Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 15 — BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Clayton Municipal Code Ch. 15.56 Moving Buildings
Clayton Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Clayton
Cite as: Clayton Municipal Code Chapter 15.56 · Text as of 2026-10-04
15.56.010 - Permit Required—Building Defined.¶
A. It is unlawful for any person to move, or cause to be moved, any building upon any lot, piece or parcel of land located within the City without first having obtained a permit as provided in this chapter.
B. "Building" as used in this chapter means any house, building, structure or shed that is more than ten (10) feet in length or more than eight (8) feet in width. The moving of a detached garage in connection with relocation of a house located on same parcel as garage may be handled under one permit, provided, that the garage is moved at approximately the same time and to the same new location as the house.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.020 - Initial Inspection—Fee.¶
Prior to making an application for a permit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, any person may, upon payment of the initial inspection fee hereinafter prescribed, have an inspection made by the City's authorized building official of the building to be moved and written report prepared listing the alterations, if any, which will be required in the building. The initial inspection fee shall be such amount as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the City Council, and shall be non-refundable.
(Ord. 77, 1969; Ord. 172, 1977)
15.56.030 - Permit—Application—Form.¶
Every application for a permit to move a building shall be:
A. Made on forms provided by the City Clerk which shall call for:
Address and signature of applicant, who shall be the record owner or owners of land to which the building is to be moved,
Address of current location of building,
Address of proposed new location of building,
Name, address and license number of contractor, if there is one, or name and address of person doing work involved,
Applicant shall also submit proof of owner ship of building to be moved;
B. Accompanied by plans and specifications and photographs in such detail as the Building Official and planning commission through the City Clerk may require; indicating thereon the location of the property upon which the building is to be moved, the exact location on that property to be occupied by the building to be moved, and any additions to be constructed, the alterations and remodeling to be done to the building and the estimated cost thereof, and the site improvements planned for the property and their estimated costs;
C. Accompanied by a non-refundable fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), which fee shall be in addition to the initial inspection fee prescribed in Section 15.56.020, and in addition to any required fees for building, electrical, plumbing and other construction or encroachment permits.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.040 - Permit—Application—Processing Procedure.¶
Every application for a permit to move a building shall be processed as described in Sections 15.56.050 through 15.56.170.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.050 - Conformance to Zoning Regulations.¶
The city clerk shall determine whether the proposed move will conform to existing zoning regulations.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.060 - Conformance to Building, Housing, Plumbing and Electrical Codes.¶
If not already accomplished under Section 15.56.020, the City's authorized building official shall inspect the building for conformance to the building, housing, plumbing and electrical codes of the City and determine what repairs, alterations or remodeling will be required to make the building conform to all requirements of the aforementioned codes. Fee for this inspection shall be same as set forth in Section 15.56.020 of this chapter.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.070 - Determination of Required Improvements to Parcel.¶
The city engineer shall examine the parcel, lot or building site upon which the building is to be moved and determine what public improvements, such as concrete curb and gutter, sidewalk and street trees, are required to conform to city codes, ordinances and regulations and what site improvements, such as driveways, walkways, retaining walls, etc., are required to serve the building.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.080 - Examination of Plans and Specifications.¶
The building official shall then examine the plans and specifications submitted with the application to determine whether the building, when completed in accordance with the plans and specifications, will conform to all applicable ordinances, codes, rules and regulations.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.090 - Determination of Costs—Performance Bonds.¶
The building official shall determine the reasonable cost of placing and completing the building in its new location, excluding costs of moving, but including costs of labor and material for new foundations and all necessary improvements on or adjacent to the site; which total cost shall be the total principal amount of the performance bonds to be posted by the applicant to guarantee performance of the required alterations and improvements.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.100 - Moving Route—Evidence of Approval and Conformance to Public Utility Company Requirements.¶
The applicant, or his agent, must furnish evidence to the Building Official that the police chief has approved the moving route to be followed and that there has been compliance with the reasonable requirements of the affected public utility companies as required by Sections 15.56.270 through 15.56.320.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.110 - Permit—Application—Defects—Time to Effect Remedy.¶
If there is any defect in the application or in the accompanying plans and specifications, the applicant shall have thirty (30) days of the written notice from the Building Official within which to remedy said defects. If said defects are not remedied within said thirty (30) days, the Building Official shall deny the application and shall so inform the applicant in writing. Thereafter, should the applicant desire to revive the application he shall pay another applicant fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.120 - Permit—Application—Hearing—Notice.¶
Upon finding that the applicant has complied with all applicable codes, ordinances, rules and regulations, the planning department shall then cause the application to be set for public hearing before the planning commission, with notice to be given as follows: Ten (10) days prior to the date set for hearing by the planning commission, notification of public hearing shall be posted by the planning commission secretary in a conspicuous place on the property to which the building is to be moved and upon the property from which the building is to be moved, if within the City, which notice shall contain the following:
