Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 2 Definitions

(Title Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Section

91.201 General.

91.202 Definitions.

(Amended by Ord. No. 182,850, Eff. 1/3/14.)

Chapter 2 of the CBC is adopted by reference with the following exceptions, modifications and additions:

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Section 202 of the CBC is adopted by reference, except that the following CBC definitions are not adopted:

APPROVED FABRICATOR

BUILDING OFFICIAL

DEPARTMENT

REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL

The following definitions are also adopted:

APPROVED FABRICATOR. An established and qualified person, firm or corporation approved by the Superintendent of Building pursuant to Division 17 of this Code and LAMC Section 96.200.

BOARD is the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles.

BUILDING CODE (CODE) is the Los Angeles City Building Code, Article 1 of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

BUILDING LINE is any private property line coterminous with a public way; or a building line established by City ordinance.

BUILDING OFFICIAL is the Superintendent of Building for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE (CBC). Is Part 2, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations as adopted by the California Building Standards Commission.

CITY is the City of Los Angeles, California.

CONCRETE BUILDING is a building having concrete floors and/or roofs, either with or without beams, supported by concrete walls and/or concrete columns, with or without masonry infills, and any combination thereof.

DEPARTMENT is the Department of Building and Safety.

ELECTRICAL CODE is the Los Angeles City Electrical Code, Article 3 of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

ELEVATOR CODE is the Los Angeles City Elevator Code, Article 2 of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

FIRE CODE is the Los Angeles City Fire Code, Article 7 of Chapter V of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

FIRE DISTRICT is any portion of the City of Los Angeles as described in Division 72 of this Code.

FOUNDATION-ONLY PERMIT is a building permit issued for that portion of a building, which constitutes the footings for the building and which, subject to the approval of the Department, may include those portions of the building below the grade level.

GRADING shall mean soil excavation or fill or any combination of soil excavation or fill and shall include the conditions resulting from any soil excavation or fill.

GRAFFITI shall mean any form of unauthorized inscription, word, figure or design which is marked, etched, scratched, drawn, sprayed, painted or otherwise affixed to or on any surface of public or private property, including, but not limited to buildings, walls, signs, structures or places, or other surfaces, regardless of the nature of the material of that structural component.

INDUSTRIAL CATERING TRUCK. An industrial catering truck is a motor vehicle used for the purpose of dispensing and selling liquids from sanitary dispensers and/or ready-to-eat food and beverages that have been prepared and sealed or packaged on premises so long as the owner and operator have a valid health permit authorizing the preparation of food. The above items may be prepared on any industrial catering truck so long as the owner and operator have a valid health permit for that preparation.

MECHANICAL CODE is the Los Angeles City Mechanical Code, Article 5 of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

NON-DUCTILE CONCRETE BUILDING. A concrete building that was built pursuant to a permit application for a new building submitted before January 13, 1976, or, if no permit can be located, is determined by the Department to have been built under building code standards enacted before January 13, 1976.

EXCEPTION: “Non-Ductile Concrete Building” shall not include detached single-family dwellings or duplexes.

PLUMBING CODE is the Los Angeles City Plumbing Code, Article 4, Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONAL. A licensed architect or engineer registered with the appropriate California State licensing board.

STANDARD PLAN is a set of plans for a building or structure created and designed by the City or private architects and/or engineers to accommodate various site conditions. These plans can be utilized for various project sites throughout the City, provided they are reviewed and approved by the Department of Building and Safety. For privately owned Standard Plans, property owners interested in constructing a building or structure using a Standard Plan must contact the plan owner to purchase a copy and then apply for a building permit.

SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDING is the General Manager of the Department of Building and Safety of the City of Los Angeles or a duly authorized representative.

TEMPORARY. Buildings and facilities intended for use at one location for not more than 180 days and seats intended for use at one location for not more than 90 days.

UNREINFORCED MASONRY BEARING WALL BUILDING is a building with at least one unreinforced masonry bearing wall as the term is defined in the California Existing Building Code, at Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.

VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE (VHFHSZ) is a Fire District in the City of Los Angeles established by the Board of Forestry and the Office of the State Fire Marshal and described in Division 72, Article 1 of Chapter IX of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.