Exceptions & meaning →