Chapter 24.09

RESIDENTIAL CODE

Parts:

• 1 Adoption of CRC (Provisions)

• 2 Building Planning (CRC Chapter 3)

• 3 Braced Wall Panels (CRC Chapter 6)

• A. The following portions of the California Residential Code, 2025 edition, are not approved or adopted or incorporated in this chapter by reference, and shall not be deemed to be a part of this chapter nor a part of the residential code of the City of San José:

  1. Section 1.8.4

  2. Section 1.8.5

Part 1

ADOPTION OF CRC (PROVISIONS)

Sections:

3. Section 1.8.7

4. Section 1.8.8

5. Section 1.8.9

6. Chapter 1, Division II

(Ords. 28838, 29334, 29806, 30326, 30837, 31256.)

• 24.09.100 Adoption of technical provisions of California Residential Code.

• 24.09.110 Portions of California Residential Code which are not approved, adopted or incorporated by reference.

• 24.09.110.5 Portions of the California Residential Code Appendices are approved, adopted, or incorporated by reference.

• 24.09.111 Cross-references to California Residential Code.

• A. Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, the California Residential Code, 2025 edition together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto as amended in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations are approved and adopted, and are hereby incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set forth herein.

• B. One copy of the CRC has been filed for use and examination of the public in the office of the city clerk of the City of San José.

• (Ords. 28838, 29334, 29806, 30326, 30837, 31256.)

• A. The following portion of the California Residential Code or CRC 2025 edition appendices are approved, adopted, or incorporated by reference.

  1. Reserved.

  2. Appendix BF; Patio Covers.

  3. Appendix BG; Sound Transmission.

  4. Appendix CI; Swimming Pool Safety Act.

  5. Appendix BO; Existing Buildings and Structures.

(Ords. 29806, 30326, 30837, 31256.)

The provisions of this chapter contain crossreferences to the provisions of the California Residential Code (CRC) in order to facilitate reference and comparison to those provisions. (Ords. 28838, 31256.)

Part 2

BUILDING PLANNING (CRC CHAPTER 3)

Sections:

T24:46

2026-Supplement 4

TECHNICAL CODES

§ 24.09.240

The amendment set forth in this part is reasonably necessary because of the following local geological and topographical conditions:

• A. San José is within a very active seismic area. Severe seismic action could disrupt communications, damage gas mains, cause extensive electrical hazards, and place extreme demands on the limited and widely dispersed resources of the fire department resulting in failure to meet the fire and life safety needs of the community.

• B. The local geographic, topographic and climatic conditions pose an increased hazard in the acceleration, spread, magnitude, and severity of potential fires in the City of San José, and may cause a delayed fire response time, allowing further growth of the fire.

• (Ord. 28838.)

Editor’s note— Ord. 29806, § 55, adopted Nov. 1, 2016, repealed § 24.09.220, which pertained to alternative provisions (CRC Section R301.1.1), and derived from Ord. 28838.

CRC Section R301.2 Table R301.2(1) is amended to read as follows:

TABLE R301.2 CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DESIGN CRITERIA

Editor’s note— Ord. 29806, § 58, adopted Nov. 1, 2016, repealed § 24.09.230, which pertained to design criteria (CRC Section R301.2.1.1), and derived from Ords. 28838 and 29334.

installed in accordance with NFPA 13D or 13R as amended in Section 17.12 of San José Municipal Code. (Ords. 28838, 29806, 31256.)

Part 3

BRACED WALL PANELS (CRC CHAPTER 6)

Sections:

CRC Section R309 is amended as follows

R309. Design and installation. Automatic residential fire sprinkler systems shall be designed and 2026-Supplement 4

24.09.310 Findings. 24.09.320 Reserved.

T24:47

SAN JOSÉ CODE

§ 24.09.310

The amendment set forth in Parts 1 and 2 of this chapter is reasonably necessary because of the following local geological and topographical conditions:

• A. San José is within a very active seismic area.

• B. Gypsum wallboard and exterior Portland cement plaster have performed poorly during recent California seismic events.

• C. The shear values for gypsum wallboard and Portland cement stucco contained on the code are based on monodirectional testing.

  • D. The limitation on the use of these systems as set forth in the amendment until cyclic loading testing are performed and evaluated is a more restrictive standard which will better prevent damage which can result from local conditions.

• (Ord. 28838.)

Editor’s note— Ord. 29806, § 59, adopted Nov. 1, 2016, repealed § 24.09.320, which pertained to seismic reinforcing (CRC Section R403.1.3), and derived from Ords. 28838 and 29334.

CRC Section R602.10 Table R602.10.3(3) is amended to read as follows:

T24:48

2026-Supplement 4

TECHNICAL CODES

§ 24.09.330

Table R602.10.3(3) BRACING REQUIREMENTS BASED ON SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORY

==> picture [361 x 353] intentionally omitted <==

T24:49

2026-Supplement 4

SAN JOSÉ CODE

§ 24.09.330

==> picture [361 x 401] intentionally omitted <==

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 47389 Pa.

NP = Not Permitted

• a. Linear interpolation shall be permitted.

• b. Interpolation of bracing length between the Sds values associated with the seismic design categories shall be permitted when a site specific Sds value is determined in accordance with Section 1613.2 of the California Building Code.

• c. Where the braced wall line length is greater than 50 feet, braced wall lines shall be permitted to be divided into shorter segments having lengths of 50 feet or less, and the amount of bracing within each segment shall be in accordance with this table.

• d. Methods PFG and CS-SFB do not apply in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1 and D2.

• e. Methods PFH, PFG and ABW are only permitted on a single story or a first of two stories.

• f. Where more than one bracing method is used, mixing methods shall be accordance with section R602.10.4.1.

T24:50

2026-Supplement 4

TECHNICAL CODES

§ 24.10.100

• g. One- and two-family dwellings in Seismic Design Category D2 exceeding two stories shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice.

• (Ords. 28838, 29334, 30326, 30837.)

Part 1

CRC Section R602.10.8.1 is amended to read as follows:

602.10.8.1 Braced wall panel connections for Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, and D2. Braced wall panels shall be fastened to required foundations in accordance with Section R602.11.1, and top plate lap splices shall be face-nailed with not less than eight 16d nails on each side of the splice. Wall sheathing shall not be attached to framing members by adhesives.

All braced wall panels shall extend to the roof sheathing and shall be attached to parallel roof rafters or blocking above with framing clips (eighteen-gauge minimum) spaced at maximum twentyfour inches (6,096 mm) on center with four 8d nails per leg (total eight 8d nails per clip). Braced wall panels shall be laterally braced at each top corner and at maximum twenty-four-inch (6,096 mm) intervals along the top plate of discontinuous vertical framing.

(30326.)