Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title 15 — Buildings and Construction
Moorpark Municipal Code Ch. 15.22 Residential Code
Moorpark Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Moorpark
Cite as: Moorpark Municipal Code Chapter 15.22 · Text as of 2026-10-04
§ 15.22.010. Residential Code adopted.¶
Except as hereinafter provided, the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, with Appendix BF, published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted by reference as the Residential Code of the city of Moorpark. A copy of the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, shall be maintained in the office of the building official of the city of Moorpark and shall be made available for public inspection while this code is in force.
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.020. General.¶
Section R401.1 of the California Residential Code is amended to read as follows:
R401.1. Application. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design and construction of the foundation and foundation spaces for all buildings. In addition to the provisions of this chapter, the design and construction of foundations in areas prone to flooding as established by Table R301.2(1) shall meet the provisions of Section R322. Wood foundations shall be designed and installed in accordance with American Forest and Paper Association Permanent Wood Foundation (AF&PA PWF) standards.
Exception: The provisions of this chapter shall be permitted to be used for wood foundations only in the following situations:
In buildings that have no more than 2 floors and a roof.
When interior basement and foundation walls are constructed at intervals not exceeding 50 feet.
Wood foundations in Seismic Design Category D0, D1, D2 or E shall not be permitted.
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.030. Footings.¶
Sections R403.1.2, R403.1.3, R403.1.5 of the California Residential Code are amended to read as follows:
R403.1.2 Continuous footing in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 and E. The braced wall panels at exterior walls of buildings located in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 and E shall be supported by continuous footings. All required braced wall panels in buildings shall be supported by continuous footings.
R403.1.3 Seismic reinforcing. Concrete footings located in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 and E as established in Table R301.2(1), shall have minimum reinforcement. Bottom reinforcement shall be located a minimum of three (3) inches clear from the bottom of the footing.
In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 and E where construction joint is created between a concrete footing and a stem wall, a minimum of one (1) #4 bar shall be installed at not more than 4 feet on center. The vertical bar shall extend 3 inches clear of the bottom of the footing, have a standard hook and extend a minimum of 14 inches into the stem wall.
In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 and E where a grouted masonry stem wall is supported on a concrete footing and stem wall, a minimum of one (1) #4 bar shall be installed at not more than 4 feet on center. The vertical bar shall extend to 3 inches clear of the bottom of the footing and have a standard hook.
In Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 and E, masonry stem walls without solid grout and vertical reinforcing are not permitted.
Exception: In detached one- and two-family dwellings located in Seismic Design Categories A, B or C which are 3 stories or less in height and constructed with stud bearing walls, plain concrete footings without longitudinal reinforcement supporting wall and isolated plain concrete footings supporting columns or pedestals are permitted.
R403.1.5 Slope. The top surface of footings shall be level. The bottom surface of footings shall be permitted to have a slope not exceeding one (1) vertical unit in ten (10) units horizontal (10-percent slope). Footings shall be stepped where it is necessary to change the elevation of the top surface of the footing or where the surface of the ground slopes more than one (1) unit vertical in ten (10) units horizontal (10-percent slope). For structures located in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2, and E, stepped footings shall be reinforced with four (4) 1/2-inch diameter deformed reinforcing bars. Two (2) bars shall be placed at the top and bottom of the footings.
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.040. Tables R403.1 (1), (2), and (3) amended.¶
Tables R403.1(1), (2), and (3) of the California Residential Code are amended by deleting the same and adding a new Table R403.1 to read as follows:
Table R403.1-Foundations for stud bearing walls-minimum requirements 1, 10, 11, 12
| Weighted expansion index | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Foundation for slab and raised floor systems 2, 5, 7 | Concrete slabs | Concrete slabs | Premoistening of soils under footings, piers and slabs 5, 6 | Restrictions on piers under raised floors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted expansion index | No. of stories | Stem thickness 8 | Footing width 9 | Footing thickness | All perimeter footings 6 | Interior footings for slab and raised floors 6 | Reinforcement for continuous foundations 3, 8 | 3-1/2" minimum thickness 4" with E.I. over 51 | 3-1/2" minimum thickness 4" with E.I. over 51 | Premoistening of soils under footings, piers and slabs 5, 6 | Restrictions on piers under raised floors |
| Weighted expansion index | No. of stories | Stem thickness 8 | Footing width 9 | Footing thickness | Depth below natural surface of ground and finish grade | Depth below natural surface of ground and finish grade | Reinforcement for continuous foundations 3, 8 | Reinforcement 4 | Total thickness of sand | Premoistening of soils under footings, piers and slabs 5, 6 | Restrictions on piers under raised floors |
| Weighted expansion index | No. of stories | Inches | Inches | Inches | Inches | Inches | Reinforcement for continuous foundations 3, 8 | Reinforcement 4 | Total thickness of sand | Premoistening of soils under footings, piers and slabs 5, 6 | Restrictions on piers under raised floors |
| 0-20 Very low non expansive | 1 2 3 | 6 6 10 | 12 15 18 | 6 7 8 | 12 18 24 | 12 18 24 | 1 - #4 Top and bottom | #4 @ 48" O.C. each way or #3 @ 36" O.C. each way | 2" | Moistening of ground prior to placing concrete is recommended | Piers allowed for single floor loads only |
