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Chapter 23 — WOOD

Section 2301 — GENERAL

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

2301.1 Scope.

The provisions of this chapter shall govern the materials, design, construction and quality of wood members and their fasteners.

[HCD 1] For limited-density owner-built rural dwellings, owner-produced or used materials and appliances may be utilized unless found not to be of sufficient strength or durability to perform the intended function; owner-produced or used lumber, or shakes and shingles may be utilized unless found to contain dry rot, excessive splitting or other defects obviously rendering the material unfit in strength or durability for the intended purpose.

2301.1.1 Application. [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC & OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] The scope of application of Chapter 23 is as follows: 1. Structures regulated by the Division of the State Architect-Structural Safety, which include those applications listed in Section 1.9.2.1 (DSA-SS) and 1.9.2.2 (DSA-SS/CC). These applications include public elementary and secondary schools, community colleges and state-owned or state-leased essential services buildings. 2. Applications listed in Section 1.10, regulated by the Department of Health Care Access and Information/Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development (OSHPD). These applications include hospitals, hospital buildings removed from general acute care service, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, correctional treatment centers and acute psychiatric hospital buildings.

Exception: For applications listed in Sections 1.10.3 (Licensed Clinics) and 1.10.6 (Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospi- tals), the provisions of this chapter without OSHPD amendments identified in accordance with Section 2301.1.3 shall apply.

2301.1.2 Amendments in this chapter. [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC & OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC and OSHPD adopt this chapter as amended.

2301.1.3 Identification of amendments. [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC, OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] 1. Division of the State Architect - Structural Safety amendments appear in this chapter preceded by the appropriate acronym, as follows:

[DSA-SS] - For applications listed in Section 1.9.2.1.

[DSA-SS/CC] - For applications listed in Section 1.9.2.2. 2. Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development (OSHPD) amendments appear in this chapter preceded by the appropriate acronym, as follows:

[OSHPD 1] - For applications listed in Section 1.10.1.

[OSHPD 1R] - For applications listed in Section 1.10.1.

[OSHPD 2] - For applications listed in Section 1.10.2.

[OSHPD 4] - For applications listed in Section 1.10.4.

[OSHPD 5] - For applications listed in Section 1.10.5.

2301.1.4 Reference to other chapters. [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC, OSHPD]

2301.1.4.1 [DSA-SS and OSHPD 1 & 4] Where reference within this chapter is made to sections in Chapters 16, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 22, the provisions in Chapters 16A, 17A, 18A, 19A, 21A and 22A, respectively shall apply instead.

2301.1.4.2 [DSA-SS/CC] Where reference within this chapter is made to sections in Chapters 17 and 18, the provisions in Chapters 17A and 18A respectively shall apply instead.

2301.1.5 Prohibition. [DSA-SS & DSA-SS/CC & OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] The following design methods, systems and materials are not permitted by DSA and OSHPD: 1. Straight-sheathed horizontal lumber diaphragms. 2. Gypsum-based sheathing shear walls and portland cement plaster shear walls. 3. Shear wall foundation anchor bolt washers in accordance with exception to AWC SDPWS Section 4.3.6.4.3.

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

WOOD

4. Wood structural panel shear walls and diaphragms using staples as fasteners.

5. Unblocked shear walls.

6. Any wood structural panel sheathing used for diaphragms and shear walls that are part of the seismic force-resisting system, not applied directly to framing members. 7. Single and double diagonally sheathed lumber walls used to resist seismic forces. 8. Log structures in accordance with ICC 400. 9. [OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] Cross-laminated timber used as part of the seismic force-resisting system, unless approved as an alternative system in accordance with Section 104.2.3. [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC] Not adopted by DSA.

2301.2 Dimensions.

For the purposes of this chapter, where dimensions of lumber are specified, they shall be deemed to be nominal dimensions unless specifically designated as actual dimensions (see Section 2304.2). Where dimensions of cross-laminated timber thickness are specified, they shall be deemed to be actual dimensions.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  4. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
  9. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  10. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  11. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  12. Chapter 11 — RESERVED
  13. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  14. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  15. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  16. Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  17. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  18. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  19. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  20. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  22. Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  25. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  26. Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 21A — MASONRY
  30. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  31. Chapter 22A — STEEL
  32. ▸ Chapter 23 — WOOD
    Overview
    1. Section 2301 — GENERAL
    2. Section 2302 — DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
    3. Section 2303 — MINIMUM STANDARDS AND QUALITY
    4. Section 2304 — GENERAL CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
    5. Section 2305 — GENERAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR LATERAL FORCE-R…
    6. Section 2306 — ALLOWABLE STRESS DESIGN
    7. Section 2307 — LOAD AND RESISTANCE FACTOR DESIGN
    8. Section 2308 — CONVENTIONAL LIGHT-FRAME CONSTRUCTION
    9. Section 2309 — WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
  33. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  34. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  35. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  36. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  37. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  38. Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  39. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  40. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  41. Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
  42. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  43. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  44. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  45. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  46. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  47. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  48. Chapter 34 — RESERVED
  49. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  50. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  51. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  52. Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  54. Appendix E — RESERVED
  55. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  56. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  57. Appendix H — SIGNS
  58. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  59. Appendix J — GRADING
  60. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
  61. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
  62. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
  63. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  64. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
  65. Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
  66. Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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