Santa Maria Municipal Code Ch. 9-40 Mechanical Code

The provisions of the California Mechanical Code and Appendices B, C, D, F, and G, 2025 Edition, and subsequent Editions, as adopted by the State of California, Building Standards Commission or successor agency, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, are adopted by reference, subject to the additions and amendments set forth in this Chapter.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 104.4.3 of Chapter 1 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended in its entirety as follows.

104.4.3. Expiration. Every permit issued shall remain valid for a period of 365 days after issuance. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Subsection 104.5 of Section 104 of Chapter 1 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

104.5 Fees. Permit fees shall be as set forth in the current City of Santa Maria Schedule of Fees and Charges.

104.5.1 Fee adjustments by resolution: Authorized. The fees provided for in this Section shall be established and amended by City Council resolution.

104.5.2 Special Investigation Fees: Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this Code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, may be imposed subject to the discretion of the Building Official whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall not exceed the amount of all permit fees required by this Code for the unpermitted work. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this Code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.

104.5.3 Refunds. The Building Official may authorize refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected. The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent of the permit application fee when an application for a permit is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review is done. The Building Official shall not authorize refunding of any fee paid except on a written application filed by the original applicant not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Subsection 105.2 of Section 105 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding a new Subsection 105.2.7 to read as follows:

105.2.7 Special Inspections Required.

105.2.7.1 Smoke Detectors. Special inspection shall be required for the installation of smoke detectors associated with smoke dampers and/ or H.V.A.C. shutoffs. The detectors shall be tested by an approved testing agency or a qualified third-party Special Inspector. The Special Inspector/Testing Agency shall be an independent third party individual or firm and shall not be the installing contractor. A Professional Engineer shall submit a final signed and sealed report to the Building Inspector documenting successful testing and device operation prior to City issuance of final inspection approval or occupancy approval, including conditional occupancy approval.

105.2.7.2 Duct Fire Wrap. Special inspection shall be required for the installation of listed fire-resistive duct wrap systems that consists of two or more layers of material. The Special Inspector shall physically be present during the installation of each wrap layer and verify that it is installed per its listing. The Special Inspector shall be an independent third party individual or firm and shall not be the installing contractor. The Special Inspector shall submit a final signed and dated report to the Building Inspector documenting successful installation per its listing prior to City issuance of final inspection approval or occupancy approval, including conditional occupancy approval.

105.2.7.3 Unlisted Gas Fired Appliances. Gas fired appliances, which are proposed that are not listed and labeled by an approved listing agency shall have a special inspection, be evaluated by a qualified California Licensed Professional Engineer and have an Engineer's Report provided prior to final inspection approval by the City of Santa Maria.

The project owner shall employ a qualified Engineer to evaluate the unlisted gas-fired appliance and its installation. The qualified Engineer shall prepare an Engineer's Report that finds the equipment and installation to be in compliance with the California Mechanical Code, all applicable nationally recognized construction and installation standards, and declares the installation to be in a "safe operational condition" as of the date of the report.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Subsections 106.1 and 106.3 of Section 106 of Chapter 1 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, are amended in their entirety to read as follows:

106.1 Violations. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any mechanical system or equipment in the City, or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of this Code.

106.3 Penalties. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provision of this Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment as set forth in Title 1, Chapter 6 of the City of Santa Maria Municipal Code. Furthermore, each separate day or any portion thereof, during which any violation of this Code occurs or continues, shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 107 of Chapter 1 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding new Subsections 107.3 and 107.4 to read as follows:

107.3 Appeal Hearing Fee. A fee as provided in the current City of Santa Maria Schedule of Fees and Charges shall accompany an application for a hearing before the Board of Appeals.

107.4 Special Purpose Members. For the purpose of appeals to the standards of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations affecting accommodations for persons with disabilities, two persons shall be added who shall have a disability as defined in Section 202, California Building Code, 2025 Edition.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Chapter 1 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by the adding a new Section 108 to read as follows:

108.0 Qualifications for Permits.

108.1 To whom permits may be issued. No permit shall be issued to any person or firm to do or cause to be done any mechanical work regulated by the Code except to such person or firm holding both a valid contractor's license issued by the State enabling the performance of such work, and a valid City business license to engage in the business of such person contracting such work in the City.

EXCEPTION: Any mechanical permits required by the Code may be issued to any person to do any mechanical work regulated by the Code in a single-family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes including the usual accessory buildings in connection therewith, provided such person is the owner of such dwelling and that the same is occupied by said owner, or that said owner intends to personally occupy such dwelling, and provided further that said owner shall personally purchase all materials and perform all labor in connection with the work.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Subsection 302.1 of Section 302 of Chapter 3 of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, is amended by adding new Exception to read as follows:

EXCEPTION: Third-Party Listing. Unlisted appliances and equipment shall be evaluated by a Listing Agency or qualified professional engineer with special inspection and approved by the Building Official. A report addressing the appliance/equipment shall be submitted to the Building Official that finds the equipment and installation to be in compliance with the California Mechanical Code; all applicable nationally recognized construction and installation standards; and declares the installation to be in a "safe operational condition" as of the date of the report.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)

Section 303 of Chapter 3 the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition is amended with the adding new Subsections 303.13 and 303.14 to read as follows:

303.13 Weather Protection. Unless listed or designed for outside installation, appliances and equipment on the roof of a building shall be enclosed in a penthouse complying with the requirements of the Building Code for roof structures or shall be completely enclosed in a weatherproof housing. The housing, when constructed of metal, shall be of galvanized steel not less than 0.024 inch (0.61 mm) (No. 24 U.S. Standard gage) or of aluminum not less than No. 22 B.&S. gage supported on a substantial metal frame. In addition to the requirements of Section 904.10, the housing shall be not larger than necessary to properly cover and provide a minimum six inch (152 mm) clearance around the appliance or appliances enclosed therein, including all controls and draft diverters.

303.14 Ventilation. An enclosure or penthouse shall be provided with openings complying with the requirements of Chapter 7, together with means for proper ventilation of the appliance or equipment draft hood relief openings.

(Ord. 2019-10, eff. 1/1/20; Ord. 2022-06, eff. 1/1/23; Ord. 2025-05, eff. 1/1/2026)