§94.05 First or Ground Floors — San Diego Zoning Code

(a) If the first or ground floors are constructed of concrete, tile, or other material impervious to rat gnawing and do not have basements or cellars under the entire floor area which can be satisfactorily rat–proofed, all actual or potential openings through which rats may gain entrance, such as those around pipes, wires, or other installations, those caused by defects of any kind, and those where the floor and sidewalks join, shall be properly sealed with cement mortar, masonry, metal collars, metal flashing of 26–gauge or heavier, or any other suitable material approved by the Health Officer as being rat–proof, and all open drains or pipes through which rats may pass shall be securely capped with perforated metal having openings not greater than one–half (1/2) inch in any diameter.
(b) If the first or ground floors are constructed of wood and do not have basements or cellars extending under their entire area which can be satisfactorily rat–proofed, all actual or potential openings through which rats may gain entrance shall be sealed with 24–gauge or heavier metal, the junction of the floors with the sidewalls shall be flashed with 24–gauge or heavier sheet metal which shall extend six (6) inches or more to the floor and four (4) or more inches upon the sidewalls, and all drains or open pipes through which rats

Ch. Art. Div. 9 4 0 2

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 9: Building, Housing and Sign Regulations

(6-2000)

may pass shall be capped with perforated metal having openings not greater than one–half (1/2) inch in any diameter.

(1) If such buildings with wood first or ground floors are built on piers so that the distance between the ground and the lower surface of the joists is less than eighteen (18) inches above the ground surface, or if the foundation of the building is not impervious to rat gnawing, or if there is a foundation but it does not extend twenty–four (24) inches straight down below the surface of the ground, a concrete curtain wall shall be installed around the entire periphery of the building, which curtain wall shall be at least four (4) inches thick and shall extend twenty– four (24) inches below the surface of the ground, or in lieu thereof the curtain wall shall be constructed in the form of an “L” with the vertical portion eighteen (18) inches or more below the ground surface and the lower reinforced horizontal arm extending outwards eight (8) inches from the vertical section.
(2) When the first, or ground floor is constructed of wood or partly of wood and partly of concrete or other rat–proof material, and the Health Officer shall find that such wooden portion of such floor is not rat– proof, the Health Officer may require such wooden portion of such floor to be replaced with concrete or other material approved by the Health Officer as being rat–proof.
(c) Whenever rats are found to be harboring under wooden platforms or secondary wooden floors built over either concrete, wood, or other flooring, the Health Officer may require the rat– proofing or the complete removal of such wooden platforms or floors, or that they be lowered to a distance not exceeding one– half (1/2) inch above the floor.
(“First or Ground Floors” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S.)