Section 1.1 — GENERAL

1.1.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Residential Code, may be cited as such and will be referred to herein as “this code.” The California Residential Code is Part 2.5 of thirteen parts of the official compilation and publication of the adoption, amendment and repeal of building regulations to the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code. This part incorporates by adoption the 2024 International Residential Code of the International Code Council with necessary California amendments.

1.1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this code is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, access to persons with disabilities, sanitation, adequate lighting and ventilation and energy conservation; safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment; and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

1.1.3 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equip- ment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every detached one- and two-family dwelling and townhouse not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and structures accessory thereto throughout the State of California.

Exceptions: 1. Live/work units complying with the requirements of Section 508.5 of the California Building Code shall be permitted to be constructed as one- and two-family dwellings or townhouses in accordance with this code, as applicable. Fire suppression required by Section 508.5.7 of the California Building Code when constructed under the California Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings shall conform to Section 903.3.1.3 of the California Building Code. 2. Owner-occupied lodging houses with five or fewer guestrooms shall be permitted to be constructed in accordance with the California Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings when equipped with a fire sprinkler system in accordance with Section R309.

1.1.3.1 Classification. Structures or portions of structures shall be classified with respect to occupancy in one or more of the groups listed in Chapter 3 of the California Building Code. A room or space that is intended to be occupied at different times for different purposes shall comply with all of the requirements that are applicable to each of the purposes for which the room or space will be occupied. Structures with multiple occupancies or uses shall comply with Section 508 of the California Building Code. Where a struc- ture is proposed for a purpose that is not specifically provided for in this code, such structure shall be classified in the group that the occupancy most nearly resembles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard involved in accordance with this code or the Cali- fornia Building Code.

occupancies or uses shall comply with Section 508 of the California Building Code. Where a struc-_ ture is proposed for a purpose that is not specifically provided for in this code, such structure shall be classified in the group that the occupancy most nearly resembles, according to the fire safety and relative hazard involved in accordance with this code or the Cali- fornia Building Code.

Note: Live/work units complying with the requirements of Section 508.5 of the California Building Code are classified as a Group R-2 occupancy and are permitted to be constructed as one- and two-family dwellings or townhouses in accordance with this code.

1.1.3.1.1 Utility and Miscellaneous Group U. Buildings and structures of an accessory character and miscellaneous structures not classified in any specific occupancy shall be constructed, equipped and maintained to conform to the requirements of this code commensurate with the fire and life hazard incidental to their occupancy. Group U shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Agricultural buildings

Aircraft hangars, accessory to a one- or two-family residence (see Section 412.5 of the California Building Code)

Barns

Carports

Fences more than 7 feet (2134 mm) high

Grain silos, accessory to a residential occupancy

Greenhouses

Livestock shelters

Private garages

Retaining walls

Sheds

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Stables

Tanks

Towers

1.1.3.2 Regulated buildings, structures and applications. The model code, state amendments to the model code and/or state amendments where there are no relevant model code provisions shall apply to detached one- and two-family dwellings, lodging houses, live/work units, townhouses and structures accessory thereto. State agencies with regulatory authority as specified in Sections 1.2 through 1.14, except where modified by local ordinance pursuant to Section 1.1.8. When adopted by a state agency, the provisions of this code shall be enforced by the appropriate enforcing agency, but only to the extent of authority granted to such agency by the state legislature.

Note: See “How to Distinguish Between Model Code Language and California Amendments” following the Preface. 1. One- and two-family dwellings, townhouses, employee housing, factory-built housing and other types of dwellings contain- ing sleeping accommodations with common toilets or cooking facilities. See Section 1.8.2.1.1. 2. Permanent buildings and permanent accessory buildings or structures constructed within mobilehome parks and special occupancy parks regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. See Section 1.8.2.1.3. 3. Applications regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal include, but are not limited to, the following in accordance with Section 1.11:

ection 1.8.2.1.1._ 2. Permanent buildings and permanent accessory buildings or structures constructed within mobilehome parks and special occupancy parks regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. See Section 1.8.2.1.3. 3. Applications regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal include, but are not limited to, the following in accordance with Section 1.11:

3.1. Buildings or structures used or intended for use as a/an: 1. Home for the elderly, children’s nursery, children’s home or institution, school or any similar occupancy of any capacity 2. Small family day-care homes, large family day-care homes, residential facilities and residential facilities for the elderly, residential care facilities 3. State institutions or other state-owned or state-occupied buildings

4. Residential structures

5. Tents, awnings or other fabric enclosures used in connection with any occupancy 6. Fire alarm devices, equipment and systems in connection with any occupancy

7. Wildland-urban interface fire areas

1.1.4 Appendices. Provisions contained in the appendices of this code shall not apply unless specifically adopted by a state agency or adopted by a local enforcing agency in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 18901 et seq. for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code Section 17950 for State Housing Law and Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts. See Section 1.1.8 of this code.

