Title 12 — BUILDING REGULATIONS[[1]]›Chapter 12.105 — PERMITS
§ 12.107
San Rafael Building Code · 2026-07 edition · ingested 2026-07-08 · San Rafael
12.107.010 - General. ¶
Submittal documents consisting of construction documents, statement of special inspections, geotechnical report and other data shall be submitted in two (2) or more sets with each permit application. The
construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where required by the statutes of the jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed. Where special conditions exist, the building official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional.
Exception: The building official is authorized to waive the submission of construction documents and other data not required to be prepared by a registered design professional if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that review of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code.
(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)
12.107.020 - Construction documents.
Construction documents shall be in accordance with Sections 12.107.020.1 through 12.107.020.8.
12.107.020.1 Information on construction documents. Construction documents shall be dimensioned and drawn upon suitable material. Electronic media documents are permitted to be submitted when approved by the building official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, as determined by the building official.
12.107.020.2 Fire protection system shop drawings. Shop drawings for the fire protection system(s) shall be submitted to indicate conformance with this code and the construction documents and shall be approved prior to the start of system installation. Shop drawings shall contain all information as required by the referenced installation standards in Chapter 9 of the IBC.
12.107.020.3 Means of egress. The construction documents shall show in sufficient detail the location, construction, size and character of all portions of the means of egress in compliance with the provisions of this code. In other than occupancies in Groups R-2, R-3, and I-1, the construction documents shall designate the number of occupants to be accommodated on every floor, and in all rooms and spaces.
0.3 Means of egress. The construction documents shall show in sufficient detail the location, construction, size and character of all portions of the means of egress in compliance with the provisions of this code. In other than occupancies in Groups R-2, R-3, and I-1, the construction documents shall designate the number of occupants to be accommodated on every floor, and in all rooms and spaces.
12.107.020.4 Exterior wall envelope. Construction documents for all buildings shall describe the exterior wall envelope in sufficient detail to determine compliance with this code. The construction documents shall provide details of the exterior wall envelope as required, including flashing, intersections with dissimilar materials, corners, end details, control joints, intersections at roof, eaves or parapets, means of drainage, water-resistive membrane and details around openings. The construction documents shall include manufacturer's installation instructions that provide supporting documentation that the proposed penetration and opening details described in the construction documents maintain the weather resistance of the exterior wall envelope. The supporting documentation shall fully describe the exterior wall system that was tested, where applicable, as well as the test procedure used.
12.107.020.5 Exterior balconies and elevated walking surfaces. Where balconies and other elevated walking surfaces are exposed to water from direct or blowing rain, snow, or irrigation, and the structural framing is protected by an impervious moisture barrier, the construction documents shall include details for all elements of the impervious moisture barrier system. The construction documents shall include manufacturer's installation instructions.
12.107.020.6 Site plan. The construction documents submitted with the application for permit shall be accompanied by a site plan showing to scale the size and location of new construction and existing structures on the site, distances from lot lines, the established street grades and the proposed finished grades and, as applicable, flood hazard areas, floodways, and design flood elevations; and it shall be drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey. In the case of demolition, the site plan shall show construction to be demolished and the location and size of existing structures and construction that are to remain on the site or plot. The building official is authorized to waive or modify the requirement for a site plan when the application for permit is for alteration or repair or when otherwise warranted.
12.107.020.6.1 Design flood elevations. Where design flood elevations are not specified, they shall be established in accordance with CBC Section 1612.3.1.
12.107.020.7 Structural information. The construction documents shall provide the information specified in CBC Section 1603.
12.107.020.8 Relocatable buildings. Construction documents for relocatable buildings shall comply with CBC Section 3112.
(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)
12.107.030 - Examination of documents. ¶
The building official shall examine or cause to be examined the accompanying construction documents and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the construction indicated and described is in accordance with the requirements of this code and other pertinent laws or ordinances.
12.107.030.1 Approval of construction documents. When the building official issues a permit, the construction documents shall be approved, in writing or by stamp, as "reviewed for code compliance." One (1) set of construction documents so reviewed shall be retained by the building official. The other set shall be returned to the applicant, shall be kept at the site of work and shall be open to inspection by the building official or a duly authorized representative.
12.107.030.2 Previous approvals. This code shall not require changes in the construction documents, construction or designated occupancy of a structure for which a lawful permit has been heretofore issued or otherwise lawfully authorized, and the construction of which has been pursued in good faith within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of this code and has not been abandoned.
12.107.030.3 Phased approval. The building official is authorized to issue a permit for the construction of foundations or any other part of a building or structure before the construction documents for the whole building or structure have been submitted, provided that adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with pertinent requirements of this code. The holder of such permit for the foundation or other parts of a building or structure shall proceed at the holder's own risk with the building operation and without assurance that a permit for the entire structure will be granted.
12.107.030.4 Design professional in responsible charge. Where it is required that documents be prepared by a registered design professional, the building official shall be authorized to require the owner to engage and designate on the building permit application a registered design professional who shall act as the registered design professional in responsible charge. If the circumstances require, the owner shall
designate a substitute registered design professional in responsible charge who shall perform the duties required of the original registered design professional in responsible charge. The building official shall be notified in writing by the owner if the registered design professional in responsible charge is changed or is unable to continue to perform the duties.
The registered design professional in responsible charge shall be responsible for reviewing and coordinating submittal documents prepared by others, including phased and deferred submittal items, for compatibility with the design of the building.
Where structural observation is required, the statement of special inspections shall name the individual or firms who are to perform structural observation and describe the stages of construction at which structural observation is to occur.
12.107.030.5 Deferred submittals. For the purposes of this section, deferred submittals are defined as those portions of the design that are not submitted at the time of the application and that are to be submitted to the building official within a specified period.
Deferral of any submittal items shall have the prior approval of the building official. The registered design professional in responsible charge shall list the deferred submittals on the construction documents for review by the building official.
Documents for deferred submittal items shall be submitted to the registered design professional in responsible charge who shall review them and forward them to the building official with a notation indicating that the deferred submittal documents have been reviewed and been found to be in general conformance to the design of the building. The deferred submittal items shall not be installed until the design and submittal documents have been approved by the building official.
(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)
12.107.040 - Amended construction documents.
Work shall be installed in accordance with the approved construction documents, and any changes made during construction that are not in compliance with the approved construction documents shall be resubmitted for approval as an amended set of construction documents.
(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)
12.107.050 - Retention of construction documents.
One (1) set of approved construction documents shall be retained by the building official for a period of not less than one hundred eighty (180) days from date of completion of the permitted work, or as required by state or local laws.
(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)
Chapter 12.108 - TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND USES
12.108.010 - General.
The building official is authorized to issue a permit for temporary structures and temporary uses. Such permits shall be limited as to time of service but shall not be permitted for more than one hundred eighty (180) days. The building official is authorized to grant extensions for demonstrated cause.
(Ord. No. 1974, div. 1, 11-18-2019)