Beverly Hills Municipal Code Art. 13 California Historical Building Code

The 2025 edition of the California Historical Building Code is hereby adopted by reference, and the same shall be known and may be cited as the Historical Building Code of the City of Beverly Hills.

Section 8-706.1.2 of the California Historical Building Code is amended to read as follows:

8-706.1.2

Evaluation and seismic improvement of unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings shall comply with the California Existing Building Code (CEBC), Appendix Chapter A1 2025 Edition, and as modified by the CHBC.

Exceptions:

1. Alternative standards may be used on a case-by-case basis when approved by the authority having jurisdiction. It shall be permitted to exceed the strength limitation of 100 psi in Section A108.2 of the CEBC when test data and building configuration supports higher values subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction.

2. CEBC Section A102.2 shall not apply to Qualified Historical Buildings in Risk Category III buildings and other structures whose primary occupancies are public assembly with an occupancy load greater than 300.

Section 8-805.1 of the California Historical Building Code is amended to read as follows:

8-805.1 Existing solid masonry.

Existing solid masonry walls of any type, except adobe, may be allowed, without testing, a maximum ultimate strength of 9 pounds per square inch (62.1 kPa) in shear where there is a qualifying statement by the architect or engineer that an inspection has been made, that mortar joints are filled and that both brick and mortar are reasonably good. The shear stress above applies to unreinforced masonry, except adobe, where the maximum ratio of unsupported height or length to thickness does not exceed 13, and where minimum quality mortar is used or exists. Wall height or length is measured to supporting or resisting elements that are at least twice as stiff as the tributary wall. Stiffness is based on the gross section. Shear stress may be increased by the addition of 10 percent of the axial direct stress due to the weight of the wall directly above. Higher-quality mortar may provide a greater shear value and shall be tested in accordance with Appendix A, Chapter A1 of the California Existing Building Code (CEBC) 2025 edition, and as modified by the CHBC.

Section 8-805.2.1 of the California Historical Building Code is amended to read as follows:

8-805.2.1 Solid-backed stone masonry.

Stone masonry solidly backed with brick masonry shall be treated as solid brick masonry as described in Section 8-805.1 and in the 2025 California Existing Building Code, provided representative testing and inspection verifies solid collar joints between stone and brick and that a reasonable number of stones lap with the brick wythes as headers or that steel anchors are present. Solid stone masonry where the wythes of stone effectively overlap to provide the equivalent header courses may also be treated as solid brick masonry.

Section 8-805.2.3 of the California Historical Building Code is amended to read as follows:

8-805.2.3 Testing of stone masonry.

Testing of stone masonry shall be similar to the 2025 California Existing Building Code requirements for brick masonry, except that representative stones which are not interlocked shall be pulled outward from the wall and shear area appropriately calculated after the test. (Ord. 25-O-2926, eff. 1-1-2026; amd. Ord. 25-O-2929, 12-9-2025)