Cupertino Municipal Code Ch. 16.06 Residential Code

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of the 2022 California Residential Code and specified Appendices and each and all of the regulations, provisions, conditions and terms of the code are referred to as if fully set forth in this chapter, except such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended by this ordinance, and are by such adopted by reference.

B. One (1) copy of each volume of the code therefor is on file in the office of the Building Official pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 18942 and is made available for public inspection.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

The following Appendix Chapters from the 2025 California Residential Code are hereby adopted:

Appendix BG: Sound Transmission;

Appendix CI: Swimming Pool Safety Act.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

Amend Section R319.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code to delete Exception #2.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

Amend Section R309.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R309.1 Townhouse automatic fire sprinkler systems. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all new townhouses and in existing townhouses when additions are made that increase the building area to more than 3,600 square feet.

Exception: One or more additions made to a building after January 1, 2011 that does not total more than 1,000 square feet of building area.

Amend Section R309.2 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R309.2 One- and two-family dwellings automatic sprinkler systems. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all new one- and two-family dwellings, rebuild of existing one- and two-family dwellings as defined by the Building Official, and existing one- and two-family dwellings when additions are made that increase the fire area to more than 3,600 square feet.

Exceptions:

1. Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit, provided that all of the following are met:

The unit meets all apparatus access and water supply requirements of Chapter 5 and Appendix B of the 2025 California Fire Code.

2. When additions are made to existing structures, causing the fire area to exceed 3,600 square feet, and all of the following are met:

The resultant structure meets all water supply requirements of Chapter 5 and Appendix B of the 2025 California Fire Code.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

Amend Section R330.3.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R330.3.1 Spacing. Individual ESS units shall be separated from each other by not less than 3 feet except where separation distances are documented to be adequate based on large-scale fire testing complying with Section 1207.1.7 of the 2025 California Fire Code.

Amend Section R330.7 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R330.7 Fire detection. Rooms and areas within dwelling units, basements and attached garages in which ESS are installed shall be protected by smoke alarms in accordance with Section R310. A heat detector, listed and interconnected to the smoke alarms, shall be installed in locations within dwelling units and attached garages where smoke alarms cannot be installed based on their listing. [SFM] ESS installed in Group R-3 and townhomes shall comply with the following:

1. Rooms and areas within dwellings units, sleeping units, basements and attached garages in which ESS are installed shall be protected by smoke alarms in accordance with Section R310.

2. A listed heat alarm interconnected to the smoke alarms shall be installed in locations within dwelling units, sleeping units and attached garages where smoke alarms cannot be installed based on their listing.

Exceptions:

1. A listed heat detector may be used in place of a heat alarm, so long as it is interconnected with devices that provide an audible alarm at all sleeping areas.

2. A fire sprinkler associated with an approved automatic sprinkler system that triggers an audible alarm upon activation of the waterflow switch, may be used in place of a heat alarm.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025; Ord. 26-2281, 2026)

Amend Section R403.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R403.1 General. All exterior walls shall be supported on continuous solid or fully grouted masonry or concrete footings, or other approved structural systems which shall be of sufficient design to accommodate all loads according to Section R301 and to transmit the resulting loads to the soil within the limitations as determined from the character of the soil. Footings shall be supported on undisturbed natural soils or engineered fill. Concrete footings shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Section R403 or in accordance with ACI 332.

Amend Section R403.1.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R403.1.1 Minimum size. Minimum sizes for concrete and masonry footings shall be as set forth in Tables R403.1(1) through Table R403.1(3) and Figure R403.1.3, as applicable, but not less than 12 inches in width and 6 inches in depth. The footing width, W, shall be based on the load-bearing value of the soil in accordance with Table R401.4.1(1). Footing projections, P, shall be not less than 2 inches and shall not exceed the thickness of the footing. Footing thickness and projection for fireplaces shall be in accordance with Section R10001.2. The size of footings supporting piers and columns shall be based on the tributary load and allowable soil pressure in accordance with Table R401.4.1(1).

