Section 1101 — GENERAL
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.
1101.1 Scope. ¶
An addition to a building or structure shall comply with the California Building Standards Codes as adopted for new construction without requiring the existing building or structure to comply with any requirements of those codes or of these provisions, except as required by this chapter. Where an addition or alteration impacts the existing building or structure, the result of the addition or alteration shall not put the existing building or structure out of compliance with the California Building or Residential Code as applicable. The provisions of height and area of the California Building or Residential Code shall apply to the entire existing building with the additions.
1101.2 Creation or extension of nonconformity. ¶
An addition shall not create or extend any nonconformity in the existing building to which the addition is being made with regard to accessibility, structural strength, supports and attachments for nonstructural components, fire safety, means of egress or the capacity of mechanical, plumbing or electrical systems.
Exception: Nonconforming supports and attachments for nonstructural components that serve the addition from within the existing building need not be altered to comply with California Building Code Section 1613 unless the components are part of the addition’s life safety system or are required to serve an addition assigned to Risk Category IV.
[BS] 1101.3 Risk category assignment. Where the addition and the existing building have different occupancies, the risk category of each existing and added occupancy shall be determined in accordance with Section 1604.5.1 of the California Building Code . Where application of that section results in a higher risk category for the existing building compared with the risk category for the existing building before the addition, such a change shall be considered a change of occupancy and shall comply with Chapter 10 of this code. Where application of that section results in a higher risk category for the addition compared with the risk category for the addition by itself, the addition and any systems in the existing building required to serve the addition shall comply with the requirements of the California Building Code for new construction for the higher risk category.
1101.4 Other work. ¶
Any repair or alteration work within an existing building to which an addition is being made shall comply with the applicable requirements for the work as classified in Chapter 6.
1101.5 Smoke barriers in Group R-2.1 . ¶
Where an addition to an existing Group R-2.1 building adds sleeping areas that result in more than 50 care recipients on a story, smoke barriers shall be provided to subdivide such story into not fewer than two smoke compartments in accordance with Section 420.6 of the California Building Code .
Exception: Where the existing building is divided into smoke compartments and the addition does not result in any individual smoke compartment exceeding the size and travel distance requirements in Section 420.6 of the California Building Code, additional smoke barriers are not required.
1101.6 Enhanced classroom acoustics. ¶
In Group E occupancies, enhanced classroom acoustics shall be provided in all classrooms in the addition with a volume of 20,000 cubic feet (565 m [3] ) or less. Enhanced classroom acoustics shall comply with the reverberation time in Section 808 of ICC A117.1.
1101.7 Occupiable roofs. ¶
Where a new occupiable roof is added to a building or structure, the occupiable roof shall comply with the provisions of the California Building Code .
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
- Chapter 3A — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
- Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
- Chapter 4A — REPAIRS
- Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
- Chapter 5A — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
- Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
- Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
- Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
- Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
- Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
- Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
- Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
- Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
- Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
- Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING B…
- Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIS…
- Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUIL…
- Appendix D — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix E — TEMPORARY EMERGENCY USES
- Appendix A — GUIDELINES ON FIRE RATINGS OF ARCHAIC MATERIALS A…