Skip to content
ChatProjectCodes

Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

Section 321

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.

321.1 The existing or retrofitted structure shall be demon-

strated to have the capability to sustain the deformation response due to the specified earthquake ground motions and meet the seismic performance requirements of Section 317. The registered design professional shall provide an evalua- tion of the response of the existing structure in its modified configuration and condition to the ground motions specified.

PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS

If the building’s seismic performance is evaluated as satisfac- tory and the peer reviewer(s) and the enforcement agency concurs, then no further structural retrofit and/or repair of the lateral load-resisting system is required.

When the evaluation indicates the building does not meet the required performance levels given in Table 317.5 for the risk category, then a retrofit and/or repair design shall be prepared that provides a structure that meets these perfor- mance objectives and reflects the appropriate consideration of existing conditions. Any approach to analysis and design is permitted to be used, provided that the approach shall be rational, shall be consistent with the established principals of mechanics and shall use the known performance characteris- tics of materials and assemblages under reversing loads typi- cal of severe earthquake ground motions.

Exception: Further consideration of the structure’s seis- mic performance may be waived by the enforcement agency if both the registered design professional and peer reviewer(s) conclude that the structural system can be expected to perform at least as well as required by the provisions of this section without completing an analysis of the structure’s compliance with these requirements. A detailed report shall be submitted to the responsible build- ing official that presents the reasons and basis for this conclusion. This report shall be prepared by the registered design professional. The peer reviewer(s) shall concur in this conclusion and affirm to it in writing. The building official shall either approve this decision or require com- pletion of the indicated work specified in this section prior to approval.

321.2 The approach, models, analysis procedures, assump-

tions on material and system behavior and conclusions shall be peer reviewed in accordance with the requirements of Sec- tion 322 and accepted by the peer reviewer(s).

Exceptions:

1. The enforcement agency may perform the work of peer review when qualified staff is available within the jurisdiction.

2. The enforcement agency may modify or waive the requirements for peer review when appropriate.

321.2.1 The approach used in the development of the design shall be acceptable to the peer reviewer and the enforcement agency and shall be the same method as used in the evaluation of the building. Approaches that are spe- cifically tailored to the type of building, construction materials and specific building characteristics may be used, if they are acceptable to the independent peer reviewer. The use of Method A allowed procedures may also be used under Method B.

321.2.2 Any method of analysis may be used, subject to acceptance by the peer reviewer(s) and the building offi- cial. The general requirements given in ASCE 41, Chap- ters 6 and 7, shall be complied with unless exceptions are accepted by the peer reviewer(s) and building official. Use of other than ASCE 41 procedures in Method B requires building official concurrence before implementation.

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

321.2.3 Prior to implementation, the procedures, methods, material assumptions and acceptance/rejection criteria proposed by the registered design professional will be peer reviewed as provided in Section 322. Where nonlin- ear procedures are used, prior to any analysis, the repre- sentation of the seismic ground motion shall be reviewed and approved by the peer reviewer(s) and the building official.

[DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC] For public school and community college projects, the representation of the seismic ground motion shall be reviewed and approved by the California Geological Survey.

321.2.4 The conclusions and design decisions shall be reviewed and accepted by the peer reviewer(s) and the building official.

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

Ask AI about this code
Export this section
▸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

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.