Rancho Mirage Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 California Building

§ 15.04.010. California Building Code adopted with amendments.¶

A. Except for the local amendments set forth herein, there is adopted by reference the California Building Code 2025, Edition, which is published by the California Building Standards Commission as California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 2. A copy of the Code together with the local amendments is on file with the division of building and safety.

B. The California Building Code, 2025 Edition (hereinafter "Building Code"), shall be the building code for the city and said Code together with the adopted appendices and the amendments set forth in this chapter shall regulate and govern the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures within the city by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use and providing for the condemnation and demolition of buildings and structures that are unfit for human occupancy and use, and the issuance of permits and collection of permit fees.

(Ord. 961 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1001 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1075 § 2, 2013; Ord. 1109 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1161 § 3, 2019; Ord. 1197 § 3, 2022; Ord. 1228, 12/18/2025)

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§ 15.04.020. Modifications, amendments and deletions to the Building Code.¶

Section 903.2 of the California Fire Code is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

903.2 Where Required.

In all new buildings and structures which are 3,600 square feet or greater, an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided regardless of occupancy classification. Where the Sections 903.2.1 - 903.2.21 of the California Fire Code require more restrictive requirements than those listed below, the more restrictive requirement shall take precedence.
All existing buildings, except for one- and two-family dwellings, shall be retrofitted with automatic fire sprinklers when a structure exceeds 3,600 square feet and changes are made to the building including any of the following: change of use/occupancy, removal of an existing fire wall as defined by the California Building Code, or additions of 50% or more are made to the original building area and the resulting square footage exceeds 5,000 square feet.
One- and two-family dwellings shall have an automatic fire sprinkler system regardless of square footage in accordance with the California Residential Code. Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in mobile homes, manufactured homes and multifamily manufactured homes with two dwelling units in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

Exception: Unless required elsewhere in this code or the California Building Code, automatic fire sprinkler systems shall not be required for the following:

1.	Spaces or areas in telecommunications buildings used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated electrical power distribution equipment, batteries not required to have an automatic sprinkler system by Section 1207 for energy storage systems and standby engines, provided that those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic smoke detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 and are separated from the remainder of the building by not less than 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code or not less than 2-hour horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the California Building Code, or both.
2.	Detached Group U occupancies used for agricultural purposes.
3.	Detached non-combustible equestrian arena shade canopies that are open on all sides and used for riding only - no commercial, assembly or storage uses.
4.	Non-combustible fueling station canopies not exceeding 10,000 square feet when separated from other buildings by a distance of not less than 50 feet.
5.	Detached fabric or non-combustible shade structures that are open on all sides and used to shade playground equipment, temporary storage of vehicles and dining areas with no cooking.
6.	Where determined by the Fire Chief that no major life safety hazard exists, and the fuel load does not pose a significant threat to firefighter safety or to other structures or property, automatic fire sprinklers may be exempted.

The following exceptions in the California Fire Code shall not be allowed:

a.	Exceptions in Section 903.2.3.
b.	Exception 2 in Section 903.2.11.3.

(Ord. 961 § 2, 2007; Ord. 1001 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1075 § 2, 2013; Ord. 1109 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1161 § 3, 2019; Ord. 1197 § 3, 2022; Ord. 1228, 12/18/2025)

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§ 15.04.030. Adoption, modifications, amendments and deletions to Chapter 1 of the…¶

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the California Building Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 2, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Division II, "Scope and Administration," including any and all amendments thereto that may hereafter be made and adopted by the State of California, is hereby adopted as the administrative code of the city. This administrative chapter shall apply to all codes listed in this title.

Section 102.2 is amended to read as follows:

102.2 Other laws. The provisions of this code shall not be deemed to nullify any provisions of local, state or federal law. In the event of discrepancies between this Chapter 15.04 of the Rancho Mirage Municipal Code and Chapter 1, General Code Provision, the former shall take precedence.

Section 103.1 is amended to read as follows:

103.1 Creation of enforcement agency. There is established within the City, a division of the Administrative Services Department to be known as the "Building and Safety Division," whose function includes the implementation, administration and enforcement of the provisions of this code, which shall be under the administrative and operational control of the City Building Official hereinafter referred to as the building official.

