Chapter 9 — POST-DISASTER RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION

SECTION 901 - POST-DISASTER SAFETY ASSESSMENT PLACARDS AND SECURITY

901.1 Scope. This chapter establishes standard placards to be used to indicate the condition of a structure for continued occupancy. The chapter further authorizes the Building Official and his or her authorized representatives to post the appropriate placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

901.2 Application of Provisions. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all buildings and structures, of all occupancies, regulated by the County of Ventura following each natural or man-made disaster.

901.3 Definitions.

901.3.1 Safety Assessment is a visual examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining whether continued use or occupancy is appropriate following a natural or man-made disaster.

901.4 Placards. The following official placards shall be used to designate the condition of buildings or structures following a disaster:

901.4.1 (GREEN) INSPECTED - LAWFUL OCCUPANCY PERMITTED. Posted on any building or structure where no apparent hazard has been found. Placement of this placard does not mean that there is no damage to the building or structure.

901.4.2 (YELLOW) RESTRICTED OR LIMITED ENTRY. Posted on each damaged building or structure where damage has created a hazardous condition which justifies restricted occupancy. The Building Official who posts this placard will note in general terms the hazard created and will clearly and concisely note the restrictions on occupancy.

901.4.3 (RED) UNSAFE - DO NOT ENTER OR OCCUPY. Posted on each damaged building or structure such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life or health. Buildings or structures posted with this placard may be entered only after authorization in writing by the Building Official. Safety assessment teams are authorized to enter these buildings at any time. This placard shall not be used or considered as a demolition order. The official who posts this placard shall note in general terms damage encountered.

901.4.4 Removal of Placards. Once the placard has been attached to a building or structure, it shall not be removed, altered or covered until authorized by the Building Official.

(Ord. No. 361, § 8, 12-12-16; Ord. No. 372, § 8, 11-18-19; Ord. No. 383, § 8, 11-14-22; Ord. No. 403, § 8, 11-1025)

ARTICLE I. - RESIDENTIAL CODE

5-5I-1: - RESIDENTIAL CODE ADOPTED.

Except as hereinafter provided, the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition (Part 2.5, Title 24, California Code of Regulations), which incorporates and amends the International Residential Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted by reference as the Residential Code of the City of Hidden Hills. A copy of the Residential Code of the City shall be maintained in the office of the City Clerk and shall be made available for public inspection while the Code is in force.

(Ord. No. 361, § 9, 12-12-16; Ord. No. 372, § 9, 11-18-19; Ord. No. 383, § 9, 11-14-22; Ord. No. 403, § 9, 11-1025)

The administrative provisions governing the Residential Code of the City shall be as set forth in Article G of this Chapter. Violation and penalty provisions shall be as set forth in Section 5-5A-3 of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 361, § 9, 12-12-16; Ord. No. 372, § 9, 11-18-19; Ord. No. 383, § 9, 11-14-22; Ord. No. 403, § 9, 11-1025)

• A. Subsections R902.1.1 and R902.1.2 of Section R902 ("Fire Classification") of Chapter 9 ("Roof Assemblies") of the Residential Code of the City are hereby deleted in their entirety.

• B. Section R910 is hereby added to Chapter 9 ("Roof Assemblies") of the Residential Code to read:

SECTION R910 ROOF COVERINGS

R910.1 Roof Coverings. Roof coverings for all buildings shall be Class A (having satisfied the fifteen-year weathering test and certified as such by Underwriting Laboratories or an equivalent recognized testing agency) except that no wooden shakes or shingles, treated or untreated, shall be permitted. The roofcovering assembly includes the roof deck, underlayment, insulation and covering which is assigned a roofcovering classification.

(Ord. No. 361, § 9, 12-12-16; Ord. No. 372, § 9, 11-18-19; Ord. No. 383, § 9, 11-14-22; Ord. No. 403, § 9, 11-1025)

ARTICLE J. - GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

Except as hereinafter provided, the California Green Building Standards, 2025 Edition (Part 11, Title 24, California Code of Regulations) including Appendix, A4 and A5, is hereby adopted by reference as the Green Building Standards Code of the City of Hidden Hills. A copy of the Green Building Standards Code of the City

shall be maintained in the office of the City Clerk and shall be made available for public inspection while the Code is in force.

