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Appendix CJ — EMERGENCY HOUSING

Section CJ102 — DEFINITIONS

2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-27 · California

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

CJ102.1 General.

The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this appendix, have the meanings shown herein. Refer to Chapter 2 of this code for general definitions.

DECLARATION OF SHELTER CRISIS. The duly proclaimed existence of a situation in which a significant number of persons are without the ability to obtain shelter, resulting in a threat to their health and safety. (See Government Code Section 8698.)

DEPENDENT UNIT. Emergency housing not equipped with a kitchen area, toilet and sewage disposal system. Recreational vehicles that are not self-contained and without utility service connections shall be considered dependent units.

EMERGENCY HOUSING. Housing in a permanent or temporary structure(s), occupied during a declaration of state of emergency, local emergency or shelter crisis. Emergency housing may include, but is not limited to, buildings and structures constructed in accordance with the California Building Standards Code; and emergency sleeping cabins, emergency transportable housing units and tents constructed in accordance with this appendix.

EMERGENCY HOUSING FACILITIES. On-site common use facilities supporting emergency housing. Emergency housing facilities include, but are not limited to, kitchen areas, toilets, showers and bathrooms with running water. The use of emergency housing facilities is limited exclusively to the occupants of the emergency housing, personnel involved in operating the housing and other emergency personnel.

EMERGENCY HOUSING SITE. A site containing emergency housing and emergency housing facilities supporting the emergency housing.

EMERGENCY SLEEPING CABIN . Relocatable hard-sided structure constructed in accordance with this appendix, which may be occupied only for emergency housing if allowed by the enforcing agency.

EMERGENCY TRANSPORTABLE HOUSING UNIT. A single- or multiple-section prefabricated structure that is transportable by a vehicle and that can be installed on a permanent or temporary site in response to a need for emergency housing. Emergency transportable housing units include, but are not limited to, manufactured homes, mobilehomes, multifamily manufactured homes, recreational vehi- cles and park trailers. For the purposes of this appendix, emergency transportable housing units may also include commercial modulars as defined in the Health and Safety Code Section 18001.8, if approved by the enforcing agency.

Emergency transportable housing units do not include factory-built housing as defined in the Health and Safety Code Section 19971.

LANDING PLATFORM. A landing provided as the top step of a stairway accessing a loft.

LOCAL EMERGENCY. Local Emergency as defined in the Government Code, Section 8558.

LOFT. A floor level located more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the main floor and open to it on at least one side with a ceiling height of less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm), used as a living or sleeping space.

MANUFACTURED HOME. A structure designed to be used as a single-family dwelling, as defined in the Health and Safety Code, Section 18007.

MEMBRANE STRUCTURE. An air-inflated, air-supported, cable or frame-covered structure, not otherwise defined as a tent. (See Chapter 31 of the California Building Code.)

MOBILEHOME. A structure designed to be used as a single-family dwelling, as defined in the Health and Safety Code, Section 18008.

MULTIFAMILY MANUFACTURED HOME. A structure designed to contain not less than two dwelling units, as defined in the Health and Safety Code, Section 18008.7.

PARK TRAILER. A trailer designed for human habitation that meets all requirements in the Health and Safety Code, Section 18009.3.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A motor home, travel trailer, truck camper or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation, that meets all requirements in the Health and Safety Code, Section 18010.

STATE OF EMERGENCY. State of Emergency as defined in the Government Code, Section 8558.

TENT. A structure, enclosure or shelter, with or without sidewalls or drops, constructed of fabric or pliable material supported by any manner except by air or the contents that it protects.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING
  4. Chapter 4 — FOUNDATIONS
  5. Chapter 5 — FLOORS
  6. Chapter 6 — WALL CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — WALL COVERING
  8. Chapter 8 — ROOF-CEILING CONSTRUCTION
  9. Chapter 9 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES
  10. Chapter 10 — CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES
  11. Chapter 44 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  12. Appendix AA — BOARD OF APPEALS
  13. Appendix AB — PERMIT FEES
  14. Appendix AC — RESERVED
  15. Appendix BA — RESERVED
  16. Appendix BB — TINY HOUSES
  17. Appendix BC — RESERVED
  18. Appendix BD — RESERVED
  19. Appendix BE — RADON CONTROL METHODS
  20. Appendix BF — PATIO COVERS
  21. Appendix BG — SOUND TRANSMISSION
  22. Appendix BH — AUTOMATIC VEHICULAR GATES
  23. Appendix BI — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY CONSTRUCTION
  24. Appendix BJ — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION
  25. Appendix BK — COB CONSTRUCTION (MONOLITHIC ADOBE)
  26. Appendix BL — HEMP-LIME (HEMPCRETE) CONSTRUCTION
  27. Appendix BM — 3D-PRINTED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
  28. Appendix BN — EXTENDED PLATE WALL CONSTRUCTION
  29. Appendix BO — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
  30. Appendix CA — RESERVED
  31. Appendix CB — RESERVED
  32. Appendix CC — RESERVED
  33. Appendix CD — RESERVED
  34. Appendix CE — RESERVED
  35. Appendix CF — RESERVED
  36. Appendix CG — NONSEWERED SANITATION SYSTEMS
  37. Appendix CH — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
  38. Appendix CI — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  39. ▸ Appendix CJ — EMERGENCY HOUSING
    Overview
    1. Section CJ101 — GENERAL
    2. Section CJ102 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Section CJ103 — EMERGENCY HOUSING
    4. Section CJ104 — EMERGENCY SLEEPING CABINS
    5. Section CJ105 — EMERGENCY TRANSPORTABLE HOUSING UNITS
    6. Section CJ106 — TENTS AND MEMBRANE STRUCTURES
    7. Section CJ107 — ACCESSIBILITY
    8. Section CJ108 — LOFTS IN EMERGENCY HOUSING
    9. Section CJ109 — LOCATION, MAINTENANCE AND IDENTIFICATION
    10. Section CJ110 — EMERGENCY HOUSING FACILITIES
  40. Appendix CK — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES OF THE CENTRAL…

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