Calabasas Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 Calabasas Building Code—construction Codes Adopted

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, adopted December 3, 2025, repealed Ch. 15.04 and enacted a new Ch. 15.04 as set out herein and as may later be amended. Former Ch. 15.04 pertained to construction codes adopted and derived from Ord. No. 2017-349, adopted February 22, 2017; Ord. No. 2017-357, adopted October 11, 2017; Ord. No. 2019-372, adopted December 11, 2019; and Ord. No. 2022-400, adopted November 9, 2022.

A. The California Building Standards Code, Volume 1 through 12, inclusive of Chapter 1 Part 2 of Volumes 1 through 12, which regulate the erection, construction, enlargements, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, use, equipment, height, area, security, abatement, and maintenance of buildings or structures within the city provide for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and provide for penalties for violation thereto, are hereby adopted by reference, and conflicting ordinances are hereby repealed.

B. California Building Standards Code includes the following Volumes:

Part 1 California Administrative Code

Part 2 California Building Code (Volumes 1 and 2)

Part 2.5 California Residential Code

Part 3 California Electrical Code

Part 4 California Mechanical Code

Part 5 California Plumbing Code

Part 6 California Energy Code

Part 7 California Wildland Urban Interface Code

Part 8 California Historical Building Code

Part 9 California Fire Code

Part 10 California Existing Building Code

Part 11 California Green Building Standards Code

Part 12 California Referenced Standards Code

C. The 2025 Consolidated Fire Protection District Code of the County of Los Angeles (adopted by reference), which amends Part 9 of the California Building Standards Code 2025, which regulates the erection, construction, enlargements, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, use, equipment, height, area, security, abatement, and maintenance of buildings or structures within the city provide for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and provide for penalties for violation thereto, is hereby adopted by reference, and conflicting ordinances are hereby repealed.

D. The 2024 International Property Maintenance Code which regulates the occupancy, use, equipment, and maintenance of buildings or structures within the city, is hereby adopted by reference, and conflicting ordinances are hereby repealed.

E. All of the regulations, provisions, conditions, and terms of said codes, together with the appendices, one copy of which will be on file and accessible to the public for inspection at the city clerk's office, are hereby referred to, adopted and made part of this chapter as if fully set forth in this chapter with the exceptions, deletions, additions, and amendments thereto as set forth in this subchapter.

[F.]

Chapter 15.04.010 shall also be known as the Calabasas Building Code.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

1. General. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations of the building official regarding materials or methods of construction pertaining to: the Building Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Electrical Code, Energy Code, Wildland Urban Interface Code, Historical Building Code, Fire Code, Existing Building Code, or the Green Building Standards Code, where necessary the city council shall appoint upon nomination of the city manager a board of appeals under this Code with appropriate technical qualifications. Such nominees shall not include city employees.

2. Limitations on Authority.

2.1

An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that a decision of the building official to prohibit the use of materials or methods of construction reflects one of the following errors: (i) the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, (ii) the provisions of this code do not fully apply according to their terms, or (iii) the materials or methods of constructions proposed are equally well or better suited to accomplish the purposes of this code than those otherwise required by this code.

2.2

The board of appeals shall have no authority to: (i) waive the requirements of this code, (ii) to consider, decide or rule on the existence or nonexistence of any activity, condition, or use involving real property and/or any structure and other improvements on real property that the building official or another authorized agent of the city has determined to violate Title 15 or any other provision of the Calabasas Municipal Code, or (iii) consider, decide or rule whether persons are or are not responsible for violations of the Calabasas Municipal Code or public nuisances or what actions are required by responsible persons to correct or abate violations of the Calabasas Code or public nuisances.

3. Procedures. A person seeking an appeal under this Section 113 shall file an appeal on a form furnished by the building official and pay an appeal fee in an amount established from time to time by resolution of the city council. That fee shall be sufficient to cover the cost of the building official's obtaining a written interpretation of relevant provisions of this Title 15 by the International Code Council or any successor thereto. The board of appeals may, after hearing, adopt that written interpretation as the decision of the board. If the board of appeals does not adopt that written interpretation, it shall state its reasoning in writing. The board may establish, by a regulation published in the manner required of ordinances of the city council, procedures for the conduct of appeals under this Section 113. Judicial review of a decision of the board of appeal under this Section 113 may be had pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5. Judicial review of any decision of the building official not subject to appeal under this Section 105 may be had pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 1085.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

An inspection performed by the building official or designee resulting in a final approval, an approval, a partial approval, a correction notice or other progressive inspection validating completion of project or a portion thereof. Miscellaneous inspections, construction site maintenance conditions, unpermitted work, and other non-construction inspections are not successful inspections.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

1. Expiration of Permit for Unlawful Construction. Notwithstanding any provision of the California Building Standards Codes or any other provision of this Code, if a building permit was issued in order to bring an unpermitted structure or other unlawful, substandard, or hazardous condition into compliance with any applicable law, or ordinance, the applicant shall obtain a successful inspection or final approval within ninety (90) calendar days after the date on which the permit was issued or such permit shall expire by limitation and become null and void. The building official may extend the validity of the permit for a period not exceeding ninety (90) calendar days beyond the initial ninety (90) day limit upon written request by the applicant filed with the building official prior to the expiration date of the original permit.

