Escondido Municipal Code Art. 1 Administrative Provisions

For the purpose of this code, certain terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this section. Where terms are not defined, they shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings within the context with which they are used. Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, shall provide such ordinary meanings. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine, and the feminine include the masculine.

"Addition"

is an extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure.

"Alter" or "Alteration"

is a change or modification in construction or building service equipment.

"Approved",

as to materials, types of construction, equipment and systems, refers to approval by the building official as the result of investigation and tests conducted by the building official, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by recognized authorities, technical or scientific organizations.

"Approved agency"

is an established and recognized agency regularly engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services, when the agency has been approved by the building official.

"Building"

is a structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering a use or occupancy.

"Building Code"

is the California Building Code, as adopted and amended by the City in Article 3 of this Chapter.

"Building, existing"

is a building erected prior to the adoption of this code, or one for which a legal building permit has been issued.

"Building official"

is the manager of the city's building division.

"Building service equipment"

refers to the plumbing, mechanical, electrical and elevator equipment including piping, wiring, fixtures and other accessories which provide sanitation, lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, refrigeration, fire-fighting and transportation facilities essential to the occupancy of the building or structure for its designated use.

"Earthquake hazard reduction in existing buildings",

is the California Code related to seismic conservation of masonry buildings, as adopted and amended by the city in Article 8 of this chapter.

"Electrical Code"

is the California Electrical Code, as adopted and amended by the city in Article 6 of this Chapter.

"Elevator Code"

is the safety code for elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and moving walks as adopted by the city.

"Jurisdiction",

as used in this code, is a state or political subdivision which adopts this code for administrative regulations within its area of authority, in this case, the City.

"Listed" and "listing"

are terms referring to equipment and materials included in a list published by an approved testing laboratory, inspection agency, or other organization concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of current productions of listed equipment or materials. The published list shall state that the material or equipment complies with approved nationally recognized codes, standards or tests and has been tested or evaluated and found suitable for use in a specified manner.

"Mechanical Code"

is the California Mechanical Code, as adopted and amended by the city in Article 4 of this chapter.

"Mid-rise building"

as defined in the Escondido Municipal Code for fire prevention purposes.

"Occupancy"

is the purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or intended to be used.

"Owner"

is any person, agent, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property.

"Permit"

is an official document or certificate issued by the building official authorizing performance of a specified activity.

"Person"

is a natural person, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors or assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.

"Planning and Building Director"

as used in this chapter or in any code adopted by this chapter, the terms "building director," "planning director," and "community development director" shall mean the director of community development of the city.

"Plumbing Code"

is the California Plumbing Code, as adopted and amended by the city in Article 7 of this chapter.

"Repair"

is the reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building, structure or building service equipment for the purpose of its maintenance.

"Shall",

as used in this code, is mandatory.

"Structural observation"

means the visual observation of the structural system, for general conformance to the approved plans and specifications, at significant construction stages and at completion of the structural system. Structural observation does not include or waive the responsibility for the inspections required by sections 6-17 and 6-18.

"Structure"

is that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.

"Technical codes"

refer to those codes adopted by the city in this chapter which contains provisions for design, construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of buildings and structures and building service equipment as herein defined.

"Valuation" or "value",

as applied to a building and its building service equipment, shall be the estimated cost to replace the building and its building service equipment in kind, based on current replacement costs.

(Ord. No. 2008-02R, § 2, 2-6-08)

Whenever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of the technical codes, the building official may grant modifications for individual cases. The building official shall first find that a special individual reason makes the strict letter of the technical code impractical and the modification is in conformity with the intent and purpose of the technical code, and that such modification does not lessen health, life safety and fire safety requirements or any degree of structural integrity. The details of actions granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the building code enforcement agency.

(Ord. No. 2003-03, § 1, 2-12-03)