Grand Terrace Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 General Provisions for Building Codes

The requirements of this Chapter are general in nature and apply to all the provisions in this Title.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.081)

Whenever in any of the codes adopted in this Title there appears a reference to the following names or terms, those names or terms shall be deemed and construed as follows:

A. "Administrative Authority," "Building Official," "Electrical Safety Engineer" or any other similar terms which makes reference to the individual official, board, department or agency created by law to administer and enforce the provisions of the code adopted in this Title shall mean the "Director of Building and Safety and his authorized assistants."

B. "City of" or any similar reference to a political entity means the incorporated territory of the City.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.082)

The City Council finds that these regulations and provisions and those of the codes adopted in this Title are in compliance with Section 17922 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California and that the modifications and changes herein made to the model codes adopted in this Chapter are necessary due to local conditions. A copy of the ordinance adopting this provision shall be forwarded to the Department of Housing and Community Development of the State of California by the City Clerk, and the copy will serve to satisfy the requirement of filing of findings as stated in Section 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.0810)

Any and all references to fees in any of the Building Codes adopted in this Title are deleted; such fees shall be adopted by resolution of the City Council, which may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 371, § 2, 10-14-2025; Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.083)

A. Where any person, firm or corporation in the course of normal maintenance procedures proposes to install, alter or repair any electrical wiring, devices, appliances, plumbing, drainage systems, septic tanks, seepage pits, leaching lines, heating, ventilating, refrigeration or water conservation equipment in an existing facility located on property under the direct control of such person, firm or corporation and is able to, and does in fact, furnish inspection service which meets the requirements and rules and regulations of this Code, and whose operations are under the continuous supervision of a professional engineer or engineers, duly registered with and licensed by the State of California, such person, firm or corporation shall not be required to obtain approval at each consecutive inspection step of the installation, alteration or repair but shall be required only to obtain an annual permit or annual permits and assure that the work in progress is accessible to the Director of Building and Safety for such periodic inspections as he may deem necessary.

B. The fee for each separate annual permit (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) shall be based upon the number of employees doing work in the crafts covered in each annual permit in accordance with a resolution of the City Council.

C. The designated responsible supervising engineer shall file with the Building and Safety Department a written report specifying the work done under the issued annual permit. Such written report shall be filed with the Department of Building and Safety within 30 days following the end of the fiscal year for which the permit was issued.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.084)

It shall be the duty of the Director of Building and Safety to enforce the provisions of the California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Fire Code, California Energy Code, California Administrative Code, California Referenced Standards Code, California Green Building Standards Code, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, and International Property Maintenance Code, respectively, and to determine the intent and meaning thereof. Any determination or decision, made by the Director of Building and Safety, which is in dispute, is subject to review and final decision by the City Council or by a Board of Appeals as established by the City pursuant to Section 113 of the California Building Code, as adopted and amended by the City.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.085; Ord. No. 371, § 2, 10-14-2025)

A. Subdivision maps shall not be given a final approval until a preliminary soil report, prepared by a civil engineer, registered by the State of California, has been filed with and approved by the Director of Building and Safety.

B. The preliminary soil report shall indicate the presence, if any, of expansive soils or any other soil problem which, if not corrected, would lead to structural defects. If defective soil conditions are indicated, the preliminary report shall include recommendations for corrective measures intended to prevent structural damage to buildings erected on the site. Acceptance and approval of these recommendations shall not preclude the consideration and approval of alternate methods of correction which may be submitted by any other California-registered civil engineer when accompanying a permit application for construction of a specific building or buildings.

C. The preliminary soil report shall be based upon test borings or excavations. The number of borings or excavations shall be adequate to determine fully the extent and degree of soil problems, if any, which exist in the proposed subdivision; provided, however, that not less than three such borings or excavations shall be required for each report. If critically defective soil conditions are disclosed by initial borings or excavations, additional borings or excavations shall be made at the probable building location on each lot or parcel within the subdivision. Appropriate notations shall be made upon the subdivision map so as to indicate the location and type of defective soil noted in the preliminary report.