2. Unlawful Acts. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, extend, install, repair, move, improve, remove, connect, convert, demolish, equip, use or occupy, or perform any other work, on any building or structure or portion thereof, or with regard to any building service equipment regulated by this Code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of the California Building Standards Codes or any other provision of this Code. It shall also be unlawful for any person to fail to comply with a requirement of the California Building Standards Codes or any other provision of this Code, or to disregard a stop work order, or to maintain any building, structure or building service equipment, or portion thereof, in violation of the California Building Standards Codes or any other provision of this Code. No person shall maintain grading (whether in the form of an excavation, fill or a combination thereof) without a permit. This prohibition supersedes any other provisions in Chapter 15.10 that pertain to grading.

3. Occupancy Use Violations.

3.1

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, use, occupy, or allow, permit, or suffer any use of a building, structure, or premises, or portion thereof, in violation of the California Building Standards Codes or any other provision of this Code.

3.2

No person shall own, use, occupy or maintain any "unpermitted structure." For the purposes of this Code, "unpermitted structure" shall be defined as any structure, or portion thereof, that was erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, connected, converted, demolished, or equipped, at any point in time, without the required permit(s) having first been obtained from the building official, or any work for which a permit has expired.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

1. Intent. This section established standard placards to be used to indicate the condition of a structure for continued occupancy. The section further authorizes the building official and his or her authorized representatives to post the appropriate placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

2. Application of Provisions. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the city of Calabasas. The city council may extend the provisions as necessary.

3. Definitions. "Safety assessment" means a visual, nondestructive examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining the condition for continued occupancy.

4. Placards. The following are verbal descriptions of the official placards to be used to designate the condition for continued occupancy of buildings or structures.

4.1

"INSPECTED—Lawful Occupancy Permitted" is to be posted on any building or structure wherein no apparent structural hazard has been found. This placard is not intended to mean that there is no damage to the building or structure.

4.2

"RESTRICTED USE" is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged wherein the damage has resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered and will clearly and concisely note the restrictions on continued occupancy.

4.3

"UNSAFE—Do Not Enter or Occupy" is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life safety. Buildings or structures posted with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstance except as authorized in writing by the building official, or his or her authorized representative. Safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings at any time. This placard is not to be used or considered as a demolition order. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered.

The ordinance number, the name of the jurisdiction, its address, and phone number shall be permanently affixed to each placard.

5. Once it has been attached to a building or structure, a placard is not to be removed, altered or covered until done so by an authorized representative of the building official. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to alter, remove, cover or deface a placard unless authorized pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

Part A Expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.

1. A "small residential rooftop solar energy system" means all of the following:

1.1.

A photovoltaic solar energy system that is (i) no larger than ten (10) kilowatts alternating current nameplate rating or thirty (30) kilowatts thermal and (ii) with all photovoltaic panels mounted on the rooftop of a single or duplex family residential structure.

1.2

A solar energy system that conforms to all applicable state fire, structural, electrical, and other building codes as adopted or amended by the city and paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 714 of the Civil Code.

1.3

A solar panel or module array that does not exceed the maximum legal building height as defined by the Calabasas Land and Development Use Code.

2. The following definitions apply to this section:

2.1

"A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact" includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by a city, county, or city and county on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The city shall use its best efforts to ensure that the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of the Civil Code.

2.2

"Solar energy system" has the same meaning set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 801.5 of the Civil Code, as such section or subdivision may be amended, renumbered, or re-designated from time to time.

2.3

"Specific, adverse impact" means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.

3. The city shall not condition approval for any solar energy system permit on the approval of a solar energy system by an association, as that term is defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.

4. Section 65850.5 of the California Government Code provides that, on or before September 30, 2015, every city, county, or city and county shall adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems.

5. Section 65850.5 of the California Government Code provides that in developing an expedited permitting process, the city shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The building official is hereby authorized and directed to develop and adopt such checklist.

6. The intent of this article, is to substantially conform the city's expedited, streamlined permitting process for small residential rooftop solar energy systems with the recommendations for expedited permitting, including the eligibility checklists and standard plans contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

7. The small residential rooftop solar energy system eligibility checklist developed and promulgated by the building official shall be published on the city's internet website. The applicant may submit the permit application and associated documentation to the city's building division by personal, mailed, or electronic submittal together with any required permit processing and inspection fees. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature. Should the city not have the capability to accept electronic signatures, no signature shall be required.

8. "Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:

8.1.

E-mail.

8.2.

The internet.

8.3.

Facsimile.

9. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant shall:

9.1.

Verify to the applicant's reasonable satisfaction through the use of standard engineering evaluation techniques that the support structure for the small residential rooftop solar energy system is stable and adequate to transfer all wind, seismic, and dead and live loads associated with the system to the building foundation; and

9.2.

