116 Unsafe Structures and Equipment

[A] 116.1 Unsafe conditions. Structures or existing equipment that are or hereafter become unsafe, insanitary or deficient because of inadequate means of egress facilities, inadequate light and ventilation, or that constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare, or that involve illegal or improper occupancy or inadequate maintenance, shall be deemed an unsafe condition. Unsafe structures shall be taken down and removed or made safe, as the building official deems necessary and as provided for in this section. A vacant structure that is not secured against unauthorized entry shall be deemed unsafe.

[A] 116.2 Record. The building official shall cause a report to be filed on an unsafe condition. The report shall state the occupancy of the structure and the nature of the unsafe condition.

[A] 116.3 Notice. If an unsafe condition is found, the building official shall serve on the owner of the structure, or the owner’s authorized agent, a written notice that describes the condition deemed unsafe and specifies the required repairs or improvements to be made to abate the unsafe condition, or that requires the unsafe structure to be demolished within a stipulated time. Such notice shall require the person thus notified to declare immediately to the building official acceptance or rejection of the terms of the order.

[A] 116.4 Method of service. Such notice shall be deemed properly served where a copy thereof is served in accordance with one of the following methods:

A copy is delivered to the owner personally.
A copy is sent by certified or registered mail addressed to the owner at the last known address with the return receipt requested.
A copy is delivered in any other manner as prescribed by local law.

If the certified or registered letter is returned showing that the letter was not delivered, a copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or about the structure affected by such notice. Service of such notice in the foregoing manner on the owner’s authorized agent shall constitute service of notice on the owner.

[A] 116.5 Restoration or abatement. Where the structure or equipment determined to be unsafe by the building official is restored to a safe condition, the owner, the owner’s authorized agent, operator or occupant of a structure, premises or equipment deemed unsafe by the building official shall abate or cause to be abated or corrected such unsafe conditions either by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action. To the extent that repairs, alterations or additions are made or a change of occupancy occurs during the restoration of the structure, such repairs, alterations, additions and change of occupancy shall comply with the requirements of the California Existing Building Code .

1-34 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS

(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
201.3			X	X	X	X
201.4			X
202			X	X	X	X
Access Aisle							X
Accessibility				X	X	X	X
Accessibility Function Button							X
Accessible				X	X	X	X
Accessible Element							X
Accessible Means of Egress							X
Accessible Route				X	X	X	X
Accessible Space				X	X	X	X
Accessible Unit				†	†	†
Accessory Dwelling Unit				X	X
Active Earthquake Fault								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Active Equipment/Component								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Adaptable							X
Adaptable Dwelling Unit						X
Addition_ (2nd paragraph only)_							X
Adjusted Construction Cost							X
Administrative Authority							X
Adult Changing Facility							X
Aged Home or Institution			X
Aisle_ (2nd paragraph only)_							X
Alteration							X
Alternative System										X	X	X		X	X
Amusement Attraction							X
Amusement Ride							X
Amusement Ride Seat							X
ANSI							X
Approved_(with notes)_			X	X	X	X
Approved_(2nd paragraph only) (w/o notes)_							X
Approved Agency				X	X			X	X
Approved Listing Agency				X	X
Approved Testing Agency				X	X		X			X	X	X		X	X
Area of Refuge							X
Area of Sport Activity							X
Assembly Area							X
Assistive Device						X
Assistive Listening System (ALS)							X
Automatic Door				X	X	X	X
Automatic Teller Machine (ATM)							X
Auxiliary Area																		X
Backwash																		X
Base								X	X	X	X	X		X	X

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Bather																		X
Bathroom						X	X
Bedridden Person			X
Blended Transition							X
Boarding Pier							X
Boat Launch Ramp							X
Boat Slip							X
Bottle-Filling Station							X
Building			X
Building_ (with exception)_				X	X	X
Building (w/o notes)							X
Building Entrance on an Accessible Route						X
Building, Existing				X	X
Building Official							X
Care and Supervision			X
Care Suite
Carriage Unit						X
Catastrophically Injured			X
Catch Pool							X
CCR							X
Cell			X
Cell Complex			X
Cell Tiers			X
Cellular Concrete				X	X
Central Control Building			X
Characters				X	X	X	X
Charter School			X
Child Care			X
Child-Care Center			X
Child or Children			X
Children’s Use							X
Chronically Ill			X
Circulation Path							X
Clean Pool Water																		X
Clear							X
Clear Floor Space						X	X
Clear Pool Water																		X
Climate Zone																					X
Clinic, Outpatient			X
Closed-Circuit Telephone							X
Commercial Facilities							X
Commercial Place of Public Amusement							X
Common Use				†	†	†	X
Common Use Areas			†			X
Community Care Facility			X

