Fresno County Municipal Code Ch. 15.08 Building Code

The 2022 California Building Code, including the Appendices as referenced in the 2022 California Building Code Standards and the Uniform International Building Code Standards is adopted by reference.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 13-024, § 1(Exh. B), 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

Chapter 16, Section 1612 of the California Building Code is amended under Chapter 15.48 of this Title. Chapter 18, Section 1803 of the California Building Code is amended under Chapter 15.28 of this Title.

The following sections of the California Building Code (CBC) 2022 Edition, are deleted, amended or superseded as follows:

A. CBC Section [A]105.2, Work Exempt from Permits, is amended by adding Item Nos. 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.

Item No. 14: Flagpoles, radio and TV antennas less than thirty-five feet (35') in height and without receiving dishes.

Item No. 15: Ground mounted satellite receiving dishes less than twelve feet (12') in height, serving a R-3 occupancy.

Item No. 16: Transportable gypsum and fertilizer storage tanks for agricultural use.

Item No. 18: Detached one-story accessory structures as classified by a Group U occupancy not exceeding 240 sq. ft. floor/column area and 380 sq. ft. roof area, limited to a maximum ten-foot wall or post height. Shade structures with single- or two-point post bearing members not included. All persons claiming an exemption under this section shall comply with section 15.08.030 of this Title.

B. CBC Section [A] 107.2, Submittal Documents and CRC Section R106.1 Construction Documents, is amended to read as follows:

When state law requires that documents be prepared by an Architect or Engineer, the Building Official shall require the owner/permittee to engage and designate an Architect or Engineer who shall act as the Architect or Engineer of Record for the entire project and shall indicate this selection on the Building Permit application. All sheets of each submittal must be reviewed and coordinated by the Architect or Engineer of Record and must be signed as such.

C. CBC Section [A] 107.3.4.1, Deferred Submittals and CRC Section R106.3.3, Phased Approvals, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

For the purposes of this Section, deferred submittals are defined as project components such as electrical, plumbing, mechanical, refrigeration, processing equipment, or other non-structural elements that are not submitted at the time of the initial plan submittal for a building and that are to be submitted to the Building Official for review during construction of the building. Deferred submittals are limited to commercial or industrial projects only and shall have prior approval of the Building Official. A maximum of three (3) deferred submittals will be allowed on one (1) project.

An Architect or Engineer of Record shall be required for all projects where deferred submittals are proposed. This professional shall list all deferred submittal components on the initial plans for the building and shall be responsible for submitting all deferred documents for review by the Building Official.

Submittal documents for deferred items shall be forwarded by the Designer to the Architect or Engineer of Record who shall review them and forward them to the Building Official with a notation indicating that the deferred submittal documents have been reviewed and that they have been found to be in general conformance with the design of the building. The deferred submittal documents shall be integrated into the "approved" construction plans for the building by the Architect or Engineer of Record to provide one (1) complete set of plans for the project.

Construction shall not begin on deferred submittal components until their design has been reviewed and approved by the Building Official. A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until all work, including work associated with the deferred submittals has been completed, inspected and approved as safe-to-occupy/safe-to-stock.

D. CBC Section [A] 109.5, and CRC Section R108.4 Related Fees, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

When a plan or other data is required to be submitted by Appendix Chapter 1 of the California Building Code and/or Section 15.04.080.E of this Title, a Plan Review Fee shall be paid in accordance with Section 15.04.080.D of this Title.

E. CBC Section [A] 110, and CRC Section R109 Inspections, is amended as follows:

1. CBC Section [A] 110.3.4, and CRC Section R109.1.4 Frame Inspection:

To be made after the roof covering, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place, and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete, and after the rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical are complete and previously approved or are concurrently inspected with the Frame Inspection, and the exterior wall materials are in place. Where the exterior wall finish is cement plaster or masonry veneer then only the building paper and lath is required to be completed. For the purpose of this Section, a vapor barrier shall not be construed to be an exterior wall material where further or additional nailing of exterior material is required.

2. CRC Section R109.1.4.2 Lath or Gypsum Board Inspection, is amended to provide the same exception as the 2022 CBC Section 110.3.5,

3. CBC Section [A] 110.3.10, and CRC Section R109.1.6 Final Inspection, are amended as follows:

Electrical and gas utilities must be connected and energized at the time of the Final Inspection and shall comply with Section 15.04.090.C of this Ordinance.

F. CBC Section [A] 111.2, Certificate issued, shall be amended to add No. 13:

13. No material is to be processed, sold, stored or placed in any building or portion of a building until the required fire extinguishing system, fire resistive construction and fire assemblies have been installed, inspected, approved and are operational.

G. CBC Section 202, Definitions, shall be amended to add the following definitions, which shall read as follows:

1. "Condominium" means a structure as defined in the Building Code which constitutes an estate in real property consisting of an undivided interest in common portions of a parcel of real property, together with a separate interest in space in a residential, industrial, or commercial building on such real property. For the purpose of occupancy, a structure to be used as a condominium shall be classified according to the occupancy type of the overall structure as specified in the California Building Code, 2022 Edition.

