Chapter 15.04 — BUILDINGS

There is adopted by reference, except as hereinafter amended, those certain codes comprising and collectively known and designated as the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Parts 1 through 12 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. The 2025 California Building Standards Code, as adopted and amended by the City, consists of the 2025 editions of the California Administrative Code, California Building Code including Chapter 1, Division 2, California Residential Code, California Green Building Standards Code, California WildlandUrban Interface Code, California Plumbing Code, California Mechanical Code, California Electrical Code, California Energy Code, California Existing Building Code, California Historical Building Code, California Referenced Standards Code, and California Fire Code.

The City hereby further adopts by reference the 1998 edition of the California Housing Code, based on the 1997 Uniform Housing Code, the 1997 edition of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, the 2024 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code and the 2017 edition of the County of Los Angeles Grading Code.

The Codes adopted by reference herein regulate the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, use, height, area, maintenance of all buildings, structures, and real property and certain equipment therein specifically regulated, within the City, and provide for the issuance of permits and the collection of fees therefor, and provide justification for determining violation of such codes.

One copy each of the foregoing Codes has been deposited in the office of the City Clerk, and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for the use and examination by the public.

Said edition of the 2025 California Building Standards Code, except as hereinafter amended, and the related Codes, adopted herein by reference, collectively constitute the Building Code of the City of Paramount as set forth in this chapter.

(Prior code § 10-1; Ord. 1170 § 1, 2023; Ord. 1208, 11/18/2025)

The following amendments to the California Building Code shall apply in the City:

• A. Administration. Division II of Chapter 1, entitled "Scope and Administration," is applicable in the City. Where a conflict occurs between this chapter and other chapters, the more restrictive or more specific shall govern.

• B. Revision. Insert "Paramount" into the text as the name of jurisdiction in Section 101.1.

• C. Section 105.2 is revised by amending 9 to read and adding 14 under "Building" as follows:

  9. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 18 inches (457.2 mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,927.059 L), and are installed entirely above ground.

  10. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet (18.58 m2) in area, that are not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling, and do not

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City of Paramount, CA § 15.04.011

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

§ 15.04.011

serve the exit door required by Section R311.2.

• D. Section 105.3.2, which addresses application expiration, is revised by adding a sentence as follows:

In no case shall more than one extension be granted for a project when another edition of the state codes has gone into effect during the application or which exceeds the extensions allowed by the City of Paramount Fee Ordinance.

• E. Section 105.5, which addresses permit expiration, is amended to read as follows:

[A] 105.5 Expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated. A fee shall be collected for such extensions for an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the permit fee. A lesser amount may be established by the Building Official based on the stage of construction. In no case shall an extension be granted which would extend the construction time from start of work to completion beyond the limits which exceeds the extensions allowed by the Paramount Fee Ordinance.

• F. Section 109.6 is amended to read as follows:

109.6 Refunds. The Building Official may authorize refunding of a fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.

The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent (80%) of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this Code upon written application filed by the permittee not later than 12 months after the date of fee payment.

The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent (80%) of the plan check fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan check fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any examination time has been expended.

The Building Official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the permittee not later than 12 months after the date of fee payment.

• G. Board of Appeals. Section 113.3 is amended to read as follows:

"Board of Appeals," when used in the Building Standards Code, shall mean the City Council. The Board of Appeals is hereby established for each Code comprising the Building Standards Code. Depending on the subject of the appeal, specialized expertise may be solicited for the purpose of providing input to the Appeals Board.

• H. Section 1807.1.6 is amended to read as follows:

1807.1.6 Prescriptive design of concrete and masonry foundation walls. Concrete and masonry foundation walls that are laterally supported at the top and bottom shall be permitted to be designed and constructed in accordance with this section. Prescriptive design of foundation walls shall not be used for structures assigned to Seismic Design

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City of Paramount, CA

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 15.04.011

§ 15.04.011

Category D, E, or F.

• I. Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs Section 3109.1 is amended by revising the first sentence to read:

The design and construction of swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs shall comply with Appendix CI of the California Residential Code as amended herein. (Ord. 1208, 11/18/2025)

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City of Paramount, CA

§ 15.04.012

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

The following amendments to the California Residential Code shall apply in the City:

• A. Table R301.2 is amended by adding information in the table as required to comply with local data, to read as follows:

==> picture [722 x 317] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Table R301.2 - Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria
SUBJECT
TO
ICE
DAMAGE
BARRIER
WIND DESIGN FROM
SEISMIC UNDER- AIR MEAN
Topographic Special wind Windborne DESIGN Frost line LAYMENT FLOOD FREEZING ANNUAL
GROUND SNOW LOAD Speed (mph) effects region debris zone CATEGORY Weathering depth Termite REQUIRED HAZARDS INDEX TEMP
zero 110 No No No D2 or E Negligible 12"-24" Very Heavy No Yes/No 0 60
MANUAL J DESIGN CRITERIA
Elevation Altitude Coincident Indoor Indoor Outdoor Heating temperature difference
correction wet bulb winter design winter design winter design
factor relative dry-bulb dry-bulb
humidity temperature temperature
85 - 69 30-40% 70 69 37
Latitude Daily range Summer Indoor Indoor Outdoor Cooling temperature difference
design grains summer summer summer
design design dry- design dry-
relative bulb bulb
humidity temperature temperature
33.89° North - - 40-50% 75°-80°F 95°F 7
----- End of picture text -----

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City of Paramount, CA § 15.04.012

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 15.04.012

• B. Swimming Pool Safety.

