Santa Clara Municipal Code Ch. 15.15 Building Code (CA)

§ 15.15.010. Adoption of Building Code.¶

The 2025 California Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc. and the California Building Standards Commission in Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, is hereby adopted and by this reference expressly incorporated and made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth herein. The adoption includes Appendix A through Appendix O. The 2025 California Building Code shall be designated and referred to as the “Building Code” for the City of Santa Clara.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

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§ 15.15.020. Group R3 automatic fire sprinkler systems.¶

Volume 1 of the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 9, Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, Section 903, Automatic Sprinkler Systems, Subsection 903.2.8.1, Group R-3, is hereby amended by adding the following text immediately following Subsection 903.2.8.1:

Section 903.2.8.1.1 Additions to Group R3, Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems. An automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3, shall be provided throughout existing buildings, when additions are made that increase the square footage of a building by more than 1,200 square feet or the building total square footage will exceed 3,600 square feet. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout existing buildings when new basements, regardless of size, are added or when existing basements are expanded by more than 50%.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

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§ 15.15.030. Stairways.¶

Volume 1 of the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, Section 1011, Stairways, Subsection 1011.1, General, is hereby amended by adding the following text immediately following Subsection 1011.1:

Section 1011.1.1 Stairway Configuration. Stairways shafts which are part of a required means of egress and which are required to be fire rated enclosed on any side, shall be entirely vertical without horizontal offsets.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

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§ 15.15.040. Exit access.¶

Volume 1 of the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, Section 1016, Exit Access, Subsection 1016.1, General, is hereby amended by adding the following text immediately following Subsection 1016.1:

Section 1016.1.1 Exit Access Configuration. Exit Access in multi-story buildings which are part of the required means of egress from a stairway, and which are required to be fire rated, shall be routed to the exterior of the building or structure in the shortest configuration possible.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

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§ 15.15.050. Interior exit stairways and ramps.¶

Volume 1 of the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, Section 1022, Exits, Subsection 1022.1, General, is hereby amended by adding the following text immediately following Subsection 1022.1:

Section 1022.1.1 Interior Exit Stairways and Ramps Configuration. Interior Exit Stairways and Ramps in multi-story buildings which are part of the required means of egress, and which are required to be fire rated, shall be routed to the exterior of the building or structure in the shortest configuration possible.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

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§ 15.15.060. Plain concrete.¶

Volume 2 of the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 19, Concrete, Section 1905, Seismic Requirements, Subsection 1905.6, Structural Plain Concrete, is hereby amended to read as follows:

1905.6 Structural Plan Concrete. Structural plain concrete elements shall comply with this section in lieu of section 14.1.4 of ACI 318.
1905.6.1 - Left intentionally blank.
1905.6.2 - Seismic Design Categories C, D, E and F.
Structures assigned to Seismic Design Category C, D, E or F shall not have elements of structural plain concrete, except as follows:
1. Left intentionally blank.
2. Isolated footings of plain concrete supporting pedestals or columns are permitted, provided the projection of the footing beyond the face of the supported member does not exceed the footing thickness.
3. Plain concrete footings supporting walls are permitted, provided the footings have at least two continuous longitudinal reinforcing bars not smaller than No. 4, with a total area of not less than 0.002 times the gross cross-sectional area of the footing. A minimum of one bar shall be provided at the top and bottom of the footing. Continuity of reinforcement shall be provided at corners and intersections.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

Exceptions & meaning →