1.1.5 Referenced codes. The codes, standards and publications adopted and set forth in this code, including other codes, standards and publications referred to therein are, by title and date of publication, hereby adopted as standard reference documents of this code. When this code does not specifically cover any subject related to building design and construction, recognized architectural or engineer- ing practices shall be employed. The National Fire Codes, standards and the Fire Protection Handbook of the National Fire Protection Association are permitted to be used as authoritative guides in determining recognized fire prevention engineering practices.

1.1.6 Nonbuilding standards, orders and regulations. Requirements contained in the International Residential Code, or in any other referenced standard, code or document, which are not building standards as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 18909, shall not be construed as part of the provisions of this code. For nonbuilding standards, orders and regulations, see other titles of the California Code of Regulations.

1.1.7 Order of precedence and use.

1.1.7.1 Differences. In the event of any differences between these building standards and the standard reference documents, the text of these building standards shall govern.

1.1.7.2 Specific provisions. Where a specific provision varies from a general provision, the specific provision shall apply.

1.1.7.3 Conflicts. When the requirements of this code conflict with the requirements of any other part of the California Building Stan- dards Code, Title 24, the most restrictive requirements shall prevail.

1.1.7.3.1 Detached one- and two-family dwellings. Detached one- and two-family dwellings, lodging houses, live/work units, townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress, and their accessory struc- tures may be designed and constructed in accordance with this code or the California Building Code, but not both, unless the proposed structure(s) or element(s) exceed the design limitations established in this code, and the code user is specifically directed by this code to use the California Building Code.

1.1.8 City, county, or city and county amendments, additions or deletions. The provisions of this code do not limit the authority of a city, county, or city and county governments to establish more restrictive and reasonably necessary differences to the provisions contained in this code pursuant to complying with Section 1.1.8.1. The effective date of amendments, additions or deletions to this code by a city, county, or city and county filed pursuant to Section 1.1.8.1 shall be the date filed. However, in no case shall the amendments, additions or deletions to this code be effective any sooner than the effective date of this code.

Local modifications shall comply with Health and Safety Code Section 18941.5 for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 for State Housing Law or Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts.

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1.1.8.1 Findings and filings. 1. The city, county, or city and county shall make express findings for each amendment, addition or deletion based upon climatic, topographical or geological conditions.

Exception: Hazardous building ordinances and programs mitigating unreinforced masonry buildings. 2. The city, county, or city and county shall file the amendments, additions or deletions expressly marked and identified as to the applicable findings. Cities, counties, cities and counties and fire departments shall file the amendments, additions or deletions, and the findings with the California Building Standards Commission at 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95833.

3. Findings prepared by fire protection districts shall be ratified by the local city, county, or city and county and filed with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Division of Codes and Standards, P.O. Box 278180, Sacra- mento, CA 95827-8180 or 9342 Tech Center Drive Suite #500, Sacramento, CA 95826-2582.

1.1.9 Effective date of this code. Only those standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission that are effective at the time an application for building permit is submitted shall apply to the plans and specifications for, and to the construction performed under, that permit. For the effective dates of the provisions contained in this code, see the History Note page of this code.

Exceptions: (1.) (HCD 1 & HCD 2) Retroactive permits issued in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 17958.12. (2.) (HCD 1 & HCD 2) Plans approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development or a Department-approved design approval agency for factory-built housing as defined by Health and Safety Code Section 19971. Approved plans, pursu- ant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 3, Subchapter 1, Article 3, Section 3048 remain valid for a period of 36 months from the date of plan approval.

1.1.10 Availability of codes. At least one complete copy each of Titles 8, 19, 20, 24 and 25 with all revisions shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of this code. Each state department concerned and each city, county, or city and county shall have an up-to-date copy of the code available for public inspection. See Health and Safety Code Section 18942(e) (1) and (2).

1.1.11 Format. This part fundamentally adopts the International Residential Code by reference on a chapter-by-chapter basis. When a specific chapter of the International Residential Code is not printed in the code and is marked “Reserved,” such chapter of the Interna- tional Residential Code is not adopted as a portion of this code. When a specific chapter of the International Residential Code is marked “Not adopted by the State of California” but appears in the code, it may be available for adoption by local ordinance.

Note: Matrix Adoption Tables at the front of each chapter may aid the code user in determining which chapter or sections within a chap- ter are applicable to buildings under the authority of a specific state agency, but they are not to be considered regulatory.

1.1.12 Validity. If any chapter, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this code is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, contrary to statute, exceeding the authority of the state as stipulated by statutes or otherwise inoperative, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this code.