Coachella Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 Administration

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1147, § 3, adopted Jan. 22, 2020, repealed the former Ch. 15.04, §§ 15.04.010, 15.04.020, and § 4 of the same ord. enacted a new chapter as set out herein. The former Ch. 15.04 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 1099, § 4, adopted Jan. 11, 2017.

Except as provided in this chapter, the code currently adopted state building code under title 24 sections parts 1-6, 8, 9 and 11 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) known and designated as the 2019 California Building Codes (CBC), as adopted by the state of California, based on the 2018 International Building Code published by the International Code Council and the Plumbing and Mechanical Codes written by IAPMO and the National Electrical Code and Fire Code as written by NFPA, shall become the administrative provisions of the city of Coachella for regulating the construction, erection, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, equipment, use and occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and/or structures in the city. Chapter 1 of the 2019 California Building Code and all other formally adopted building code will be on file for public examination in the offices of the building official as required by state law.

The city of Coachella does hereby formally adopt the state of California model building codes into local law as listed below:

2019 California Administrative Code Title 24 Part 1

2019 California Building Code Title 24 Part 2 (Volumes 1 & 2)

2019 California Electrical Code Title 24 Part 3 (based on 2017 NEC)

2019 California Mechanical Code Title 24 Part 4 (based on 2018 Uniform Mechanical Code)

2019 California Plumbing Code Title 24 Part 5

2019 California Energy Code Title 24 Part 6

2019 California Historical Building Code Title 24 Part 8

2019 California Fire Code Title 24 Part 9

2019 California Green Building Standards Code Part 11

All sections of the code listed here and legally adopted by the state of California's Building Standards Commission or by the Office of the State Fire Marshall shall be formally adopted by the city of Coachella as the California Building Code to be enforced within the city limits as required by state law. Sections and appendices not specifically adopted by the aforementioned state offices are hereby adopted by reference.

(Ord. No. 1147, § 4, 1-22-20)

A. "Sub-section 105.1 Required." is amended to read as follows:

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. The City of Coachella requires a building permit for the following projects:

1. Hardscape work including concrete flatwork, patio slabs, and pavers, except walkways exempted under Section 105.2.

2. New driveways made of concrete, pavers, grass-crete or comparable permeable or impermeable surfaces.

3. Removal and repair of existing masonry walls for the purpose of installation of gates and driveways.

4. Tent structures and canvas shade structures and coverings over 200 square feet, unless exempt as part of a Special Event Permit.

5. Storage sheds and metal containers in excess of 120 square feet.

6. Re-surfacing and re-striping of existing parking lots.

105.1(a) Prohibited Block Walls: Notwithstanding the provisions of the 2019 California Building Code, the City shall prohibit post-tension masonry walls.

B. "Sub-section 105.2 Work exempt from permit", Items 2, 4, and 6 under "Building" are hereby deleted and replaced in their entirety as follows:

2. Fences conforming to design requirements of Title 17 of this Code, not exceeding a height of 2 feet (610 mm).

3. Retaining walls that are not over 2 feet (610 mm) in height measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids.

4. Sidewalks in the side or rear yard not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above adjacent grade, and not over any basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route.

C. The "Electrical" provision of Section 105.2 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Electrical:

1. Listed cord and plug connected temporary decorative lighting.

2. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the housing, wiring and conduit therefore.

3. Repair or replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices, listed for the use, of the required capacity in the same location.

4. Installation or maintenance of communications wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment specifically under the jurisdiction of utilities as described by the code.

5. Installation or replacement of electrical equipment such as lamps and of electrical utilization equipment approved for connection to suitable permanently installed receptacles, Replacement of flush or snap switches, fuses, lamp sockets, and receptacles, and other minor maintenance and repair work, such as replacing worn cords and tightening connections on a wiring device.

6. The process of manufacturing, testing, servicing, or repairing electrical equipment or apparatus.

D. Section 105.2 Work exempt from permit, is amended by adding thereto language to read as follows:

Grading:

See Appendix J, Section J103.2 Exemptions, for work exempt from grading permits.

E. Section 113, Board of Appeals is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 113 BOARD OF APPEALS

113.1 General. A local Appeals Board shall be created, as described by CBC 113, for the purpose of providing determinations in relation to the application and interpretation of the Code. Code language not susceptible to interpretation and clearly defined under law, as written, shall not be the subject of appeal. This Board shall be tasked with ruling on appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building Official and will hereby be known as the "Board of Appeals". This Board shall also serve as the Accessibility Appeals Board as described below.

113.2 Definition. The following term shall, for the purpose of this section, have the meaning shown.

ACCESSIBILITY APPEALS BOARD. The board of the city which is authorized by the governing body of the city to hear appeals brought by any person regarding action taken by the building department of the city in enforcement of the authority to grant exceptions to the standards and specifications contained in California Health and Safety Code section 19957. (Note: The establishment of this board is pursuant to Health and Safety Code 19957.5)

113.3 Appeals Board Defined. The Housing Appeals Board, Accessible Appeals Board, and the Local Appeals Board shall be for the purposes of this code and may be one in the same and shall be referred to herein throughout this code as the Appeals Board.

113.4 Qualifications. In addition to the qualifications established in CBC Section 1.8.8, at least two members shall be physically disabled, if the Appeals Board is to hear appeals relating to accessibility issues pursuant to CBC, (California) Chapter 1, Section 1.9.1.5 (Special conditions for persons with disabilities requiring appeals action ratification; Pursuant to Health and Safety Code 19957.5)

E. Section 114.4, Violation penalties, is hereby amended to read as follows:

114.4 Violation penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions, regulations, requirements, additions, amendments and/or deletions of this code is guilty of a misdemeanor and the penalty for such a misdemeanor shall be as set forth in Chapter 3.48.090 of the City of Coachella Municipal Code.