Appendix CI is adopted as required by state statute in its entirety and amended as follows:

1. Section CI C100, Health and Safety Code Section 115922(a), is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided in Section 115925, when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home, the respective swimming pool or spa shall be equipped with item #1 and at least one additional of the following seven drowning prevention features:

• Section 115922(a)(1) is amended to read as follows:

1. An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 and isolates the swimming pool and spa from the private single-family home and from public access. Any walls of the residential structural or accessory structures used to complete the isolation enclosure must have door openings equipped with protection as required in Section 115922(a) #4 or #5. Any such door protection device provided for this purpose may not be used to comply with a second drowning prevention feature requirement.

2. Section 115922(a)(2) is amended by adding the following sentence:

The mesh fencing setback shall be not less than 20 inches from the water's edge.

• Section 115923(e) is amended by adding the following text:

In order to be considered non-climbable, the following minimum standards apply:

• a. Horizontal members which would allow grasping and/or footholds must be separated a minimum of 45 inches.

• b. The maximum opening formed by a chain link fence shall be not more than 1 1/ 4".

• c. There shall be a clear zone of not less than 36" between the exterior of the enclosure and any permanent structures or equipment such as pumps, filters and heaters that can be used to climb the enclosure.

• All other text in Appendix CI remains unchanged.

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City of Paramount, CA

§ 15.04.012

§ 15.04.012

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

(Ord. 1208, 11/18/2025)

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City of Paramount, CA

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 15.04.060

The following amendments to the California Electrical Code shall apply in the City:

• A. The following two paragraphs are added to Article 310.3(B) to provide as follows:

In general, for all installations, if wiring is to be size 6 or smaller, the wiring must be copper. Consideration for use of aluminum wire can be made by the Building Official for feeder lines only on an individual basis where adequate safety measures can be ensured.

Aluminum conductors of size 6 or smaller may be used for branch circuits only if approved after continuous inspection by an independent testing agency approved by the Building Official for proper torquing of connections at their termination point and that an anti-oxide compound/material is applied at each connection.

• B. Article 690.13(A) is amended by adding text to read as follows:

(A) Location. The PV disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either on the outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the system conductors. A single, visible-open, lockable AC disconnect shall be within 3 feet of the meter on the exterior of the building. (Ord. 1208, 11/18/2025)

The Building Code fees shall be those established by resolution of the Paramount City Council. (Prior code § 10-2.1)

Whenever the conditions described in Section 9801 of the Los Angeles County Building Code constitute such an immediate hazard that the building or structure must be secured or closed forthwith or within less than the designated period and the Sheriff, Chief of the Fire Department or City Building Official so finds and so notifies the City Manager, he or she shall request the City maintenance force or chief mechanical services to secure such building or structure as provided in Section 9801 after giving such notice to the record owner or the person in charge, or both, as the circumstances will permit, or without any notice whatever when, in the opinion of the Sheriff, Chief of the Fire Department or City Building Official, immediate action is necessary.

(Prior code § 10-3)

It is unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge of any premises to keep and maintain such premises in a manner at variance with the landscaping and maintenance standards of surrounding property, thereby causing substantial diminution in the enjoyment, use or property values of the property in the neighborhood in which such premises are located. (Prior code § 10-4)

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City of Paramount, CA § 15.04.060

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

§ 15.04.100

Maintenance Appeals Board.

Within 10 days after the receipt by the concerned party of notice of action by the Appeals Board, concerned party may, if dissatisfied with or aggrieved by the action of the Appeals Board, file with the City Clerk an appeal in writing to the City Council from such action of the Appeals Board upon depositing a filing fee in the amount of one-half of that required on filing the appeal hearing. The filing of such appeal within the stated time limit shall stay the effective date of the decision of the Appeals Board until such time as the City Council has acted on the appeal as set forth in this section. In the absence of such appeal, the action of the Appeals Board shall be final. (Prior code § 10-5)

Persons occupying residential structures that have been declared substandard and ordered vacated by the City pursuant to this chapter constitute a hazard, danger and threat to the public health, welfare and safety. Great difficulty is encountered in abating unsafe buildings due to the refusal of persons to leave the unsafe premises and, also, the continued benefit of owners by the rental income from such unsafe premises. The purpose of Sections 15.04.070 through 15.04.090 is to prevent the owners of such unsafe premises from profiting from such circumstances and to encourage the owners and occupier to promptly comply with an order declaring a building dangerous, substandard, damaged, or unsafe. (Prior code § 10-6)

• A. After an order of the Building Official, or the building rehabilitation appeals board, becomes final pursuant to the provisions of this chapter that determines that a building is substandard, damaged, dangerous, or unsafe for human habitation, it is unlawful:

  1. For any person, directly or indirectly, to pay any rent, perform any services, or give anything of value whatsoever for the privilege of continuing to reside in, use, or occupy for any purpose of human use, occupation or habitation of any such premises.