2-2 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Community Correctional Reentry Centers			X
Comply With							X
Concrete,Cellular				X	X
Congregate Living Health Facility (CLHF)			X
Congregate Residence			X			X
Control Room			X
Correctional Hospitals			X
Correctional Medical or Mental Health Housing Suite			X
Correctional Mental Health Facilities			X
Correctional Nursing Facilities			X
Correctional Treatment Centers			X
Corrosion Resistant																		X
Courthouse Holding Facility			X
Courtroom Dock			X
Covered Multifamily Dwellings						X
Cross Slope						X	X
Curb Cut				X	X	X	X
Curb Ramp				X	X	X	X
Custody Station			X
Day-Care			X
Day-Care Home, Family			X
Day-Care Home, Large Family			X
Day-Care Home, Small Family			X
Day Room			X
Deck																		X
Department				X	X
Designated Public Transportation							X
Destination-Oriented Elevator							X
Detached Single-Family Dwelling				X	X
Detectable Warning				X	X	X	X
Detention Elevator			X
Detention Program Suite			X
Detention Treatment Room			X
Detoxification Facilities			X
Directional Sign				X	X		X
Disability							X
Distance from Active Earthquake Fault								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
District Agricultural Associations							X
Dormitory			X				X

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Dormitory			X
Drain																		X
Drive Aisle							X
Drive-up Electric Vehicle Charging Station							X
Driveway							X
Dwelling Unit						X
Dwelling Unit, Efficiency				†	†	†
Effective Particle Size																		X
Efficiency Dwelling Unit				X
Electric Vehicle			X
Electric Vehicle (EV)							X
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger							X
Electric Vehicle Charging Space (EV Space)							X
Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS)							X
Electric Vehicle (EV) Connector							X
Element							X
Elevated Play Component							X
Elevator, Passenger				X	X		X
Employee Work Area							X
Enforcement				X	X
Enforcement Agent								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Enforcing Agency			X	X	X		X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X
Entrance				X	X	X	X
Equipment								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Countertop Equipment_								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Essential Equipment_								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Fixed Equipment_								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Interim Equipment_										X		X		X	X
_ Mobile Equipment_								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Movable Equipment_								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Other Equipment_								X	X	X		X		X	X
_ Temporary Equipment_										X		X		X	X
Equipment Area																		X
Equivalent Facilitation						X	X
Existing Building or Facility							X
Exit							X
Facility							X
Family				X
Fire Appliance			X
Fire-Retardant Treated Wood			X
Fire-Smoke Barrier			X
Fireworks			X
Flammable Gas			X
Freestanding Acute Psychiatric Building (APB)															X

2-4 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Freestanding Building or Structure										X	X	X		X	X
Freestanding Skilled Nursing Building (SNB)												X
Full-Time Care			X
Functional Area							X
Gangway							X
Gas Detection System			X
General Acute Care Building (GAC Building)										X
Golf Car Passage							X
Grab Bar						X	X
Grade (Adjacent Ground Elevation)						X	X
Grade Break							X
Ground Floor						X	X
Ground Level Play Component							X
Group Home			X
Guard_ (or Guardrail)_				X	X	X	X
Hall Call Console							X
Handrail							X
Handwashing Fixture										X		X	X	X	X
Hazardous Substance			X
Health Care Provider							X
High-Rise Building			X
High-Rise Building Access			X
Historic Buildings							X
Holding Facility			X
Hospitals and Psychiatric Hospitals			X
Hotel or Motel				X	X
Housing at a Place of Education						X	X
Housing Pod			X
Housing Unit			X
HPM			X
If, If… Then							X
Incidental Structural Alterations, Additions or Repairs										X	X	X		X	X
Infant			X
Inflatable Amusement Device			X
Inlet																		X
Intake and Release Areas			X
Intended to be occupied as a Residence				†	†	†
International Symbol of Accessibility						X	X

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Irregular Structure								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Key Station							X
Kick Plate				X	X	X	X
Kitchen or Kitchenette							X
Labeled				X	X
Laboratory			X
Laboratory Suite			X
Ladder																		X
Lavatory						X	X
Level Area						X
Licensing Agency										X	X	X	X	X	X
Lift, Platform (Wheelchair)						X
Liquid Tight Floor			X
Listed			X	X	X
Listing Agency				X	X
Live/Work Unit				X
Lobby			X	X	X
Lodging House				X		X
Mail Boxes							X
Major Structural Alterations, Additions or Repairs										X	X	X		X	X
Marked Crossing				X	X	X	X
May							X
Medical Pool																		X
Mezzanine							X
Minor Structural Alteration, Additions or Repairs										X	X	X		X	X
Monolithic										X	X	X	X	X	X
Monolithic Ceiling										X	X	X	X	X	X
Motel				X	X
Motion Picture and Television Production Studio Sound Stage, Approved Production Facilities and Production Locations			X
Multi-bedroom Housing Unit							X
Multilevel Assembly Seating				†	†	†
Multistory Dwelling Unit						X
Multistory Unit				†	†	†
Newly Constructed						X
NFPA							X
Non-General Acute Care Building (Non-GAC Building)											X
Nonambulatory Persons			X
Noncombustible			X
Nonpatient-care Suite			X