Delete Figure R403.1(2) and Figure R403.1(3).

Delete Section R403.2 in its entirety.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

Amend Section R602.10.4 of the 2025 California Residential Code, to add a new footnote "f" to the end of CRC Table R602.10.4 to read as follows:

f. In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, and D2, Methods GB, SFB, HPS, PBS, and CS-SFB are not permitted and the use of Method PCP is limited to one-story single family dwellings and accessory structures.

Add a new subsection R602.10.4.5 of the 2025 California Residential Code, to read as follows:

R602.10.4.5 Limits on methods GB, SFB, HPS, PBS, CS-SFB and PCP. In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, and D2, Methods GB, SFB, HPS, PBS, and CS-SFB are not permitted for use as intermittent braced wall panels, but gypsum board is permitted to be installed when required by this Section to be placed on the opposite side of the studs from other types of braced wall panel sheathing. In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, and D2, the use of Method PCP is limited to one-story single family dwellings and accessory structures.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

Adopt and Amend Section R902.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows:

R902.1.2 Roof coverings in all other areas other than Fire Hazard Severity Zones or a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) area. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is Class A fire classification.

Roofing requirement for structures located in a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area shall also comply with Section R337.5.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

In new construction or when alterations, repairs or additions requiring a permit and having a valuation in excess of one thousand dollars occur, all new and existing fireplace chimneys shall terminate in a substantially constructed spark arrestor complying with the requirements of the 2025 California Residential Code Section R1003.9.2.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord,19-2189, § 1 (part), 2019; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)

Amend and Adopt Appendix CI100 115922 (a) of the 2025 California Residential Code to read as follows: 115922. (a) Except as provided in Section 115925, subject to subdivision (b), and consistent with Section 1596.814, when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home, the respective swimming pool or spa shall be equipped with two of the following seven drowning prevention safety features:

1. An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 and isolates the swimming pool or spa from the private single-family home.

2. Removable mesh fencing that meets American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specifications F2286 standards in conjunction with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device.

3. A manually operated or power-operated safety pool cover that is accompanied by a label verifying that the cover meets the specifications of the ASTM International F1346-23 standard.

4. Exit alarms on the private single-family home’s doors and windows that provide direct access to the swimming pool or spa without any intervening enclosure. Whenever any door or window is opened or left ajar, exit alarms shall make either an audible, continuous alarm sound or a repeating verbal warning, such as a repeating notification that “the door to the pool is open.” An exit alarm may be battery operated or connected to the electrical wiring of the building.

5. A self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor on the private single-family home’s doors providing direct access to the swimming pool or spa.

6. An alarm in good repair and operable as designed that, when placed in a swimming pool or spa, will sound upon detection of accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. The alarm shall meet and be independently certified to the ASTM Standard F2208 “Standard Safety Specification for Residential Pool Alarms,” which includes surface motion, pressure, sonar laser and infrared type alarms. A swimming protection alarm feature designed for individual use, including an alarm attached to a child that sounds when the child exceeds a certain distance or becomes submerged in water, is not a qualifying drowning prevention safety feature.

7. Other means of protection, if the degree of protection afforded is equal to or greater than that afforded by any of the feature set forth above and has been independently verified by an approved testing laboratory as meeting standards for those features established by the ASTM or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

(b) The requirements of subdivision (a) are not satisfied by any of the following:

1. An exit alarm and a self-closing, self-latching device on the same door.

2. An exit alarm and a door latch on separate doors.

3. A safety pool cover and an alarm described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a).

(c) Before the issuance of a final approval for the completion of permitted construction or remodeling work, the local building code official shall inspect the drowning safety prevention features required by this section and, if no violations are found, shall give final approval.

(Ord. 22-2245, part, 2022; Ord. 25-2278, Att. A (part), 2025)