D. The Director of Building and Safety shall approve the preliminary soil report:

1. If no defective soils are present on the site; or

2. If the corrective measures recommended in the report would be likely to prevent structural damage to any buildings constructed on the site.

E. The preliminary soil report may be waived when the sole purpose of the subdivision map is to assemble small lots or parcels into larger lots or parcels to define, adjust or correct property lines of existing subdivisions.

F. The issuance of a building permit for the construction of a building on a lot or parcel of land which has been found to have defective soils shall be conditioned to the incorporation of an approved corrective measure intended to prevent structural damage to the building.

(Ord. 1 § 1 (part), 1978: county code § 63.086)

Water used as a coolant in any stationary equipment or machinery, or water utilized for heating or cooling in an industrial process, shall not be wasted but shall be recirculated and reused. Every evaporative cooler shall be equipped with a circulating pump.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.087)

On-site improvements required by the terms of Title 18 must be completed or a cash deposit submitted and approved prior to occupancy or prior to connection of utilities.

(Ord. 1 § 1 (part), 1978: county code § 63.014)

Where work for which a permit is required by the codes adopted in this Title is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining the permit, the specified fees shall be doubled, but the payment of such penalty fee shall not relieve any persons from fully complying with the requirements of these codes in the execution of the work nor from any other penalties prescribed in this Code; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to emergency work when it is proved to the satisfaction of the Director of Building and Safety that such work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit therefor before commencement of the work. In all such cases a permit must be obtained as soon as it is practical to do so, and if there is an unreasonable delay in obtaining such permit, a double fee as provided in this Section shall be charged. Any section in any of the codes adopted in this Title which is in conflict to this Section is repealed.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.088)

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this Title, its provisions shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of public health, safety and general welfare.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.089(a))

Any building or structure erected or maintained, or any use of property contrary to the provisions of this Title is a public nuisance and the City Attorney shall, upon order of the Director of Building and Safety, immediately commence an action or actions, proceeding or proceedings, for the abatement, removal and enjoinment thereof in the manner provided by law and shall take such steps and shall apply to such court or courts as may have jurisdiction to grant such relief as will abate or remove such building, structure or use, and restrain and enjoin any person from erecting or maintaining such building or structure or using any property contrary to the provisions of this Title. It shall be the right and duty of every citizen to participate and assist the City officials in the enforcement of the provisions of this Title.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.089(b)(part))

All remedies provided for in this Title shall be cumulative and not exclusive. The conviction and punishment of any person under this Title shall not relieve such person from the responsibility of correcting prohibited conditions or removing prohibited buildings, structures or improvements, nor prevent the enforced correction or removal thereof.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.089(b)(1))

A notice of pendency of administrative action or proceeding may be filed in the City Clerk's office at the time of commencement of action or proceeding or at any time before final judgment or order. The City Clerk shall record and index the pendency of action in the name of each person specified in the action or proceeding. After all required work has been completed and approved, the Director of Building and Safety shall record in the office of the City Clerk a document terminating the above notice.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.089(b)(4))

In the event that any person, firm or corporation fails, neglects or refuses to demolish, remove, abate or correct a structure or condition existing in violation of this Title, upon his or its property, after a civil court order or criminal conviction obtained pursuant to this Chapter the City Council may order the Director of Building and Safety to demolish, remove, abate or correct the offending structure or condition. A statement of the cost of such work shall be transmitted to the City Council, which shall cause the same to be paid and levied as a special assessment against the property.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.089(b)(5))

Any person, firm or corporation, whether as principal, agent, employee or otherwise, violating or causing or permitting the violation of any of the provisions of this Title, or of any permit or exception granted under this Title, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1.16 of this Code. No suspension of sentence or probation shall be granted to any such violator unless there is included in the terms thereof that the violator shall comply with the provisions which he has been convicted of violating and shall abate or correct the illegal condition, alteration, enlargement, conversion, movement or maintenance of any building established, constructed, operated or maintained contrary to the provisions of this Code.

(Ord. 1 § 1(part), 1978: county code § 63.089(b)(2))