| 21-50 Low | 1 2 3 | 6 8 10 | 12 15 18 | 6 7 8 | 15 18 24 | 12 18 24 | 1 - #4 Top and bottom | #4 @ 48" O.C. each way or #3 @ 36" O.C. each way | 4" | 3% over optimum moisture required to a depth of 18" below lowest adjacent grade. Testing required. | Piers allowed for single floor loads only |
| 51-90 Medium | 1 2 3 | 6 8 10 | 12 15 18 | 8 8 8 | 21 21 24 | 12 18 24 | 1 - #4 Top and bottom | #3 @ 24" O.C. each way | 4" | 3% over optimum moisture required to a depth of 18" below lowest adjacent grade, | Piers not allowed |
| 51-90 Medium | 1 2 3 | 6 8 10 | 12 15 18 | 8 8 8 | 21 21 24 | 12 18 24 | Testing required, 12" #3 bars @ 24" O.C. each way into footing, 36" into slab 10 | Testing required, 12" #3 bars @ 24" O.C. each way into footing, 36" into slab 10 | 4" | 3% over optimum moisture required to a depth of 18" below lowest adjacent grade, | Piers not allowed |
| 91-130 High | 1 2 3 | 6 8 10 | 12 15 18 | 8 8 8 | 27 27 27 | 12 18 24 | 2 - #4 Top & bottom | #3 @ 24" O.C. each way | 4" | 3% over optimum moisture required to a depth of 18" below lowest adjacent grade. Testing required. | Piers not allowed |
| 91-130 High | 1 2 3 | 6 8 10 | 12 15 18 | 8 8 8 | 27 27 27 | 12 18 24 | #3 bars @ 24" O.C. each way 12" into footing, 36" into slab 10 | #3 bars @ 24" O.C. each way 12" into footing, 36" into slab 10 | 4" | 3% over optimum moisture required to a depth of 18" below lowest adjacent grade. Testing required. | Piers not allowed |
| Above 130 very high | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required | Special design by a licensed Architect or Engineer required |
Footnotes to Table R403.1:
| 1. | Pre-moistening is required where specified in Table R403.1 in order to achieve maximum and uniform expansion of the soil prior to construction and thus limit structural distress caused by uneven expansion and shrinkage. Other systems, which do not include pre-moistening, may be approved by the building official, when such alternatives are shown to provide equivalent safeguards against the adverse effects of expansive soil. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Under-floor access crawl holes shall be provided with curbs extending not less than 6 inches above adjacent grade to prevent surface water from entering the foundation area. |
| 3. | Reinforcement for continuous foundations shall be placed not less than 3 inches above the bottom of the footing and not less than 3 inches below the top of the stem. |
| 4. | Slab reinforcement shall be placed at mid-depth and continue to within 2 inches of the exterior face of the exterior face of the exterior footing walls. |
| 5. | Moisture content of soils shall be maintained until foundations and piers are poured and a vapor barrier is installed. Test shall be taken within 24 hours of each slab pour. |
| 6. | Crawl spaces under raised floors need not be pre-moistened except under interior footings. Interior footings which are not enclosed by a continuous perimeter foundation system or equivalent concrete or masonry moisture barrier shall be designed and constructed as specified for perimeter footings in Table R403.1. |
| 7. | A grade beam not less than 12 inches by 12 inches in cross-sectional area, reinforced as specified for continuous foundations in Table R403.1, shall be provided at garage door openings. |
| 8. | Foundation stem walls which exceed a height of 3 times the stem thickness above lowest adjacent grade shall be reinforced in accordance with Sections 18 and 19 in the California Building Code, or as required by engineering design, whichever is more restrictive. |
| 9. | Footing widths may be reduced upon submittal of calculations by a registered civil or structural engineer or licensed architect, but shall be a minimum of 12 inches for one- and two-story structures and 15 inches for three-story structures. |
| 10. | Bent reinforcing bar between exterior footing and slab shall be omitted when floor is designed as an independent, "floating" slab. |
| 11. | Fireplace footings shall be reinforced with a horizontal grid located 3 inches above the bottom of the footing and consisting of not less than #4 bars at 12 inches on center each way. Vertical chimney reinforcing bars shall be hooked under the grid. |
| 12. | Underground utility conduits shall be installed prior to foundation inspection and shall extend beyond the foundation. |
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.050. Foundation design.¶
The first paragraph of Section R403.1.8 of the California Residential Code is amended to read as follows:
R403.1.8 Foundations on expansive soils. Foundations and floor slabs for buildings located on expansive soils shall be designed in accordance with Section 1808.6 of the California Building Code provided, however, that when buildings are located on expansive soil having an expansion index greater than 50, gutters, downspouts, piping and/or other non-erosive devices shall be provided to collect and conduct rainwater to pervious areas such as yards, open channels or vegetated areas. Routing rooftop runoff via yard drains to the roadway or the storm water conveyance system shall not be permitted. [Note: the remainder of Section R403.1.8 remains unchanged.]
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.060. Lateral support.¶
Section R802.8 of the California Residential Code is amended to read as follows:
R802.8 Lateral Support. Roof framing members and ceiling joists having a depth-to-thickness ratio exceeding two (2) to one (1) based on nominal dimensions shall be provided with lateral support at points of bearing to prevent rotation. For roof rafters with ceiling joists attached per Table R602.3(1), the depth-thickness ratio for the total assembly shall be determined using the combined thickness of the rafter plus the attached ceiling joist.
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.070. Wood truss design.¶
Section R802.10.2 of the California Residential Code is amended to read as follows:
R802.10.2 Design. Wood trusses shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice. The design and manufacture of metal-plate- connected wood trusses shall comply with American National Standards Institute/Truss Plate Institute (ANSI/TPI) 1. The truss design drawings shall be prepared by a registered professional.
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
§ 15.22.080. Roofing.¶
Section R902.1 of the California Residential Code is amended to read as follows:
R902.1 Roofing Covering Materials. Roof coverings shall be class A or B, except that no wooden shakes or shingles, treated or untreated, shall be permitted.
(Ord. 530, 12/3/2025)
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