2-6 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Normal				X	X
Nosing							X
NPC 1, NPC 2, NPC 3/NPC 3R, NPC 4, NPC-4D and NPC 5										X
Nursing Homes			X
Occupant Load							X
Occupiable Space							X
Off-Site Construction										X	X	X		X	X
Open Riser				X	X	X	X
Operable Part				X	X	X	X
Organized Camps			X
Overflow System																		X
Passage Door						X
Passenger Elevator				X	X		X
Passive Solar Energy Collector				X	X
Path of Travel							X
Pedestrian						X	X
Pedestrian Way				X	X	X	X
Peer Review										X	X	X		X	X
Permanent							X
Permanent Portable Building			X
Permit							X
Persons with Disabilities						X
Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Profoundly or Severely			X
Pictogram				X	X	X	X
Place of Public Accommodation				X	X	X	X
Platform							X
Platform (Wheelchair) Lift				X	X	X	X
Play Area							X
Play Component							X
Point-of-Sale Device							X
Pool																		X
Pool User																		X
Pool Volume																		X
Powder Room				X	X	X	X
Power-Assisted Door							X
Primary Entry						X
Primary-Entry Level						X
Private Building or Facility							X
Private Pool																		X
Professional Office of a Health Care Provider							X
Project Inspector								X	X
Protective Social Care Facility			X
Public Building or Facility							X

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Public Entity						X	X
Public Entrance							X
Public Housing						X	X
Public-Occupancy Temporary Structure								X	X
Public Pool																		X
Public Use							X
Public Use Areas						X
Public-Use Areas							X
Public Way							X
Qualified Historic Building or Facility							X
Quality Assurance (QA)								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Quality Control (QC)								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Ramp							X
Reasonable Portion							X
Recessed Steps																		X
Recessed Treads																		X
Recirculation System																		X
Recommend				X	X		X
Relocatable Building (Public School)			X					X	X
Remodeling							X
Removed from Acute Care Service											X
Repair							X
Residential Care Facility for the Chronically Ill (RCF/CI)			X
Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE)			X
Residential Dwelling Unit							X
Residential Facility (RF)			X
Restraint			X
Restricted Area										X		X	X	X	X
Restricted Entrance							X
Retrofit								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Riser				X	X	X	X
Rugged Equipment								X	X
Running Slope				X	X	X	X
Sanitary Facility				X		X
Secure Interview Rooms			X
Self-Service Storage							X
Self-Service Storage Facility				†	†	†
Service Entrance							X
Shall							X
Shallow Pool																		X
Shopping Center (or Shopping Mall)							X

2-8 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Should				X	X		X
Sidewalk				X	X	X	X
Sign						X	X
Significant Loss of Function								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Single-Accommodation Sanitary Facility						X
Sink						X	X
Site							X
Site Development						X
Sleeping Accommodations				X	X	X	X
Slip Resistant																		X
Slope						X
Small Management Yard			X
Soft Contained Play Structure							X
Space				X	X	X	X
SPC 1, SPC 2, SPC 3, SPC 4D and SPC 5										X
SPC Building										X	X
Special Inspection								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Special Amusement Area			X
Specified Public Transportation							X
Stage							X
Stair							X
Stairs																		X
Stairway							X
State-Owned/Leased Building			X
Step																		X
Steps, Recessed Steps, Ladders and Recessed Treads																		X
Story_ (2nd paragraph only)_							X
Structural Frame							X
Structure							X
Sub-Component										X	X	X		X	X
Surface Mounted Component										X	X	X		X	X
Tactile				X	X	X	X
Tactile Sign				X	X	X	X
_Technically Infeasible _							X
Teeing Ground							X
Temporary							X
Temporary Holding Cell, Room or Area.			X														X
Temporary Holding Facility			X
Tenable Environment			X
Terminally Ill			X

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITIONS—continued

Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	HCD			DSA			OSHPD							BSCC	DPH	AGR	DWR	CEC	CA	SL	SLC
Adopting agency	BSC	BSC- CG	SFM	1	2	1/AC	AC	SS	SS/CC	1	1R	2	3	4	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Adopt entire chapter	X															X
Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)			X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below							X										X	X
Chapter / Section
Testing Agency				X	X
Text Telephone						X	X
Toddler			X
Torque-Controlled Post-Installed Anchor								X	X	X	X	X		X	X
Transfer Device							X
Transient Lodging				X	X	X	X
Transit Boarding Platform							X
Transition Plate							X
Tread				X	X	X
Treatment of Water																		X
TTY						X	X
Turnover Time																		X
Type A Unit				†	†	†
Type B Unit				†	†	†
Uniformity Coefficient																		X
Unreasonable Hardship				X	X	X	X
Use Zone							X
Valuation Threshold							X
Variable Message Signs (VMS)							X
Variable Message Sign (VMS) Characters							X
Vehicular or Pedestrian Arrival Points						X
Vehicular Way						X	X
Waiting Room			X
Walk						X	X
Waterline																		X
Wet Bar							X
Wheelchair						X	X
Wheelchair Space							X
Winery Caves			X
Work Area Equipment							X
Workstation_ (2nd paragraph_ only)							X

The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.

2-10 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE