Chapter 15.08 — BUILDING CODE

Editor's note— Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), adopted Jan 13, 2026, repealed the former Ch. 15.08, §§ 15.08.010—15.080.110, and enacted a new Ch. 15.08 as set out herein. The former Ch. 15.08 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from: Ord. No. 14-01, § 3(App. A), adopted Feb. 4, 2014; Ord. No. 17-01, § 3(App. A), adopted Jan. 24, 2017; Ord. No. 20-03, § 3(App. A), adopted Feb. 18, 2020; and Ord. No. 23- 01, § 2(App. A), adopted Jan. 17, 2023.

A. The building code of this city is the 2025 California Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2), the 2025 California Residential Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2.5), the 2025 California Energy Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6), the 2025 California Historical Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 8), the 2025 California Existing Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 10), and the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11), as amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth herein. B. In this chapter, the 2025 California Building Code (CBC) with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. C. In Chapter 15.09, the 2025 California Residential Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. D. In Chapter 15.10, the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. E. In Chapter 15.11, the 2025 California Existing Building Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. F. In Chapter 15.12, the 2025 California Electrical Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. G. In Chapter 15.16, the 2025 California Plumbing Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. H. In Chapter 15.20, the 2025 California Mechanical Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. I. In Chapter 15.21, the 2025 California Energy Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth.

J. In Chapter 15.22, the 2025 Historical Building Code with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and other chapters of this title is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth. K. At least one copy of this building code is now on file in the office of the City Clerk and the City Building Department, and the other requirements of Government Code Section 50022.6 have been and shall be complied with. L. As of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the provisions of the building code are controlling and enforceable within the city. (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)

CBC Chapter 1 (Administration) is amended by the provisions of other Chapters of Title 15 of this code and as follows: A. Sections 103 and 113 of CBC Chapter 1 are deleted. B. Section 105.2 (Work Exempt from Permit) of CBC Chapter 1 (Administration), subsection 4 is amended to read: 4. Retaining walls that are not more than 3 feet in height measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall and that have a downward ground slope at the bottom of the retaining wall not exceeding 1(vertical):10(horizontal), unless supporting a surcharge or ground slope exceeding 1(vertical):2(horizontal) or impounding Class I, II, or III-a liquids. C. Section 107.2.1 (Information on construction documents) of CBC Chapter 1 is amended to read: 107.2.1 Information on Construction Documents. Construction documents shall include dimensions and shall be drawn to scale on suitable material. Electronic media documents may be submitted when approved in advance by the building official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and to show in detail that it will conform to this code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall include contact information for the owner and the person or persons who prepared the plans. Plans shall include a plot plan showing all existing property lines labeled and fully dimensioned, the elevations of the

top and toe of cuts and fills, and the location of the proposed building with distances to all property lines and to every existing building on the property. Instead of detailed specifications, the building official may approve references on the plans to a specific section or part of this code or other ordinances or laws. D. Section 110.1 (Inspections - General) of CBC Chapter 1 is amended by adding the following to the end of that section: At the time of first inspection by the building official, a California licensed Land Surveyor or Civil Engineer shall certify in writing that the structure is placed according to the approved set of plans. The written certification must include the site address and permit number. This requirement does not apply to alterations or repairs to existing structures that do not affect the exterior limits of the existing structures. (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)

Section 907.2.11.2.5.1 is added to Section 907.2.11.2.5 (Existing Group R Occupancies) of CBC Chapter 9 (Fire Protection Systems) to read: 907.2.11.2.5.1 Existing flat roof buildings. In existing flat roof buildings, the installation of a smoke detector that complies with California Residential Code Section R310.6 shall be required when a pitched roof is added on top of the existing flat roof and the solid sheathing of the flat roof is not removed. (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)

Section 1405.2 is added to Section 1405 (Combustible Materials on the Exterior Side of Exterior Walls) of CBC Chapter 14 (Exterior Walls) to read:

A. Section 1705.3 (Concrete construction) of CBC Chapter 17 (Structural Inspections and Tests), Exception 1 is amended to read: 1. Isolated spread concrete footings of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock, where the structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive

strength of no greater than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 Mpa). (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)

A. Section 1809.8 (Plain concrete footings) of CBC Chapter 18 (Soils and Foundations) is deleted. B. Section 1810.3.9.3 (Placement of reinforcement) of CBC Chapter 18 (Soils and Foundations) is amended by deleting Exception 3. (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)

A. Section 1905.6.2 (Seismic design categories C, D, E, and F) of CBC Chapter 19 (Concrete) is amended to read: 1905.6.2 Seismic design categories C, D, E, and F. Structures assigned to Seismic Design Category C, D, E, or F shall not have elements of structural plain concrete, except as follows: (a) Reserved. (b) Isolated footings of plain concrete supporting pedestals or columns are permitted, provided the projection of the footing beyond the face of the supported member does not exceed the footing thickness. (c) Reserved. B. Section 1906 (Footings for light-frame construction of CBC Chapter 19 (Concrete) is deleted. C. Section 1907.5 (Minimum Slab Provisions - General) is added to Section 1907 (Slab On-Ground) of CBC Chapter 19 (Concrete), to read: Section 1907.5 Minimum Slab Provisions - General. Slabs shall have a minimum reinforcement of 6-inch by 6-inch by 10-gauge wire mesh or equal at mid-height of the slab.

D. Appendix C, Appendix I and Appendix P of the CBC are incorporated into the Orinda Building Code. (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)

Section 420.14 [HCD] (Electric vehicle (EV) charging for new construction) of CBC Chapter 4 (Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and Use) is amended to read: 420.14 Electric vehicle (EV) charging for new construction. Newly constructed Group R-1, R-2, and R-3 buildings shall be provided with infrastructure to facilitate future installation and use of electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and, where required, newly constructed Group R-2 buildings shall be provided with electric vehicle charging spaces equipped with fully-operational EV chargers, in accordance with the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), Chapter 4, Division 4.1. (Ord. No. 25-07, § 2(App. A), 1-13-26)