2. "Deferred Submittal" shall mean deferred plan submittal for commercial or industrial projects meeting all the requirements of Section 15.08.020 D of this chapter and does not apply to shell buildings.

3. "Efficiency Kitchen" A kitchen that includes a cook top, kitchen exhaust, kitchen sink, refrigerator, and cabinet for dry food storage.

4. The "front of the lot" shall be as determined in the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance, Section 800 of the Fresno County Ordinance Code.

5. "Shell building" shall mean a building constructed in a commercial or industrial zoning district, without a known tenant, designed to accommodate future tenant improvements.

6. "Open shed" is a structure built for shelter or storage of agricultural products and constructed in such a manner that all sides of the structure are open except for any roof support members and bracing.

H. Solar Energy Systems, Section 3111.1.2 Roof Live Load is amended to include:

Translucent glazing panels installed flush with the building roof surface and Skylights adjacent to and in the maintenance area of the Solar Array shall comply with Table 1607.1 item 26, Roofs.

I. CBC Section 308, Institutional Group I, Subsection 308.3.3 Institutional Group I-2.1 Ambulatory health care facility is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Nursing homes for ambulatory patients, where medical care is provided, homes for ambulatory children six (6) years or over where medical care is provided, or homes with ambulatory guests where medical care is provided, and similar buildings, and honor farms and conservation camps housing inmates who are not restrained (each accommodating more than six [6] persons).

J. Reserved.

K. CBC Section 720, Thermal and Sound Insulating Materials, is amended by adding the following sentence:

1. Pneumatically-placed insulation shall be placed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

L. CBC Section 1010.1.6, and CRC Section R311.3 Landings at Doors, is amended by adding the following paragraph:

A landing is a permanent and firm surface constructed of concrete (three and one-half inch [3½"] thick minimum), mortared brick or stone over concrete base, foundation grade redwood or treated wood, asphalt paving or other approved like materials. Where wood is to be used as a landing, it shall be adequately supported on concrete or masonry and anchored to prevent dislocation. Alternate methods may be used if first approved by the Building Official.

M. CBC Section 1505 Fire Classification and CRC 902. Fire Classification are amended by adding:

In California Department of Forestry State Responsibility Areas, all roof coverings for any occupancy group or construction type shall be a minimum Class "A" roof covering.

N. CBC Section 1208.2, Attic spaces, and CRC R807.1 Attic access is amended by adding the following addition:

Additionally: Where dwelling attic spaces are separated by vaulted ceilings (such as those formed by scissor trusses), there shall be at least one (1) attic access opening on each side of the vaulted ceiling. Where attics are separated by draft stops, there shall be at least one (1) attic access opening on each side of the draft stop. Attic access openings from the garage to the residence in the vertical wall are permitted provided the access door is at least one and three-eighths inches (1⅜") thick, tight fitting solid core wood or equal, equipped with a self-closer and a positive latching device. Openings penetrating a horizontal fire separation between a garage and a dwelling shall be a listed fire rated assembly.

O. CBC Section 1805, Dampproofing and Waterproofing, and CRC R406 Foundation Waterproofing and Dampproofing are amended by adding the following paragraph:

A building shall have the foundation wall or concrete floor slab constructed above the crown of the adjoining street, unless otherwise approved by the Building Official. The ground around the structure shall be sloped two percent (2%) for a distance of five feet (5') to provide drainage away from the structure.

P. Reserved.

Q. Reserved.

R. Reserved.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 13-024, § 1(Exh. B), 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. Public Utility Buildings. These provisions shall not be applicable to building, structures, power plants, facilities, equipment or installations when the provisions of design and inspection of these structures are subject to the full jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission or the Federal Power Commission.

B. Detached one-story accessory structures as classified by a Group U occupancy as described in section 15.08.020.A of this Title, shall require an application attesting that the structure constructed will be in compliance with this section and shall require construction to comply with but may not be limited to, the following conditions:

1. The application for exemption shall include a dimensioned site or plot plan showing all structures on the property and septic system, a floor plan, and elevation plan.

2. The provisions of the adopted codes, other ordinances, and laws for health safety relevant to site geographical and climatic conditions.

3. County of Fresno zoning ordinance for use as defined by a signed operational statement of use, setbacks to property line and adjacent structures.

4. Chapter 15.60.300 of this Title for setbacks to property lines within the State Responsibility Area.

5. Construction materials and methods complying with Wildland Urban Interface requirements as cited in adopted California Building and Residential Codes.

6. The application for exemption to be obtained from County of Fresno Development Services Division for a fee as described under the Master Schedule of Fees section 2506 and signed by only the property owner of record.

7. The signed application shall allow require an inspection by the County of Fresno to verify compliance with the conditions of the allow exception with in one-year of paid fees.

8. All requirements of the Fire District where this exception is granted shall apply.

C. Inspections. The owner/permittee or person proposing to construct a building or structure exempt from the provisions may obtain inspection service by applying for and obtaining the appropriate permit or permits and paying the regularly established fees as though said building or structure were not exempt pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 14-021, § 1, 11-4-2014; Ord. No. 13-024, § 1(Exh. B), 11-12-2013; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. No. 10-008, § 1, 5-18-2010; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)