A. Description of type of building to be moved;
B. Present location of building;
C. Proposed location of building.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.130 - Permit—Application—Hearing—Planning Commission Determination.¶
The planning commission shall hold the public hearing on the application and shall, within sixty (60) days thereafter, either approve, conditionally approve or disapprove the application. The commission shall determine among other things whether the building will, when moved onto the desired land, be as architecturally compatible with the neighborhood, as conducive to good development on nearby land, as much in the public interest and as protective of public health, safety and welfare as a new building which could legally be constructed on the property.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.140 - Permit—Application—Commission Approval—Amount of Performance Bond.¶
Upon approval of the application by the commission, the Building Official shall inform the applicant of the principal amount of the required performance bond.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.150 - Permit—Performance Bonds Required—Forfeiture When.¶
The applicant shall, after approval of his plans and specifications, post with the City a cash performance bond in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) and a performance bond written by a corporate surety company licensed to do business in the state of California in an amount determined by the Building Official (which amount shall be the difference between total cost as determined by building official under Section 15.56.090 of this chapter, and five hundred dollars ($500.00); the bonds shall name the City as obligee and the condition of the bonds shall be that they shall be forfeited if the holder of the permit fails to place and complete the building and construct the site improvements according to the approved plans and specifications and within the time limits specified in this chapter. If the site from which the building is to be moved is located within the City, then such surety bond shall guarantee that the site shall be cleared as provided for in Section 15.56.330.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.160 - Permit—Issuance.¶
Not sooner than seven (7) days after approval of the application by the commission, and after receipt of the required performance bonds, the Building Official shall, unless the commission's approval has been appealed pursuant to Section 15.56.180 under this chapter, issue a nontransferable permit to move the building in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.170 - Permit—Liability Insurance Requirements—City Attorney Approval—Cancellation Procedure.¶
No permit shall be granted unless the applicant files with the City proof of liability insurance in minimum amounts of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for one bodily injury, three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) maximum for one accident and fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for property damage. Such policies shall be issued by a responsible insurance company, approved as to form and content by the City Attorney and shall name the City as an assured and shall not be cancelable without ten (10) days' written notice to the City of intention to cancel.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.180 - Appeal from Planning Commission Action—Notification Procedure—Hearing.¶
Any person affected by the action of the planning commission in granting, denying or applying conditions to the permit may make an appeal to the City Council as follows:
Said appeal shall be by written notice of appeal delivered to the City Clerk within seven (7) days of the action from which the appeal is taken. The city clerk shall deliver a copy of the "notice of Appeal" to the planning commission secretary and building official and set a hearing on the appeal within thirty (30) days, and at least five (5) days prior to hearing mail "Notice of Hearing" to the appellant, the applicant (if not appellant) and any other person whose name appears in minutes of planning commission as having appeared before that body in connection with the matter being appealed. Both the planning commission secretary and the Building Official shall also be informed of hearing date at least five (5) days prior thereto. The city council may continue the hearing as convenience and justice dictate and may affirm, modify or rescind the action of the planning commission.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.190 - Completion of Alterations and Improvements—Time Schedule Generally.¶
In order to prevent moved buildings from remaining incomplete for indefinite periods of time, the time schedule in Sections 15.56.200 through 15.56.240 shall apply to the moving of buildings.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.200 - Completion of Alterations and Improvements—Ninety-Day Time Limit.¶
All required alterations and improvements to buildings and site, as shown on the approved plans and specifications, shall be completed within ninety (90) days after issuance of the permit.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.210 - Completion of Alterations and Improvements—Thirty-Day Time Extension.¶
This time may be extended for not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days by the Building Official upon submission of written proof by the holder of the permit that conditions beyond his control make it impossible complete the required alterations and improvements within the first ninety (90) days.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.220 - Completion of Alterations and Improvements—Additional Time Extension When.¶
Should the permittee be unable to complete the required alterations and improvements within the allowed time, he may make written application to the planning commission for an extension of time, setting forth in the application the reasons why the additional time is needed. The commission may grant such time extension as, in its opinion, is justified by the circumstances, or it may deny the application.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.230 - Completion of Alterations and Improvements—Failure to Complete—Action Against Performance Bond.¶
Where the holder of a permit moves a building and fails to complete the required alterations and improvements within ninety (90) days or any extension thereof, the Building Official shall, with the advice and assistance of the City Attorney, take such action against the principal and surety on the performance bonds as is necessary to accomplish completion of the required alterations and improvements.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.240 - Completion of Alterations and Improvements—Failure to Complete—Abatement of…¶
