San Diego Municipal Code Div. 1 Adoption and Applicability of the Building Regulations

(a) The purpose of the Building Regulations is to establish minimum standards to safeguard health and safety, property, and public welfare, and to satisfy the purpose of the 2025 California Building Code as provided in Section 1.1.2 of the 2025 California Building Code.

(b) The purpose of this section is not to create or otherwise establish or designate
any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially
protected or benefited by the terms of this section.
(Amended 9-24-2002 by O-19102 N.S.)
(Amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)
(Amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N. S.; effective 5-6-2016.)
(Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)
(Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.)
(Amended 5-8-2023 by O-21642 N.S.; effective 6-7-2023.)
(Amended 3-3-2026 by O-22080 N.S.; effective 4-22-2026.)

(a) This article shall be known as the Building Regulations of the City of San Diego and regulates the construction, alteration, replacement, repair, maintenance, moving, removal, demolition, occupancy, and use of any privately owned building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures within this jurisdiction, except work located primarily in a public way, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in the Building Code, and hydraulic flood control structures. The Building Regulations shall also apply to City- owned buildings.

(b) Where in any specific case, different sections of the Building Regulations
specify different materials, methods of construction, or other requirements,
the most restrictive shall govern. Where there is a conflict between a general
requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall apply.

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(c) Wherever in the Building Regulations reference is made to the Appendix, the
provisions in the Appendix shall not apply unless specifically adopted as
shown in Section 145.0107.

(d) Administration and enforcement of the Building Regulations of The City of
San Diego are regulated by the applicable provisions of Chapters 11 and 12 of
the Land Development Code.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; amended 12-6-1999 by O-18728 N.S.; effective
1-1-2000.)
(Amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)

(a) The 2025 California Building Code, published by the California Building Standards Commission (BSC), and as amended by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD 1, HCD 1/AC); the Division of the State Architect/Access and Compliance (DSA/AC); the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (OSHPD3); and the State Fire Marshal (SFM), is adopted by reference, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 14, Article 5 of the Land Development Code, Divisions 2 through 38.

(b) When reference is made to the California Building Code, it shall be the
2025 California Building Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24,
Part 2, as published by the California Building Standards Commission.

(c) Each of the regulations, provisions, conditions, and terms of the 2025
California Building Code is made a part of Chapter 14, Article 5 as if fully set
forth in this Article, except as otherwise provided in Divisions 2 through 38.

(d) Numbering of Sections in Divisions 2 through 38 of this Article is cross
referenced to Sections in the 2025 California Building Code.

(e) The adoption of the 2025 California Building Code shall in no way limit,
prohibit, impede, or prevent the City Council from adopting ordinances
limiting or preventing the issuance of any type, number, or geographical
distribution of permits for construction or demolition of any facility for which
a permit is required.

(f) The Building Official is authorized to enforce only those amendments made
by the following state agencies:

(1) The Department of Housing and Community Development for
accessibility in privately funded housing and all housing (HCD 1 and
HCD 1/AC).

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (4-2026)

(2) Division of the State Architect, Access Compliance for accessibility in
commercial buildings and publicly funded housing (DSA/AC).

(3) Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM).

(4) Office of Statewide Health, Planning and Development requirements
for licensed clinics and any freestanding building under a hospital
license where outpatient clinical services are provided (OSHPD3).

(5) California Energy Commission energy efficiency standards (CEC). (Retitled from “Adoption of the 1998 California Building Code” and amended 9-24-2002 by O-19102 N.S.) (Retitled to “Adoption of the 2007 California Building Code” and amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.) (Retitled to “Adoption of the 2010 California Building Code” and amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Retitled to “Adoption of the California Building Code” and amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N.S.; effective 5-6-2016.) (Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.) (Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.) (Amended 5-8-2023 by O-21642 N.S.; effective 6-7-2023.) (Amended 3-3-2026 by O-22080 N.S.; effective 4-22-2026.)

The following portions of the 2025 California Building Code are not adopted by the City of San Diego:

(a) Chapter 1, Division II “Scope and Administration.”

(b) Chapter 15, Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures, Sections 1505.3,
Class B Roof Assemblies, and 1505.4, Class C Roof Assemblies.

(c) Chapter 29, Plumbing Systems.

(Retitled from “Portions of the 1998 California Building Code Not Adopted by the
City of San Diego” and amended 9-24-2002 by O-19102 N.S.)
(Retitled to “Portions of the 2007 California Building Code Not Adopted by the City
of San Diego” and amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Retitled to “Portions of the 2010 California Building Code Not Adopted by the City
of San Diego” and amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)
(Retitled to “Portions of the California Building Code Not Adopted by the City of San
Diego” and amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N. S.; effective 5-6-2016.)
(Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (4-2026)

(Amended 7-20-2018 by O-20958 N.S.; effective 8-19-2018.) (Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.) (Amended 5-8-2023 by O-21642 N.S.; effective 6-7-2023.) (Amended 3-3-2026 by O-22080 N.S.; effective 4-22-2026.)

The following Sections or Subsections of the 2025 California Building Code are modified by the City of San Diego:

(a) Chapter 12, Interior Environment, Section 1206, Sound Transmission,
Section 1208.4, Efficiency Dwelling Units.

(b) Chapter 15, Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures, Section 1505.1,
General, Section 1505.8, Building-integrated photovoltaic products,
Section 1505.9, Rooftop mounted photovoltaic panel systems, Section 1507.8,
Wood Shingles, Section 1507.9, Wood Shakes, and Section 1512.1, General.

(c) Chapter 16, Structural Design, Section 1607.7.2, Fire Truck and Emergency
Vehicles, Section 1612.3, Establishment of Flood Hazard Areas.

