Skip to content

Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

Section 507

California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

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

HISTORIC BUILDINGS (NOT ADOPTED BY HCD)

[OSHPD 1R, 2, 4 & 5] NOT ADOPTED BY OSHPD

507.1 Historic buildings. The provisions of this code that

require improvements relative to a building’s existing condition or, in the case of repairs, that require improvements relative to a building’s predamage condition, shall not be mandatory for historic buildings unless specifically required by this section.

507.2 Life safety hazards. The provisions of this code shall

apply to historic buildings judged by the code official to constitute a distinct life safety hazard.

[BS] 507.3 Flood hazard areas. Within flood hazard areas established in accordance with Section 1612.3 of the Califor- nia Building Code, or Section R322 of the California Resi- dential Code, as applicable, where the work proposed constitutes substantial improvement, the building shall be brought into compliance with Section 1612 of the California

PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

Building Code, or Section R322 of the California Residential Code, as applicable.

Exception: Historic buildings meeting any of the following criteria need not be brought into compliance:

  1. Listed or preliminarily determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

  2. Determined by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined to qualify as an historic district.

  3. Designated as historic under a state or local historic preservation program that is approved by the Department of Interior.

[BS] 507.4 Structural. Historic buildings shall comply with the applicable structural provisions in this chapter.

Exceptions:

  1. The code official shall be authorized to accept existing floors and existing live loads and to approve operational controls that limit the live load on any floor.

  2. Repair of substantial structural damage is not required to comply with Sections 405.2.3, and 405.2.4. Substantial structural damage shall be repaired in accordance with Section 405.2.1.

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

100 2019 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

CHAPTER 5 A – PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD [OSHPD 1] (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 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Adopt Entire Chapter X
Adopt Entire Chapter as
amended (amended
sections listed below)
Adopt only those sections
that are listed below
Chapter / Section

The state agency does not adopt sections identified with 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.

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

102 2019 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

CHAPTER 5 A

PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

User note:

About this chapter: Chapter 5 provides details for the prescriptive compliance method—one of the three main options of compliance avail- able in this code for buildings and structures undergoing alteration, addition or change of occupancy.

* ¬

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Contents — California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.