(Ord. No. 361, § 10, 12-12-16; Ord. No. 372, § 10, 11-18-19; Ord. No. 383, § 10, 11-14-22; Ord. No. 403, § 10, 11-10-25)

The administrative provisions governing the Green Building Standards Code of the City shall be as set forth in Article G of this Chapter. Violation and penalty provisions shall be as set forth in Section 5-5A-3 of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 361, § 10, 12-12-16; Ord. No. 372, § 10, 11-18-19; Ord. No. 383, § 10, 11-14-22; Ord. No. 403, § 10, 11-10-25)

ARTICLE K. - SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS

This chapter provides for the expedited permitting processing for small residential rooftop solar systems.

(Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words or phrases shall have the following meanings when used in this Chapter:

Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems shall have the same meaning as provided in the Solar Rights Act, Government Code Section 65850.5(j)(3), as the same may be amended from time to time.

Solar Energy System has the same meaning as set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 801.5 of the Civil Code, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Specific, Adverse Impact shall have the same meaning as provided in the Solar Rights Act, Government Code Section 65850.5(j)(5), as the same may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)

• A. This Chapter applies to the permitting of solar energy systems including small residential rooftop solar energy systems in the City.

  • B. Small residential rooftop solar energy systems legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this Chapter are not subject to the requirements herein unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that materially change the size, type, or components of a small rooftop energy system in such a way as to require new permitting. Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements shall not require a permit.

• (Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)

• A. All solar energy systems shall meet applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by the state, the City and the local fire department.

• B. Solar energy systems for heating water in single-family residences and for heating water in commercial or swimming pool applications shall be certified by an accredited listing agency as defined by the California Plumbing and Mechanical Code.

• C. Solar energy systems for producing electricity shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the California Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and accredited testing laboratories such as Underwriters Laboratories and, where applicable, rules of the Public Utilities Commission regarding safety and reliability.

5-5K-5: - DUTIES OF BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND BUILDING OFFICIAL; SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP PERMIT PROCESS.

• A. The City's Building Official is delegated authority to: (a) develop and implement an administrative, nondiscretionary review process to expedite approval of small residential rooftop solar energy systems; and (b) develop and adopt a standard plan and checklist of all requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The review process, standard plan and checklist shall be implemented and/or adopted by the City's Building Official on or before September 30, 2015.

• B. The small residential rooftop solar energy system permit process, standard plan(s), and checklist(s) shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting, including the checklist and standard plans contained in the most current version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.

• C. All documents required for the submission of a small residential rooftop solar energy system application shall be made available on the City's publicly accessible website.

• D. The City's Building Official shall ensure that electronic submittal of the required permit application and associated documentation shall be made available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system applicants. Electronic submittal shall mean submission of the application by email,

the internet or facsimile as determined by the Building Official. In the case of electronic submittal, the electronic signature of the applicant on all forms, applications and other documentation may be used in lieu of a wet signature.

(Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)

• A. The following procedures apply to applications for small residential rooftop solar energy systems:

  1. The Building Official shall deem complete an application that satisfies the information requirements in the standard plan(s) and checklist(s).

  2. If the Building Official deems the application incomplete, the Building Official shall issue a written correction notice to the applicant detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required so the application may be eligible for expedited permit issuance.

  3. The Building Official shall issue a building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, on the same day for over the counter applications or within one to three business days for electronic applications or in either case as soon thereafter as may be practicable upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.

• B. The following procedures apply to applications for solar energy systems other than small residential solar energy systems:

  1. The Building Official shall administratively approve applications to install solar energy systems through the issuance of a building permit or a similar nondiscretionary permit. Review of the application shall be limited to the Building Official's review of whether the application meets local, state and federal health and safety requirements.

  2. The Building Official may require an applicant to apply for a conditional use permit if the Building Official finds, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety.

  3. If a conditional use permit is required, the Building Official may deny such application if it makes written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed installation of a solar energy system would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact. The findings shall include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the adverse impact. A "feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact" includes, but is not limited to, any cost-effective method, condition, or mitigation imposed by the City on another similarly situated application in a prior successful application for a permit. The City shall use its best efforts to ensure that

the selected method, condition, or mitigation meets the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of

paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 714 of the Civil Code, as the same may be amended from time to time.

4. Any conditions imposed on an application to install a solar energy system shall be designed to mitigate the specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety at the lowest cost possible.

5. The decision of the Building Official may be appealed to the Planning Agency.

• (Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)

Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the Building Official for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review. The inspection shall be done in a timely manner and should include consolidated inspections. An inspection will be scheduled within one to two business days of a request. If a small residential rooftop solar energy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to the requirements of this Section.

(Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)

The City shall not condition approval of an application on the approval of an association, as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code."

(Ord. No. 353, § 1, 8-24-15)