At the applicant's cost, verify to the applicant's reasonable satisfaction using standard electrical inspection techniques that the existing electrical system including existing line, load, ground and bonding wiring as well as main panel and subpanel sizes are adequately sized, based on the existing electrical system's current use, to carry all new photovoltaic electrical loads.

10. An application that satisfies the information requirements in the eligibility checklist, as determined by the building official, shall be deemed complete. Upon receipt of an incomplete application, the building official shall issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

11. Upon confirmation by the building official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the eligibility checklist, the building official shall administratively approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations. Such approval does not authorize an applicant to connect the small residential rooftop energy system to the local utility provider's electricity grid. The applicant is responsible for obtaining such approval or permission from the local utility provider.

12. For a small residential rooftop solar energy system eligible for expedited review, only one inspection shall be required, which shall be done in a timely manner and includes a consolidated inspection by building and safety staff, as agreed to by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized, however the subsequent inspection need not conform to the requirements of this subdivision.

Part B Expedited permitting process for electrical vehicle charging stations.

1. The following definitions shall apply to this section:

1.1.

"A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact" includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by a city, county, or city and county on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit.

1.2.

"Electronic submittal" means the utilization of one or more of the following:

1.2.1.

Email. 1.2.2.

The internet.

1.2.3.

Facsimile.

1.3.

"Electric vehicle charging station" or "charging station" means any level of electric vehicle supply equipment station that is designed and built in compliance with Article 625 of the California Electrical Code, as it reads on the effective date of this section, and delivers electricity from a source outside an electric vehicle into a plug-in electric vehicle.

1.4.

"Specific, adverse impact" means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified, and written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.

2. Purpose. The purpose of the section is to adopt an expedited, streamlined electrical vehicle charging station permitting process that complies with the Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations Open Access Law and AB 1236 to achieve timely and cost-effective installations of electric vehicle charging stations. The section encourages the use of electrical vehicle charging stations by removing unreasonable barriers, minimizing costs to property owners and the city, and expanding the ability of property owners to install electrical vehicle charging stations. The section allows the city to achieve these goals while protecting the public health and safety.

3. Applicability.

3.1.

This ordinance applies to the issuance of building permits for electric vehicle charging stations in the city. All requirements of building permit applications in Title 24 for electric vehicle charging stations that are not addressed in this section shall remain in effect.

3.2.

Electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of the ordinance are not subject to the requirements of this ordinance unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of an electronic vehicle charging station in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance shall not require a permit.

4. Electric Vehicle Charging Station Requirements.

4.1.

All electric vehicle charging stations shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state and the city.

4.2.

Electric vehicle charging stations shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability.

5. Duties of Engineering/Project Management Division.

5.1.

All documents required for the submission of an expedited electric vehicle charging station building permit application shall be made available on the city website.

5.2.

Electronic submittal of the required building permit application and documents by email, the internet, or facsimile shall be made available to all electric vehicle charging station permit applicants.

5.3.

An applicant's electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature. However, the final permit must be signed at the counter until the city develops an electronic permit issuance registration.

5.4.

The engineering/project management division shall adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply to be eligible for expedited review.

5.5.

The electric vehicle charging stations permit process and checklist shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting, including the checklist contained in the most current version of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist of the "Zero-Emission Vehicles in California: Community Readiness Guidebook" adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

6. Permit Review and Inspection Requirements.

6.1.

The city shall adopt an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of electrical vehicle charging stations. The engineering/project management division should issue a building permit or other nondiscretionary permit as expeditiously as possibly upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

6.2.

Review of the application shall be limited to the building official's review of whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.

6.3.

If an application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

6.4.

The building official may require an applicant to apply for a use permit if the official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety. Such decisions may be appealed to the planning commission pursuant to Chapter 17.74.

6.5.

If a use permit is required, the planning commission may deny such application if it makes written findings based upon substantive evidence in the record that the proposed installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon public health or safety and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact. Such findings shall include the basis for the rejection of the potential feasible alternative for preventing the adverse impact.

6.6.

Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

6.7.

The city shall not condition approval for any electric vehicle charging station permit on the approval of an electric vehicle charging station by an association, as that term is defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the amount of every fee set forth in the code shall be the fee set forth in the most current resolution of the city council establishing fees.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)

1. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the codes adopted shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated by the city through civil process by means of restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisance.

2. Penalty. Every person violating any provision of this chapter, including but not limited to any provision of the Building Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Electrical Code, Energy Code, Historical Building Code, Fire Code, or the Green Building Standards Code, or of any permit or license granted thereunder, or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction thereof, he or she shall be punishable by a fine not-to-exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment not-to-exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The imposition of such penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue. Each day that a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.

3. When seeking remedies under this Section 15.04.990.1, the city may seek either or both remedies hereunder.

(Ord. No. 2025-420, § 3, 12-3-2025)