  2. For any person, firm or corporation to receive any rent, accept any services, or receive anything of value whatsoever for the human use, occupation or habitation of any such premises.

  3. For any person, after notice, to continue to reside in, use or occupy such premises, provided, however, this paragraph 3 shall not prevent the owner nor the City from demolishing said premises nor the owner from renovating the same so long as they are not continued to be used in any way for human habitation.

• B. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by injunction by courts of competent jurisdiction.

(Prior code § 10-7)

The provisions of Sections 15.04.070 and 15.04.080 shall be applicable to all buildings for which an order has become final under this chapter, whether the order has become final prior to the adoption of these sections or becomes final subsequent to the adoption of these sections. (Prior code § 10-8)

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City of Paramount, CA § 15.04.100

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 15.04.100

• A. Purpose and Intent. It is the desire and intent of the City Council of the City of Paramount to eliminate the unlawful selling, serving, storing, keeping or giving away of any controlled substance as defined under Health and Safety Code Section 11000 et seq., within any and every building or place in the City of Paramount; and

  1. The City Council finds that the unlawful selling, serving, storing, keeping or giving away of any controlled substance in any building or place in the City of Paramount is injurious to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the community, and interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property; and

  2. Section 11570 of the Health and Safety Code of California states every building or place used for the purpose of unlawfully selling, serving, storing, keeping or giving away controlled substances as defined in this chapter, and every building or place wherein and upon which such acts take place, is a nuisance which shall be enjoined, abated and prevented; and

  3. The laws of the State of California defining nuisance and the abatement thereof provide for civil and criminal enjoinment of such acts. The City Council intends hereby to declare those activities hereinafter set forth as a nuisance, provide a procedure for determining that a nuisance exists, the necessary order of abatement thereof and civil and/or criminal prosecution for enforcement of any such findings and orders; and

  4. The unlawful selling, serving, storing, keeping, or giving away of any controlled substances as defined in the Health and Safety Code within any building or place in the City of Paramount tends to debilitate family life in Paramount.

• B. Public Nuisance Declared. The City Council of the City of Paramount as the legislative authority finds and declares that every and any building or place used to the purpose of unlawfully selling, serving, storing, keeping or giving away of any controlled substances and defined under the California Uniform Controlled Substance Act, Section 11000 et seq., of the Health and Safety Code is a nuisance, whether public or private.

• C. Order to Abate. The City Attorney of the City of Paramount is directed to abate, prevent and enjoin the nuisance of unlawful selling, serving, storing, keeping or giving away of any controlled substances within any building or place in the City of Paramount upon the order of the City Council as hereinafter provided.

• D. Liability. Upon receiving notice through service of a certified copy of this section and an order of abatement provided for in subsection C, any and every person who shall legally or equitably own, lease, maintain, manage, conduct or operate a building or place in the City of Paramount which is declared to be a public or private nuisance as set forth and stated in subsection B of this section shall be presumed to be a person who has knowledge of such nuisance for the purpose of this chapter and is, thereafter, responsible for its maintenance, and shall be liable thereof.

• E. Notice of Hearing—City Council. The City Council may, upon its own motion, or upon written charges filed with Council by the City Attorney set a public hearing before the Council to determine if a nuisance as set forth in subsection B of this section and any other appropriate State or local laws, exists. The persons described in subsection D shall be given

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City of Paramount, CA § 15.04.100

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

§ 15.04.100

10 days' written notice delivered personally or by deposit in first class U.S. mail an opportunity to appear, either personally or by counsel, to be heard, to present evidence and to call witnesses on their behalf.

• F. Applicability of Provisions. Upon a specific finding that a nuisance, as defined in subsection B and any other appropriate State or local laws, exists in the City of Paramount, the City Council, in applying provisions of this section to such nuisance, may provide for the following by resolution:

  1. Declare the fact that such nuisance exists.

  2. Set forth the legal description and street address or location of the real property or place which constitutes a nuisance.

  3. Set forth findings of fact considered by the City Council in arriving at its determination that a nuisance exists, as defined in subsection B.

  4. Order all persons named in subsection D to abate such nuisances immediately, by terminating the unlawful selling, serving, storing, keeping or giving away of any controlled substance as defined under the Health and Safety Code, as set forth in subsection B within the specified building or place.

  5. Order the City Attorney to proceed as directed in subsection C and do all things necessary to abate, prevent or enjoin such nuisance, as defined in subsection B, through judicial proceedings.

  6. Order that a certified copy of said resolution and a certified copy of this section be delivered by personal service or first class mail to all persons of record having legal or equitable interest in the building or place where the nuisance exists and to any person who shall lease, maintain, manage, conduct or operate the building or place where the nuisance exists.

(Prior code §§ 10-9—10-14)

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City of Paramount, CA