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Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION

Section 1.8.7 — ALTERNATE MATERIALS, DESIGNS, TESTS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

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

1.8.7.1 General. The provisions of this code, as adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development are not intended to prevent the use of any alternate material, appliance, installation, device, arrangement, design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code. Consideration and approval of alternates shall comply with Section 1.8.7.2 for local building departments and Section 1.8.7.3 for the Department of Housing and Community Development.

1.8.7.2 Local building departments. The building department of any city, county, or city and county may approve alternates for use in the erection, construction, reconstruction, movement, enlargement, conversion, alteration, repair, removal, demolition or arrangement of apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels, lodging houses, dwellings or accessory structures, except for the following: 1. Structures located in mobilehome parks as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18214. 2. Structures located in special occupancy parks as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18862.43. 3. Factory-built housing as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 19971.

1.8.7.2.1 Approval of alternates. The consideration and approval of alternates by a local building department shall comply with the following procedures and limitations: 1. The approval shall be granted on a case-by-case basis. 2. Evidence shall be submitted to substantiate claims that the proposed alternate, in performance, safety and protection of life and health, conforms to, or is at least equivalent to, the standards contained in this code and other rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. 3. The local building department may require tests performed by an approved testing agency at the expense of the owner or owner’s agent as proof of compliance. 4. If the proposed alternate is related to accessibility in covered multifamily dwellings or in facilities serving covered multifamily dwellings as defined in Chapter 2 of the California Building Code, the proposed alternate must also meet the threshold set for equivalent facilitation as defined in Chapter 2 of the California Building Code.

For additional information regarding approval of alternates by a building department pursuant to the State Housing Law, see California Health and Safety Code Section 17951(e) and California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1.

1.8.7.3 Department of Housing and Community Development. The Department of Housing and Community Development may approve alternates for use in the erection, construction, reconstruction, movement, enlargement, conversion, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels, lodging houses, dwellings or accessory structures thereto and permanent buildings in mobilehome parks and special occupancy parks. The consideration and approval of alternates shall comply with the following: 1. The department may require tests at the expense of the owner or owner’s agent to substantiate compliance with the California Building Standards Code. 2. The approved alternate shall, for its intended purpose, be at least equivalent in performance and safety to the materials, designs, tests or methods of construction prescribed by this code.

1-10 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE

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

ADMINISTRATION

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
  1. ▸ Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
    Overview
    1. Section 1.1 — GENERAL
    2. Section 1.2 — BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION
    3. Section 1.3 — BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
    4. Section 1.4 — DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
    5. Section 1.5 — CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
    6. Section 1.6 — DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
    7. Section 1.7 — DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
    8. Section 1.8 — DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
    9. Section 1.8.2 — AUTHORITY AND ABBREVIATIONS
    10. Section 1.8.3 — LOCAL ENFORCING AGENCY
    11. Section 1.8.4 — PERMITS, FEES, APPLICATIONS AND INSPECTIONS
    12. Section 1.8.5 — RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR ENFORCEMENT
    13. Section 1.8.6 — LOCAL MODIFICATION BY ORDINANCE OR REGULATION
    14. Section 1.8.7 — ALTERNATE MATERIALS, DESIGNS, TESTS AND METHOD…
    15. Section 1.8.8 — APPEALS BOARD
    16. Section 1.8.9 — UNSAFE BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES
    17. Section 1.8.10 — OTHER BUILDING REGULATIONS
    18. Section 1.9 — DIVISION OF THE STATE ARCHITECT
    19. Section 1.10 — DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND INFORMATIO…
    20. Section 1.11 — OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
    21. Section 1.12 — STATE LIBRARIAN
    22. Section 1.13 — DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
    23. Section 1.14 — CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION
    24. Section 101 — SCOPE AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    25. Section 102 — APPLICABILITY
    26. Section 103 — CODE COMPLIANCE AGENCY
    27. Section 104 — DUTIES AND POWERS OF CODE OFFICIAL
    28. Section 105 — PERMITS
    29. Section 106 — CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
    30. Section 107 — TEMPORARY USES, EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
    31. Section 108 — FEES
    32. Section 109 — INSPECTIONS
    33. Section 110 — CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
    34. Section 111 — SERVICE UTILITIES
    35. Section 112 — MEANS OF APPEALS
    36. Section 113 — VIOLATIONS
    37. Section 114 — STOP WORK ORDER
    38. Section 115 — UNSAFE STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT
    39. Section 116 — EMERGENCY MEASURES
    40. Section 117 — DEMOLITION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  4. Chapter 3A — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  5. Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
  6. Chapter 4A — REPAIRS
  7. Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  8. Chapter 5A — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  9. Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
  10. Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
  11. Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
  12. Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
  13. Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
  14. Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
  15. Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  16. Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
  17. Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
  18. Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
  19. Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  20. Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING B…
  21. Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIS…
  22. Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUIL…
  23. Appendix D — BOARD OF APPEALS
  24. Appendix E — TEMPORARY EMERGENCY USES
  25. Appendix A — GUIDELINES ON FIRE RATINGS OF ARCHAIC MATERIALS A…

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