(d) Chapter 18, Soils and Foundations, Sections 1803.2, 1803.5, and 1803.6.

(e) Appendix J, Grading, Sections J101.2 and Section J104.4.

(f) Appendix L, Earthquake Recording Instrumentation excluding amendments
by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

(g) Appendix Q, Emergency Housing Section Q103.2.1 Exception 1, Q103.6
Lighting, Ventilation, and Heating, Q106. Tents and Membrane Structures.
(Retitled from “Modifications to the 1998 California Building Code Adopted by the
City of San Diego” and amended 9-24-2002 by O-19102 N.S.)
(Retitled to “Modifications to the 2007 California Building Code Adopted by the City
of San Diego” and amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Amended 7-28-2009 by O-19885 N.S; effective 8-27-2009.)
(Retitled to “Modifications to the 2010 California Building Code Adopted by the City
of San Diego” and amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)
(Retitled to “Modifications to the California Building Code Adopted by the City of
San Diego” and amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N.S.; effective 5-6-2016.)
(Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)
(Amended 3-19-2019 by Emergency Ordinance O-21060 N.S.; effective 3-19-2019.)
(Amended 4-15-2019 by O-21064 N.S.; effective 5-15-2019.)
(Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.)
(Amended 5-8-2023 by O-21642 N.S.; effective 6-7-2023.)
(Amended 3-3-2026 by O-22080 N.S.; effective 4-22-2026.)Ch. Art. Div.

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (4-2026)

The following Sections and Subsections are added to the 2025 California Building Code by the City of San Diego:

(a) Chapter 4, Motor Vehicle Occupancies, Section 406.2.1.1.

(b) Chapter 12, Sound Transmission, Section 1206.6.

(c) Chapter 15, Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures, Subsections 1505.1.5
and 1505.1.6, Section 1507.1.3 and Subsections 1512.1.1 through 1512.1.5.

(d) Chapter 16, Structural Design, Section 1607.8.2, Fire Trucks and Emergency
Vehicle Live Load and 1612.3, Flood Loads.

(e) Chapter 17, Structural Tests and Special Inspections, Section 1704.3.1 item 6.

(f) Chapter 18, Soils and Foundations, Section 1803 Geotechnical Investigations,
Subsection 1803.2 exceptions 2 through 4; Sections 1803.2.1, 1803.2.2,
1803.2.3, 1803.5.11.1, 1803.5.11.2, 1803.5.13, 1803.6.1 and Table 145.1803.

(g) Chapter 31, California Swimming Pool Safety Act (statewide),
Section 3109.2, and Subsection 115922 (b) (4).

(h) Chapter 32, Encroachments into the Public Right-of-Way, Section 3203
Entrance Canopies, Subsections 3203.1 through 3203.6.

(i) Chapter 33, Safeguards During Construction, Section 3315, Demolition and
Removal Regulations.

(j) Appendix Q, Emergency Housing, Subsection Q103.2.1 Exception 2,
Subsections Q106.2 through Q106.7, Section Q111 Emergency Housing
Lighting and Ventilation Requirements, Subsections Q111.1 and Q111.2,
Section Q112 Emergency Housing Fire and Life Safety Requirements,
Subsections Q112.1 through Q112.13, and Section Q113 Emergency Housing
Alternatives and Modifications, Subsection Q113.1.
(Retitled from “Additions to the 1998 California Building Code Adopted by the City
of San Diego” and amended 9-24-2002 by O-19102 N.S.)
(Retitled to “Additions to the 2007 California Building Code Adopted by the City of
San Diego” and amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Amended 7-28-2009 by O-19885 N.S; effective 8-27-2009.)
(Retitled to “Additions to the 2010 California Building Code Adopted by the City of
San Diego” and amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)
(Retitled to “Additions to the California Building Code Adopted by the City of San
Diego” and amended 4-6-2016 by O-20624 N.S.; effective 5-6-2016.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (4-2026)

(Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.) (Amended 3-19-2019 by Emergency Ordinance O-21060 N.S.; effective 3-19-2019.) (Amended 4-15-2019 by O-21064 N.S.; effective 5-15-2019.) (Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.) (Amended 5-8-2023 by O-21642 N.S.; effective 6-7-2023.) (Amended 3-3-2026 by O-22080 N.S.; effective 4-22-2026.)

The following Appendix Chapters of the 2025 California Building Code are adopted by the City of San Diego:

(a) Appendix chapters specifically amended by a State agency listed in
Section 145.0103 and identified in the adoption matrices of the
2025 California Building Code.

(b) Appendix Chapter C, Group “U” Agricultural Buildings.

(c) Appendix Chapter I, Patio Covers.

(d) Appendix Chapter J, Grading.

(e) Appendix L, Earthquake Recording Instrumentation excluding amendments
by OSHPD.

(f) Appendix P, Sleeping Lofts.

(g) Appendix Q, Emergency Housing.
(Retitled from “Adoption of Appendices to 1998 California Building Code” and
amended 9-24-2002 by O-19102 N.S.)
(Retitled to “Adoption of Appendices to the 2007 California Building Code” and
amended 4-8-2008 by O-19726 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.)
(Retitled to “Adoption of Appendices to the 2010 California Building Code” and
amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)
(Retitled to “Adoption of Appendices to the California Building Code” and amended
4-6-2016 by O-20624 N.S.; effective 5-6-2016.)
(Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)
(Amended 3-19-2019 by Emergency Ordinance O-21060 N.S.; effective 3-19-2019.)
(Amended 4-15-2019 by O-21064 N.S.; effective 5-15-2019.)
(Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.)
(Amended 5-8-2023 by O-21642 N.S.; effective 6-7-2023.)
(Amended 3-3-2026 by O-22080 N.S.; effective 4-22-2026.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (5-2020)

Article 5: Building Regulations