Siskiyou County Municipal Code Ch. 1 Uniform Codes

* Chapter 1 entitled "Building Permits," consisting of Sections 9-1.01 through 9-1.06, codified from Ordinance No. 331, as amended by Ordinance Nos. 383, effective October 10, 1962, and 386, effective April 24, 1963, repealed by Ordinance No. 422, effective February 10, 1966. Chapter 1 entitled "Building Code, Plumbing Code, and Electrical Code," consisting of Sections 9-1.01 through 9-1.09, as added by said Ordinance No. 422, as amended by Ordinance Nos. 432, effective August 11, 1966, 473, effective December 8, 1968, 609, effective October 9, 1973, 635, effective November 21, 1974, 722, effective January 27, 1977, and 779, effective October 14, 1977, repealed by Ordinance No. 850, effective December 29, 1978. Sections 9-1.01 through 9-1.09, as added by said Ordinance No. 850, repealed by Ordinance No. 889, effective June 22, 1979. Sections 9-1.01 through 9-1.09, as added by said Ordinance No. 889, repealed by Ordinance No. 1057, effective October 11, 1981. Sections 9-1.01 through 9-1.09, as added by said Ordinance No. 1057, repealed by Ordinance No. 89-14, effective June 8, 1989.

Sec. 9-1.0111. Name. This chapter shall be known and may be referred to in all proceedings as the "Siskiyou County Building Code."

Sec. 9-1.0112. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to enact regulations relating to buildings and structures imposing restrictions at least equal to those imposed by the State Building Standards and State Housing Laws and to provide for their enforcement by the Building Official.

Sec. 9-1.0113. Territorial applicability.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all the unincorporated territory of the County and to the incorporated territories under contract inspection service with the County.

Sec. 9-1.0114. Exemptions. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to:

Sec. 9-1.01141. Prevent any person from performing his own building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical work for his/her own private use when performed with the permits and in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and adopted Codes; or

Sec. 9-1.01142. Requiring a building permit for an agricultural building meeting the following criterion for which an agricultural building exemption permit has been issued. Exemption from the building permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of the technical codes or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.

Agricultural building defined. "Agricultural building" means a structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticultural products. This structure shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment; nor shall it be a place used by the public.

Building permits shall not be required for agricultural building as defined above; provided, that:

(a) It is not located in an area of special flood hazard;

(b) It does not have, within said building, workers, customers, bathrooms, assemblages, display or products, packaging, sales, work stations or storage warehousing of processed products in quantity;

(c) It is located on a parcel of land forty (40) acres or more in size and zoned for agricultural uses;

(d) It is located a minimum of twenty (20') feet from the property line and a minimum of twenty-three (23') feet from any dwelling; and

(e) An agricultural building exemption permit is applied for and obtained by the property owner or authorized agent. The fee for an agricultural exempt permit shall be twice the minimum fees established by the fee schedule addressed in Section 9-7.07 plus the State of California's Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (Seismic Fee).

For the purpose of this subsection, an agricultural exempt building is not a building any part of which is used as a place of human occupation, habitation, employment, recreation, or any commercial purposes, including by way of example, but not limited to, covered riding arenas, commercial stables, commercial feeding barns, fish hatchery facilities, wineries, sawmills, dairies, commercial green houses, warehouses and firewood storage structures.

Standards for agricultural exempt buildings: (1) agricultural exempt buildings located on parcels of forty (40) or more acres are limited to 12,000 square feet in area and thirty-five (35') feet in height; (2) the ground floor of an agricultural exempt building shall be on grade and must be concrete, dirt or asphalt concrete; (3) standard permits and inspections are required for electrical and plumbing installations. Electrical installations are limited to lights and not more than two (2) 110v receptacles. Plumbing installations are limited to exterior hose bibbs and a clean up sink (commercial or residential rated). Mechanical installations are prohibited. Waste systems for plumbing installations require approvals from the Department of Environmental Health, prior to permit issuance; (4) exiting from agricultural exempt buildings shall be arranged so that no point in the building is more than three hundred (300') feet from an exit; (5) an inspection shall be requested after the structure is built and prior to expiration to verify the location and usage of the building; and (6) an agricultural building exemption permit shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building authorized by such permit is not completed within one year of the date of issuance.

