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Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

Section 301

California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

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

301.1 Applicability.

The repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition or relocation of all existing buildings shall comply with Section 301.2, 301.3 or 301.4. The provisions of Sections 302 through 309 shall apply to all alterations, repairs, additions, relocation of structures and changes of occupancy regardless of compliance method. [OSHPD 1R, 2, 4 and 5] Section 301.4 not adopted by OSHPD.

Exceptions:

1. Existing state-owned structures. [BSC] The repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition or relocation of all existing buildings shall comply with the provisions of Sections 317 through 322 as the minimum standards for earthquake evaluation and design for retrofit of existing state-owned structures, including buildings owned by the Uni- versity of California, the California State Univer- sity or the Judicial Council. The provisions of Sections 317 through 322 may be

adopted by a local jurisdiction for earthquake evaluation and design for retrofit of existing build- ings. 2. Public school buildings [DSA-SS] The provisions of Sections 317 through 323 establish minimum standards for earthquake evaluation and design for the rehabilitation of existing buildings for use as public school buildings under the jurisdiction of the Division of the State Architect—Structural Safety (DSA-SS, refer to Section 1.9.2.1) where required by Sections 4-307 and 4-309(c) of the California Administrative Code. The provisions of Sections 317 through 323 also establish minimum standards for earthquake evalu- ation and design for rehabilitation of existing pub- lic school buildings currently under the jurisdiction of DSA-SS. 3. Community college buildings. [DSA-SS/CC] The provisions of Sections 317 through 323 establish minimum standards for earthquake evaluation and design for the rehabilitation of existing buildings for use as community college buildings under the jurisdiction of the Division of the State Architect—

Structural Safety/Community Colleges (DSA- SS/CC, refer to Section 1.9.2.2) where required by Sections 4-307 and 4-309(c) of the California Administrative Code. The provisions of Sections 317 through 323 also

establish minimum standards for earthquake evalu- ation and design for rehabilitation of existing com- munity college buildings currently under the jurisdiction of DSA-SS/CC. 4. [HCD 1] In addition to the requirements in this chapter, maintenance, alteration, repair, addition or change of occupancy to existing buildings and accessory structures under the authority of the Department of Housing and Community Develop- ment, as provided in Section 1.8.2.1.1, shall com- ply with California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1.

Exceptions:

1. [HCD 2] For moved buildings and main- tenance, alteration, repair, addition or change of occupancy to existing buildings and accessory structures in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks as pro- vided in Section 1.8.2.1.3, see California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapters 2 and 2.2. 2. [HCD 1] Limited-density owner-built rural dwellings, as defined in Chapter 2 of the California Residential Code. 5. Hospital buildings removed from acute care ser- vice, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate-care facilities, correctional treatment centers and acute-psychiatric hospitals [OSHPD 1R, 2, 4 and 5]. The provisions of adopted sections in Chapters 3 through 5 shall control the alteration, repair and change of occupancy or function of existing struc- tures for applications listed in Section 1.10.1, 1.10.2, 1.10.4 and 1.10.5 regulated by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Functional service spaces shall comply with the requirements in the California Building Code, Sections 1224, 1225, 1226, 1227 and 1228.

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. 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.

PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

301.1.1 Bleachers, grandstands and folding and tele- scopic seating. Existing bleachers, grandstands and folding and telescopic seating shall comply with ICC 300.

301.2 Repairs. Repairs shall comply with the requirements

of Chapter 4.

301.3 Alteration, addition or change of occupancy. The

alteration, addition or change of occupancy of all existing buildings shall comply with one of the methods listed in Section 301.3.1, 301.3.2 or 301.3.3 as selected by the applicant. Sections 301.3.1 through 301.3.3 shall not be applied in combination with each other. [OSHPD 1R, 2, 4 and 5] Sections 301.3.2 and 301.3.3, not adopted by OSHPD.

Note: [HCD 1 & HCD 2] Sections 301.3.2 and 301.3.3 shall be permitted only if the performance compliance method and/or work area compliance method are adopted by a local ordinance. Exception: Subject to the approval of the code official, alterations complying with the laws in existence at the time the building or the affected portion of the building was built shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this code. New structural members added as part of the alteration shall comply with the California Building Code . This exception shall not apply to the following:

  1. Alterations for accessibility required by the Cali- fornia Building Code, Chapter 11A.

  2. Alterations that constitute substantial improvement in flood hazard areas, which shall comply with Sections 503.2, 701.3 or 1301.3.3.

  3. Structural provisions of Section 304, Chapter 5 or to the structural provisions of Sections 706, 805 and 906.

301.3.1 Prescriptive compliance method. Alterations, additions and changes of occupancy complying with Chapter 5 of this code in buildings complying with the California Fire Code shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this code.

Exception: Hospital buildings removed from acute care service, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate- care facilities, correctional treatment centers and acute psychiatric hospitals [OSHPD 1R, 2, 4 and 5]. The provisions of adopted sections in Chapters 3 through 5 shall control the alteration, repair and change of occupancy or function of existing structures for applications listed in Section 1.10.1, 1.10.2, 1.10.4 and 1.10.5 regulated by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Refer to Chap- ter 3A for services, systems and utilities that serve OSHPD 1 buildings.

301.3.2 Work area compliance method. Alterations, additions and changes of occupancy complying with the applicable requirements of Chapters 6 through 12 of this code shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this code.

Note: [HCD 1 & HCD 2] The provisions contained in Chapters 6 through 12 are not adopted by HCD, but may be available for adoption by a local ordinance. (See Section 1.1.11.)

301.3.3 Performance compliance method. Alterations, additions and changes of occupancy complying with Chapter 13 of this code shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this code.

Note: [HCD 1 & HCD 2] The provisions contained in Chapter 13 are not adopted by HCD, but may be available for adoption by a local ordinance. (See Sec- tion 1.1.11.)

301.4 Relocated or moved buildings. Relocated or moved

buildings shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 14.

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▸Contents — California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  2. Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR
  3. Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY
  4. Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND
  5. Appendix D — BOARD OF
  6. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  7. ▸Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
    Overview
    1. Section 301
    2. Section 302
    3. Section 304
    4. Section 303
    5. Section 305
    6. Section 306
    7. Section 309
    8. Section 310 — [OSHPD 1R, 2 and 5]
    9. Section 311 — [OSHPD 1R, 2 and 5]
    10. Section 307
    11. Section 308
    12. Section 312 — [OSHPD 1R]
    13. Section 313 — [SFM]
    14. Section 314 — [SFM]
    15. Section 315 — [SFM]
    16. Section 316 — [SFM]
    17. Section 317
    18. Section 319
    19. Section 318
    20. Section 320
    21. Section 321
    22. Section 322
    23. Section 323 — [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC]
    24. Section 301A
    25. Section 302A
    26. Section 303A
    27. Section 304A
    28. Section 305A
    29. Section 306A
    30. Section 307A — 309 A
    31. Section 310A
    32. Section 311A
    33. Section 312A
    34. Section 313A
  8. Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
  9. Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  10. Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
  11. Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
  12. Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
  13. Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
  14. Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
  15. Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
  16. Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  17. Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
  18. Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
  19. Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
  20. Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS

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