Placerville Municipal Code Ch. 1 General Regulations

This ordinance shall be known as the "Building Code", may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as "this code". (Ord. 1491, 5-26-1992; amd. Ord. 1728, 1-13-2026)

The purpose of this Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all building and structures within the city and certain equipment regulated herein. (Ord. 1642, 6-14-2011; amd. Ord. 1728, 1-13-2026)

This code is intended to promote superior building construction and enhance public safety by establishing uniform regulations that provide equitable recognition of all building materials and methods based solely on their demonstrated performance and merits; and by supporting the sustainable economic growth of the municipality through impartial, performance-based standards. (Ord. 1728, 1-13-2026)

The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, addition, repair, moving, removal, demolition, maintenance, use, occupancy, and location of all buildings, structures, and premises within the municipality, including associated equipment, systems, and appurtenances, except work primarily located in the public way and not specifically regulated by this code. (Ord. 1728, 1-13-2026)

The codes specified in this section and referenced elsewhere in the municipal code shall be considered to be part of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference. The following parts of the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24), including both building and administrative standards, are hereby adopted by reference:

Part 2, volume 1 and 2, California Building Code

Part 2.5 California Residential Code;

Part 3 California Electrical Code;

Part 4, California Mechanical Code;

Part 5, California Plumbing Code;

Part 6, California Energy Code;

Part 7, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code;

Part 8, California Historical Building Code;

Part 9, California Fire Code;

Part 10, California Existing Building Code;

Part 11, California Green Building Standards Code; and

Part 12, California Referenced Standards Code. (Ord. 1642, 6-14-2011; amd. Ord. 1728, 1-13-2026)

CBC section 1505.1.1 and CRC R902, Roof Coverings Within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, shall be amended to read as follows: "The entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure shall be a fire retardant roof covering that is at least class A."

CBC section 1607A.11.2, Reduction In Roof Live Loads, shall be amended to read as follows: "No reduction in roof live loads shall be allowed."

CBC section 1608A.2, Determination Of Snow Loads, shall be amended to read as follows: "The roof live load for snow shall be (20) twenty pounds per square foot for all areas of the city of Placerville."

(Ord. 1642, 6-14-2011)

The city council of the city of Placerville finds and declares that the additions, modifications and changes made to these codes are necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare due to climatic, geological or topographical conditions. These amendments are authorized under Health And Safety Code sections 18941.5 and 17958 and are identified as follows:

(A) Express finding number 1; climatic: The city of Placerville is located approximately forty five (45) miles east of Sacramento and seventy (70) miles west of Lake Tahoe at an average elevation of one thousand eight hundred seventy feet (1,870') above sea level. It is the transition area between the California central valley and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It experiences a change in precipitation and snowfall from the arid central valley to the deep snow of the mountains. The average annual rainfall is thirty six inches (36"). This rainfall normally occurs from October to April. Hourly rainfall for design purposes is three inches (3") per hour or 0.031 gpm per square foot as established from data in the "El Dorado County Drainage Manual" and nearby jurisdictions. Snow can be expected each winter but usually does not accumulate for an appreciable amount of time. Historically for at least twenty (20) years, the design roof snow load has been twenty (20) pounds per square foot with no reduction allowed.

Climate is one of the greatest impacts to fire behavior and other major emergency events because it cannot be controlled. The drying out of wood building components and wildland fuels in the summer months allows for easy ignition and propagation of fire. Steep, narrow, often congested streets can lead to longer response times for firefighters. Therefore, the fire classification of roof assemblies and roof coverings should be the most restrictive.

Amendments related to climate: CBC section 1505.1.1, 1607A.11.2, 1608A.2.

(B) Express finding number 2; geological: The city of Placerville has three (3) dominant east/west ridgelines, which in turn define the principal watersheds, with a series of subwatersheds branching off each major watershed divide. These subridgelines are generally oriented in a north/south direction perpendicular to the primary ridgelines. The secondary ridgelines are located at "regular" intervals approximately one-fourth (1/4) of a mile apart. The moderate to steep slopes, which are characteristic of this topography, have a profound influence on the location of roads and hence the development pattern. There are no identified active earthquake faults in Placerville; however, the inactive Melones Fault does pass through the eastern part of the city, trending in a north/south direction. The city of Placerville is subject to ground tremors from seismic events as the city is located in site class C. Some portions of the city have poor soil conditions that are often expansive in nature. Due to the potential for seismic activity, a need exists for more restrictive design criteria.

Amendments related to geological conditions: CBC section 1607A.11.2, 1608A.2.

(C) Express finding number 3; topographical: The city of Placerville is located in the transition between the California central valley and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Three (3) biophysical gradients are apparent: a transition from central valley grassland vegetation, to mixed needleleaf and broadleaf forests, to Sierra evergreen forests. The threat to Placerville from wildland fires is relatively high due to the dense vegetative cover and steeply sloping lands. Therefore, a need exists for additional fire protection measures.

Amendments relating to topographical conditions: CBC section 1505.1.1.

(Ord. 1623, 2-12-2008)

The city clerk is hereby directed to file a copy of the ordinance codified herein with the California building standards commission of the state of California. (Ord. 1623, 2-12-2008)

The provisions of this code shall not be construed as imposing upon the city of Placerville any liability or responsibility for damage to persons or property resulting from defective work, nor shall the city of Placerville, or any official, employee or agent thereof, be held as assuming any such liability or responsibility by reason of the review or inspection authorized by the provisions of this code of any permits or certificates issued under this code. (Ord. 1623, 2-12-2008)

Persons applying for a permit from the City for new construction and building additions and alternations shall also comply with the requirements of Section 7-1B-10 (Compliance with CALGreen Recycling Requirements) found in Chapter 1B (Organic Waste Disposal Reduction) of Title 7 (Health and Sanitation). (Ord. 1706, 12-14-2021)