Section 113.5 is added to provide for the filing of appeals and shall read as follows:

113.5 Filing of appeals. All appeals shall be made in writing and shall specify the order, decision or determination made by the building official which is being appealed and wherein the building official erred in making the order, decision or determination. The appeal shall be accompanied by a fee as established by the City Council. If, after reviewing the information submitted, the building official determines the appeal does not merit a change in his or her order, decision, or determination, the building official shall schedule a hearing by the Appeals Board and the appellant shall be notified in writing of the date and time of the hearing.

Section 114 is amended to read as follows:

Section 114 VIOLATIONS.

114.1 Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, move, remove, demolish or occupy any building, structure or equipment regulated by this code, or to cause the same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any provisions of this code. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, alter or repair a building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the building official or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code.

114.5 Public nuisance; Abatement. Any violation of this Building Code, including the adopted appendices, is a public nuisance and may be abated in accordance with Title 14 of the City's Municipal Code.

114.6 Penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this Building Code, including the adopted appendices, or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who erects, constructs, alters or repairs a building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the building official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this Building Code shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by law, including, but not limited to, guilty of an infraction violation, and the violator shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Chapter 14.100 (Infractions) of the City's Municipal Code, including, but not limited to, the imposition of any and all civil and criminal penalties set forth therein.

Section 116 is amended to add Section 116.1.1 (Unlawful Acts) as follows:

Section 116 UNSAFE STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.

116.1.1 Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to maintain as unsafe structures or equipment regulated by this code, or cause the same to be done in conflict with or in violation of any provisions of this code.

Section 117 is added to limit the hours of construction work and shall read as follows:

Section 117 HOURS OF WORK.

117.1. Restricted hours; Construction work. Except as otherwise provided herein, no person other than the person actually occupying any buildings to be altered, repaired or improved, shall be engaged or employed, nor shall any person cause any other person to be engaged or employed in any work of construction, erection, alteration, repair, addition to or improvement of any building, structure, road or improvement to realty, between the hours of seven p.m. of each day and seven a.m. of the next succeeding day or on Sundays and holidays, without written permission of the Building Official being first obtained. The Building Official may grant permission to work during those periods under appropriate circumstances after first having determined that such work will not unduly or unreasonably interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of property adjacent to such work.

117.2 Restricted hours; Landscape maintenance. Within gated communities, shopping centers, commercial centers, vacant residential or commercial parcels, or developed residential or commercial parcels, landscape activities such as leaf blowing, tree trimming, re-seeding, or mowing of grass as associated with the re-seeding process and any other landscaping activities which generate unusual noise, are prohibited between the hours of six p.m. of each day and seven a.m. of the next succeeding day or on Sundays or on holidays.

117.3 Restricted hours; Golf courses. In order to assure the excellence and readiness of golf courses within the City, mowing and green preparation of golf courses is permitted between 5:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days per week and during all seasons of the year.

Section 118 is added to require removal and disposal of trash and debris at building sites and shall read as follows:

Section 118 REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF TRASH AND DEBRIS.

118.1 Required removal. Any person to whom a building permit has been issued shall keep the building site free and clear of trash and debris. As used in this section, trash and debris shall include papers, cartons, bottles, cans, garbage, roofing materials, plaster, concrete and other substances that may accumulate as a result of construction activities.

118.2 Container. A trash container shall be located on every construction site and shall remain in place until construction is completed. The container shall be adequate in size to store the trash and debris generated on the building site until it can be removed.

118.3 Disposal. Trash and debris shall be removed from the site and transported to a legally established dump site either by the City's refuse contractor or the permittee.

(Ord. 961 § 2, 2007; Ord. 973 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1001 § 2, 2010; Ord. 1051 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1075 § 2, 2013; Ord. 1109 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1161 § 3, 2019; Ord. 1197 § 3, 2022; Ord. 1228, 12/18/2025)

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§ 15.04.035. Amendments to Chapter 2 of the Building Code.¶

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the California Building Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 2, Volume 1, Chapter 2, Division II, "Definitions," including any and all amendments thereto that may hereafter be made and adopted by the State of California, is hereby adopted as the administrative code of the city. This administrative chapter shall apply to all codes listed in this title.

Section 202 is amended to define the term "Holiday" and shall read as follows:

"Holiday" as used in the Building Code shall mean New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

(Ord. 1197 § 3, 2022; Ord. 1228, 12/18/2025)

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