Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 9.92 Disaster Repair and Reconstruction

This chapter establishes standards and regulations for the expeditious repair and reconstruction of structures damaged as a result of a disaster for which a local emergency has been declared by the City Council, the County of Los Angeles, the State of California and/or the Federal Authority. The chapter does not allow exemptions from the Building, Fire, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, or other codes.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

A. The provisions of this chapter are applicable following each disaster when a state of local emergency has been declared pursuant to applicable law to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the City of Manhattan Beach.

B. When approved by the Building Official, the requirements of this chapter may be waived in favor of repair recommendations included in an engineering evaluation as defined in Section 9.92.030.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

A. Architect is an individual licensed by the State of California to practice architecture as defined in the State of California Business and Professions Code.

B. Civil engineer is an individual registered by the State of California to practice civil engineering as defined in the State of California Business and Professions Code.

C. Building Code shall mean the edition of the California Building Code, published by the International Code Council, as adopted by the City in accordance with operation of law pursuant to Section 18941.5 of the State of California Health and Safety Code. The edition to be applied shall be that edition in effect at the time of the declaration of a local emergency.

D. Engineering evaluation is an evaluation of a damaged building or structure, or suspected damaged building or structure, performed under the direction of a structural engineer, civil engineer or architect retained by the owner of the building or structure. Engineering evaluations shall, at a minimum, contain recommendations for repair with appropriate opinion of construction cost for those repairs.

E. Essential Service Facility shall mean those buildings or structures which have been designated by the City Council to house facilities which are necessary for the emergency operations subsequent to a disaster.

F. Replacement cost is the dollar cost, as determined by the Building Official, of replacing the damaged structure with a new structure of the same size, construction material and occupancy on the same site.

G. Structural engineer is an individual registered by the State of California to practice civil engineering and to use the title structural engineer as defined in the State of California Business and Professions Code.

H. Cost of repair is the dollar cost, as determined by the Building Official, of making necessary repairs to the damaged structure.

I. Historic building or structure shall be any building or structure included on the national register of historic places, the state register of historic places or points of interest, or a local register of historic places. Historic buildings and structures shall also include those buildings and structures within a recognized historic district wherein the specific building has historic significance.

J. Event shall mean any natural occurrence which results in the declaration of a disaster and shall include wind storms, earthquakes, floods, etc.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94; § 22, Ord. 19-0015, eff. January 1, 2020)

A. The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, current edition, as published by the International Conference of Building Officials, one copy of which is on file in the office of the City Building Official, is hereby adopted.

B. Buildings and structures of all occupancies which have been damaged as a result of a disaster, except as otherwise noted, shall be repaired in accordance with the following criteria:

1. When the estimated cost of repair does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the replacement cost of the structure, the damaged portion(s) shall at a minimum be restored to their pre-disaster condition.

Exception: When the damaged elements include suspended ceiling systems, the ceiling system shall be repaired and all bracing required by the current Building code shall be installed.

2. When the estimated cost of repair is greater than ten percent (10%) but less than fifty percent (50%) of the replacement cost of the structure, the damaged elements, as well as all critical ties, supported elements and supporting elements associated with the damaged elements, shall be repaired and/or brought into conformance with the structural requirements of the current Building code.

3. When the estimated value of repair is fifty percent (50%) or more of the replacement cost of the structure, the entire structure shall be brought into conformance with the structural requirements of the current Building code.

4. In Group R, Division 3 occupancies, the repair cost of damaged chimneys shall be excluded from the computation of percentage of replacement cost. Damaged chimneys shall be repaired in accordance with Section 9.92.050.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

A. All damaged chimneys must be repaired or reconstructed to comply with the requirements of the Uniform Building code. Damaged portions of chimneys shall be removed in accordance with the following criteria:

1. When the damaged portion of the chimney is located between the roof line and the top of the chimney, the damaged portion shall be removed to the roof line provided the roof and ceiling anchorage are in sound condition. Reconstruction portion of the chimney shall be braced to the roof structure.

2. For a single-story structure in which the damaged portion of the chimney is below the roof line or the damaged portion extends from above the roof line to below the roof line, the chimney shall be removed to the top of the fireplace.

3. For a multi-story structure, the damaged portion of the chimney shall be removed from the top to a floor line where sound anchorage is found.

4. In any structure where the firebox has been damaged, the entire chimney and firebox shall be removed to the foundation. If the foundation is in sound condition, the firebox and chimney may be reconstructed using the existing foundation. If the foundation has been damaged, the foundation shall be removed and replaced.

B. Where existing conditions preclude the installation of all anchorage required by the Uniform Building code, alternate systems may be used in accordance with the alternate methods and materials provisions of the Uniform Building code when approved by the Building Official. Such alternate systems shall be designed and detailed by a structural engineer, civil engineer or architect.

C. When the portion of the chimney extending above the roof line exceeds two times the least dimension of the chimney, that portion above the roof line shall be braced to the roof structure.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

A. Buildings or structures housing essential service facilities which have been damaged as a result of a disaster shall have an engineering evaluation performed.

B. Minimum criteria for repair to buildings or structures housing essential service facilities shall be as follows:

1. When the estimated cost of repair is less than thirty percent (30%) of the replacement cost of the structure, the damaged elements, as well as all critical ties, supported elements, and supporting elements associated with the damaged elements, shall be repaired and/or brought into conformance with the structural requirements of the current Building code.

2. When the estimated cost of repair is thirty percent (30%) or more than the replacement cost of the structure, the entire structure shall be brought into conformance with the structural requirements of the current Building code.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

A. Historic buildings which have been damaged as a result of an event, shall have an engineering evaluation performed.

B. The minimum criteria for repair of historic buildings shall be as included in Section 9.92.040 Repair Criteria with due consideration given to the historical rating and nature of the structures. Additional standards and criteria, as noted in Part 8, Title 24, California Code of Regulations, the State of California Historic Building Code, shall apply.

C. Where conflicts exist between the standards continued herein and the State of California Historic Building Code, the Historic Building Code shall govern.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

Following an Event all damaged buildings determined to be bearing wall buildings constructed of unreinforced masonry shall be repaired and strengthened to fully comply with the requirements of Ordinance No. 1805, Chapter 20 of Title 9 of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code relating to Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Buildings.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)

Determinations made under this chapter may be appealed to the City of Manhattan Beach Board of Building Appeals pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2.44.240.

(Ord. No. 1914, Enacted, 08/04/94)