Santa Clara Municipal Code Ch. 15.17 Residential Code (CA)

§ 15.17.010. Adoption of Residential Code.¶

The 2025 California Residential Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc. and the California Building Standards Commission in Part 2.5 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 Appendices: AA, BB, BF, BO, CI and CJ. The 2025 California Residential Code shall be designated and referred to as the “Residential Code” for the City of Santa Clara.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 15.17.020. Townhouse automatic fire sprinkler systems.¶

California Residential Code, Chapter 3, Building Planning, Section R309, Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, Subsection R309.1, Townhouse Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

Section R309.1 Townhouse automatic fire sprinkler systems. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall be installed in townhouses.
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout existing townhouses, when additions are made that increase buildings square footage by more than 1,200 square feet or the building total square footage will exceed 3,600 square feet.
2. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall not be required where additions or alterations are made to existing townhouses that do not have an automatic residential fire sprinkler system installed where the additions are 1,200 square feet or less and the building area will be 3,600 square feet or less.
3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout existing townhouses when new basements, regardless of size, are added or when existing basements are expanded by more than 50%.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 15.17.030. One- and two-family dwellings automatic fire sprinkler systems.¶

California Residential Code, Chapter 3, Building Planning, Section R309, Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, Subsection R309.2, One- and Two-Family Dwellings Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, is hereby deleted and replaced with:

Section R309.2. One- and two-family dwellings automatic fire sprinkler systems. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall be installed in one- and two-family dwellings, including Accessory Dwelling Units, except as otherwise provided below.
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout existing One- and Two-Family Dwellings, when additions are made that increase buildings square footage by more than 1,200 square feet or the building total square footage will exceed 3,600 square feet. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall not be required for additions or alterations to existing buildings that are not already provided with an automatic residential sprinkler system where the additions or alterations are 1,200 square feet or less and the building area will be 3,600 square feet or less. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout One- and Two-Family Dwellings when new basements, regardless of size, are added and existing basements are expanded by more than 50%.
2. An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required for an Accessory Dwelling Unit, provided that all of the following are met:
2.1. The unit meets the definition of an Accessory Dwelling Unit as defined in Cal. Gov’t Code § 65852.2 . [1]
2.2. The existing primary residence does not have automatic fire sprinklers.
2.3. If the accessory dwelling unit is detached, it does not exceed 1,200 square feet in size.
2.4. The unit is on the same lot as the primary residence.

(Ord. 2081, 11/4/2025)

[1]

Editor's note: See now Cal. Gov’t Code § 66310 et seq.

Exceptions & meaning →