Article 7 — INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES

8-700. Safety, zoning and building clearance.

(a) Architectural plans shall not be approved and a license shall not be originally issued to any intermediate care facility which does not conform to these requirements or other state requirements on seismic safety, fire and life safety, and environmental impact, and to local fire safety, zoning and building ordinances, evidence of which shall be presented in writing to the Department.

(b) It shall be the responsibility of the licensee to maintain the intermediate care facility in a safe structural condition. If the Department determines in a written report submitted to the licensee that an evaluation of the structural condition of an intermediate care facility building is necessary, the licensee may be required to submit a report by a licensed structural engineer which shall establish a basis for eliminating or correcting the structural conditions which may be hazardous to occupants.

(c) The facility shall meet the seismic safety requirements, if any, prescribed by Section 15001 of the Health and Safety Code.

8-701. Alterations to existing buildings or new construction.

(a) Alterations to existing buildings licensed as intermediate care facilities or new construction shall be in conformance with Chapter 4A, Part 2, Title 24, California Code of Regulations.

(b) Intermediate care facilities licensed and in operation prior to the effective date of changes in construction regulations shall not be required to institute corrective alterations or construction to comply with such new requirements except where specifically required or where the Department determines that a definite hazard to health and safety exists. Any intermediate care facility for which preliminary or working drawings and specifications have been approved by the Department prior to the effective date of changes to construction regulations shall not be required to comply with such new requirements provided substantial actual construction is commenced within one year of the effective date of such new requirements.

(c) All intermediate care facilities shall maintain in operating condition all buildings, fixtures and spaces in the numbers and types as specified in the construction requirements under which the intermediate care facility or unit was first licensed.

8-702. Application for plan review.

(a) Drawings and specifications for alterations to existing buildings or new construction shall be submitted to the Department for approval and shall be accompanied by an application for plan review on forms furnished by the Department. The application shall:

1. Identify and describe the work to be covered by the plan review for which the application is made.

2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done, by lot, block, tract or house and street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work.

3. Show the present and proposed use or occupancy of all parts of the building or buildings.

4. State the number of square meters (square feet) of floor area involved in new construction and in alterations.

5. Give such other information as may be required by the Department for unusual design circumstances.

6. Be signed by the person designing the work or the owner of the work.

(b) The application for plan review shall also include a written statement that a description of the proposed work has been submitted to the Area Comprehensive Health Planning Agency approved by the State Advisory Health Council pursuant to Section 437.7 of the Health and Safety Code.