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Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND APPLICATION

Section 1.8.7

California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

ALTERNATE MATERIALS, DESIGNS, TESTS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

1.8.7.1 General. The provisions of this code, as adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development, are not intended to prevent the use of any alternate material, appliance, installation, device, arrangement, design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code. Consideration and approval of alternates shall comply with Section 1.8.7.2 for local building departments and Sec- tion 1.8.7.3 for the Department of Housing and Community Development.

1.8.7.2 Local building departments. The building department of any city, county, or city and county may approve alternates for use in the erection, construction, reconstruction, move- ment, enlargement, conversion, alteration, repair, removal, demolition or arrangement of apartments, condominiums, hotels, motels, lodging houses, dwellings, or accessory struc- tures, except for the following:

1. Structures located in mobilehome parks as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18214.

2. Structures located in special occupancy parks as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18862.43.

3. Factory-built housing as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 19971.

1.8.7.2.1 Approval of alternates. The consideration and approval of alternates by a local building department shall comply with the following procedures and limita- tions:

1. The approval shall be granted on a case-by-case basis.

2. Evidence shall be submitted to substantiate claims that the proposed alternate, in performance, safety and protection of life and health, conforms to, or is at least equivalent to, the standards contained in this code and other rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

3. The local building department may require tests performed by an approved testing agency at the

DIVISION I CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATION

expense of the owner or owner’s agent as proof of compliance.

4. If the proposed alternate is related to accessibility in covered multifamily dwellings or in facilities serving covered multifamily dwellings as defined in CBC Chapter 2, the proposed alternate must also meet the threshold set for equivalent facilitation as defined in Chapter 2 of the California Building Code.

For additional information regarding approval of alternates by a building department pursuant to the State Housing Law, see California Health and Safety Code Sec- tion 17951(e) and California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1.

1.8.7.3 Department of Housing and Community Develop- ment. The Department of Housing and Community Develop- ment may approve alternates for use in the erection, construction, reconstruction, movement, enlargement, con- version, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of apart- ments, condominiums, hotels, motels, lodging houses, dwellings, or an accessory thereto and permanent buildings in mobilehome parks and special occupancy parks. The con- sideration and approval of alternates shall comply with the following:

1. The department may require tests at the expense of the owner or owner’s agent to substantiate compliance with the California Building Standards Code.

2. The approved alternate shall, for its intended purpose, be at least equivalent in performance and safety to the materials, designs, tests or methods of construction prescribed by this code.

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▸Contents — California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. ▸Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND APPLICATION
    Overview
    1. Section 1.1
    2. Section 1.2
    3. Section 1.3
    4. Section 1.4
    5. Section 1.5
    6. Section 1.6
    7. Section 1.7
    8. Section 1.8
    9. Section 1.8.2
    10. Section 1.8.3
    11. Section 1.8.4
    12. Section 1.8.5
    13. Section 1.8.6
    14. Section 1.8.7
    15. Section 1.8.8
    16. Section 1.8.9
    17. Section 1.8.10
    18. Section 1.9
    19. Section 1.10
    20. Section 1.11
    21. Section 1.12
    22. Section 1.13
    23. Section 1.14
    24. Section R101
    25. Section R102
    26. Section R103
    27. Section R104
    28. Section R105
    29. Section R106
    30. Section R107
    31. Section R108
    32. Section R109
    33. Section R110
    34. Section R111
    35. Section R112
    36. Section R113
    37. Section R114
    38. Section R201
    39. Section R202
  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 F — RADON CONTROL METHODS
  13. Appendix H — PATIO COVERS
  14. Appendix I — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
  15. Appendix J — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
  16. Appendix K — SOUND TRANSMISSION
  17. Appendix L — PERMIT FEES
  18. Appendix O — AUTOMATIC VEHICULAR GATES
  19. Appendix Q — TINY HOUSES
  20. Appendix R — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY CONSTRUCTION
  21. Appendix S — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION
  22. Appendix T — SOLAR-READY PROVISIONS—DETACHED ONE- AND
  23. Appendix V — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  24. Appendix W — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES
  25. Appendix X — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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