If the holder of the permit and the surety has failed to place and complete the building and construct site improvements according to the approved plans and specifications within six (6) months of the date of issuance of the permit, the Building Official may summarily, without further process, abate the structure by completion according to the plans or by demolition, the cost of which shall be a charge upon the holder of the permit and his surety and constitute a lien on the premises.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.250 - Permit—Reapplication After Denial.¶
No application for a permit to move a building may be filed with the Building Official within a period of one year after a previous application to move the same building onto the same parcel of land or onto any parcel of land within three thousand (3,000) feet of the desired new location for the structure has been denied.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.260 - Violation Deemed Nuisance—Abatement—Additional Remedies.¶
Every violation of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance. The city attorney shall, when so directed by the City Council, take such action of proceedings in such court or courts as he may deem necessary or expedient to abate the same. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the Building Official may, when he finds that the condition of any moved structure is a present and imminent menace to public safety, take such measures as are necessary to protect life and limb, without notice to any person and without further process. The cost of performing such measures shall be a charge upon the holder of the permit and a lien upon the building and the real property upon which the building is situated.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.270 - Building Movers—Requirements Generally.¶
Buildings may be moved on city streets only by owners for their own use, or by duly licensed house moving contractors. In any event, no person shall move any building along the streets of the City without complying with the requirements in Sections 15.56.280 through 15.56.320.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.280 - Building Movers—Performance Bond Required—Conditions.¶
Every mover must have on file with the City Clerk a valid, current performance bond issued by a corporate surety company licensed to do business in California, naming as obligee the City and all persons, in the principal amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), the conditions of which bond shall be as follows:
A. That the mover will comply with all applicable laws and ordinances;
B. That the mover will pay any and all damages which may result from any building moving done by him, his agents, employees or workmen, in the City to any house, building, fence, tree, pavement, sidewalk, curb, gutter, utility pole, wire, hydrant, traffic signal, traffic sign or any other appurtenance in, on or under any street right-of-way, whether such facility is owned by the City, a private person or by some privately owned public utility using the streets by virtue of franchise;
C. That the mover will save, indemnify and keep harmless the City against all liabilities, judgments, costs and expenses which may in any way accrue against the City in consequence of such structure moving.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.290 - Building Moved—Time Limit on Intersecting Streets.¶
No building being moved in or through the City shall be permitted to stand on any street between the same intersecting streets for a longer period than twenty-four (24) hours.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.300 - Route—Notice to Police Chief—Approval.¶
Notice of the route to be followed must be given to the police chief at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the intended movement of any structure in or through the City. Upon approval of the route to be followed, the police chief shall issue his written approval of the route. Every person moving a building in or through the City shall have in his possession the written approval of the police chief.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.310 - Indemnification of Public Utilities.¶
Should the moving of any building described in this chapter require interference with any public utility structure, the applicant shall, after obtaining the written approval of the police chief as to the route to be followed, notify any and all public utilities involved of the tentative time of such moving and the estimated load height of the structure and moving equipment. The applicant shall indemnify a public utility against any and all damages or charges that are a direct and proximate cost and indemnify a public utility for any and all reasonable claims or charges that are a direct and proximate result of necessary measures required to protect utility structures from damages that may reasonably result from the moving of buildings as described in this chapter.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.320 - Building Removed from Foundation—Time Limit for Remaining on Dollies.¶
After removal from its foundation, no building shall be permitted to remain on any dollies or other structures used in the moving of the building for a period in excess of thirty (30) days unless written approval is first secured from the City Building Official extending such time.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.330 - Site Clearance.¶
After removal of any building from property located within the City, the owner shall fill with dirt, sand or small rock, all openings and excavations on the property including cesspools, and septic tanks, and shall further remove all refuse, debris, old foundations, exposed pipes, walls, slabs, waste material and other impediments located on the property. If the property from which any building is moved is located within the City, site clearance shall be guaranteed by the surety bond provided for in Section 15.56.150.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.340 - Tentative Map Procedure.¶
If the land upon which the building is to be moved is not a legal lot of record, then the applicant must first secure approval of a tentative map or minor subdivision from the planning commission in accordance with the City Subdivision ordinance before the planning commission will act on his application.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
15.56.350 - Violation—Penalty.¶
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter or any order of the building inspector issued pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof is punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 77, 1969)
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code