Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING
Section Q104 — EMERGENCY SLEEPING CABINS
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-27 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Q104.1 General. ¶
Emergency sleeping cabins shall have an interior floor area of not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m [2] ) for one occupant. Where more than one person occupies the cabin, the required floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet (4.65 m [2] ) for each occupant in excess of one. The interior floor area shall not exceed 400 square feet (37 m [2] ), excluding lofts.
Q104.2 Live loads. ¶
Emergency sleeping cabins shall be designed to resist intrusion of wind, rain, and to support the following live loads: 1. Floor live loads not less than 40 pounds per square foot (1.92 kPa) of floor area. 2. Horizontal live loads not less than 15 pounds per square foot (718 Pa) of vertical wall and roof area. 3. Roof live loads not less than 20 pounds per square foot (958 Pa) of horizontal roof area. 4. In areas where snow loads are greater than 20 pounds per square foot (958 Pa), the roof shall be designed and constructed to resist these additional loads.
Q104.3 Minimum ceiling height. ¶
Habitable space and hallways in emergency sleeping cabins shall have a ceiling height of not less than 80 inches (2032 mm). Bathrooms, toilet rooms and kitchens, if provided, shall have a ceiling height of not less than 76 inches (1930 mm). Obstructions shall not extend below these minimum ceiling heights including beams, girders, ducts, lighting and other obstructions.
Exception: Ceiling heights in lofts constructed in accordance with Section Q108 are permitted to be less than 80 inches (2032 mm).
Q104.4 Means of egress. ¶
Emergency sleeping cabins shall be provided with at least two forms of egress placed remotely from each other. One form of egress may be an egress window complying with Section Q104.4.1. When a loft is provided, one form of egress shall be an egress window complying with Section Q104.4.1, provided in the loft space.
Q104.4.1 Egress window. The bottom of the clear opening of the egress window shall not be more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor. The egress window shall have a minimum net clear opening height of 24 inches (610 mm), and a minimum net clear opening width of 20 inches (508 mm). The egress window shall have a minimum net clear opening area of 5 square feet (0.465 m [2] ).
Q104.5 Plumbing and gas service. ¶
If an emergency sleeping cabin contains plumbing or gas service, it shall comply with all applicable requirements of the California Plumbing Code and the California Mechanical Code.
Q104.6 Electrical. ¶
Emergency sleeping cabins shall be provided with all of the following installed in compliance with the California Elec- trical Code:
1. Continuous source of electricity. Exception: The source of electricity may be an emergency generator or renewable source of power such as solar or wind
power.
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX Q—EMERGENCY HOUSING
2. At least one interior lighting fixture. 3. Electrical heating equipment listed for residential use and a dedicated receptacle outlet for the electrical heating equipment. Exception: Electrical heating equipment and a dedicated receptacle outlet for the electrical heating equipment are not required if a nonelectrical source of heating is provided. 4. At least one GFCI-protected receptacle outlet for use by the occupant(s).
Q104.7 Ventilation. ¶
Emergency sleeping cabins shall be provided with means of ventilation (natural and/or mechanical) allowing for adequate air replacement, as determined by the enforcing agency.
Q104.8 Smoke alarms. ¶
Emergency sleeping cabins shall be provided with at least one smoke alarm installed in accordance with the California Residential Code, Section R314.
Q104.9 Carbon monoxide alarms. ¶
If an emergency sleeping cabin contains a fuel-burning appliance(s) or a fireplace(s), a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in accordance with the California Residential Code, Section R315.
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
- Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
- Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
- Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
- Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
- Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
- Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
- Chapter 11 — RESERVED
- Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
- Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
- Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
- Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
- Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
- Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
- Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
- Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
- Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
- Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
- Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
- Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
- Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
- Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
- Chapter 21 — MASONRY
- Chapter 21A — MASONRY
- Chapter 22 — STEEL
- Chapter 22A — STEEL
- Chapter 23 — WOOD
- Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
- Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
- Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
- Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
- Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
- Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
- Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
- Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
- Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
- Chapter 31C — RADIATION
- Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
- Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
- Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
- Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 34 — RESERVED
- Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
- Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
- Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
- Appendix E — RESERVED
- Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
- Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
- Appendix H — SIGNS
- Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
- Appendix J — GRADING
- Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
- Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
- Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
- Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
- Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
- Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
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▸ Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING
Overview- Section Q101 — GENERAL
- Section Q102 — DEFINITIONS
- Section Q103 — EMERGENCY HOUSING
- Section Q104 — EMERGENCY SLEEPING CABINS
- Section Q105 — EMERGENCY TRANSPORTABLE HOUSING UNITS
- Section Q106 — TENTS AND MEMBRANE STRUCTURES
- Section Q107 — ACCESSIBILITY
- Section Q108 — LOFTS IN EMERGENCY HOUSING
- Section Q109 — LOCATION, MAINTENANCE AND IDENTIFICATION
- Section Q110 — EMERGENCY HOUSING FACILITIES