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Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2

Section 801 — 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.

801.1 Scope.

Level 2 alterations as described in Section 603 shall comply with the requirements of this chapter.

Exception: Buildings in which the reconfiguration is exclusively the result of compliance with the accessibility requirements of Section 306.7.1 shall be permitted to comply with Chapter 7.

801.2 Alteration Level 1 compliance.

In addition to the requirements of this chapter, all work shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 7.

801.3 System installations.

Requirements related to work area are not applicable where the Level 2 alterations are limited solely to one or more of the following:

  1. Mechanical systems, electrical systems, fire protection systems and abatement of hazardous materials.
  2. Windows, hardware, operating controls, electrical outlets and signs.
  3. Alterations undertaken for the primary purpose of increasing the accessibility of a facility.

801.4 Compliance.

New construction elements, components, systems and spaces shall comply with the requirements of the Califor- nia Building Code .

Exceptions:

  1. Where windows are added they are not required to comply with the light and ventilation requirements of the California Building Code .

  2. Newly installed electrical equipment shall comply with the requirements of Section 806.

  3. The length of dead-end corridors in newly constructed spaces shall only be required to comply with the provisions of Section 804.8.

  4. The minimum ceiling height of the newly created habitable and occupiable spaces and corridors shall be 7 feet (2134 mm).

  5. Where provided in below-grade transportation stations, existing and new escalators shall be permitted to have a clear width of less than 32 inches (815 mm).

  6. New structural members and connections shall be permitted to comply with alternative design criteria in accordance with Section 302.

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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
  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
    Overview
    1. Section 801 — GENERAL
    2. Section 802 — BUILDING ELEMENTS AND MATERIALS
    3. Section 803 — FIRE PROTECTION
    4. Section 804 — MEANS OF EGRESS
    5. Section 805 — STRUCTURAL
    6. Section 806 — ELECTRICAL
    7. Section 807 — MECHANICAL
    8. Section 808 — RESERVED
    9. Section 809 — ENERGY CONSERVATION
  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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