Such buildings or structures are not for human habitation or places of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated, or packaged, nor shall they be a place used by the public or attached to any other occupancy (use) nor shall the area of the existing plus addition exceed the allowable area for a single building or structure. Such agricultural exemption shall not apply to any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical equipment installed in or on the building or structure, or connection to any potable water supply or waste disposal system. All persons claiming an agricultural exemption pursuant to this chapter shall, before commencing construction, make application with the Building Official, with a fee in the amount set heretofore, to offset the County's cost of processing the application, and secure from the Building Official an agricultural exempt permit.

The owner or person proposing to construct a building or structure or perform any work exempt from the provisions hereof may obtain inspection services as provided in this chapter dealing with building permit inspections by applying for and obtaining the appropriate permits and paying the regularly established fees therefor in the same manner as those said building, structure, or work when not exempt pursuant to this section.

Sec. 9-1.0115. Enforcement.

This chapter shall be enforced by the Building Department, a division of the Department of Public Health and Community Development. The Deputy Director of Building is the Building Official for Siskiyou County.

Sec. 9-1.0116. Violations:

Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred and no/100ths ($500.00) Dollars, or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a term not to exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each and every day during any portion of which any provision of this chapter is violated shall be deemed to be a separate offense and shall be punishable as provided in this subsection.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989, as amended by § I, Ord. 00-01, eff. March 2, 2000, and § II, Ord. 07-10, eff. May 10, 2007)

Sec. 9-1.021. Adoption of the Uniform Building Code Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the International Conference of Building Officials. The Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition, and Appendices thereto and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection. Exceptions to Appendix Chapter Adoption: Appendix Chapter 3, Divisions I and III; Appendix Chapter 4, Division I; Appendix Chapter 10; Appendix Chapter 11, Divisions I and II; Appendix Chapter 13; Appendix Chapter 21; Appendix Chapter 23; Appendix Chapter 33, Sections 3306, 3309.1 and 3309.2. Appendix Chapter 33 sections apply only when there is or is to be a structure or building associated with the grading work for which a building permit was or is required.

Sec. 9-1.022. Adoption of the Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. The Uniform Plumbing Code, 1994 Edition, and Appendices thereto and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

Sec. 9-1.0221. Whenever the Uniform Plumbing Code makes reference to the administrative authority relating to sewers, sewage disposal systems, adequate supply and approved sources of potable water, the County Health Officer shall be the person referenced.

Sec. 9-1.023. Adoption of the National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association.

The National Electrical Code, 1993 Edition, and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

Sec. 9-1.024. Adoption of the Uniform Mechanical Code of the International Conference of Building Officials.

The Uniform Mechanical Code, 1994 Edition, and all Appendices thereto and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

Sec. 9-1.025. Adoption of the Uniform Housing Code of the International Conference of Building Officials.

The Uniform Housing Code, 1994 Edition, and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

Sec. 9-1.026. Adoption of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings of the International Conference of Building Officials. The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1994 Edition, and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

Sec. 9-1.027. Adoption of the Uniform Sign Code of the International Conference of Building Officials.

The Uniform Sign Code, 1994 Edition, and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

Sec. 9-1.028. Adoption of the Uniform Administrative Code of the International Conference of Building Officials.

The Uniform Administrative Code, 1994 Edition, and all subsequent editions thereof, is adopted by this reference with the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this subsection.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989, § I, Ord. 92-29, eff. September 8, 1992, §§ I, II, III, Ord. 92-31, eff. October 13, 1992, and §§ I—X, Od. 95-28, eff. December 12, 1995)

Sec. 9-1.031. Except as specified in Section 301 of the Uniform Administrative Code, no building, structure or building service equipment regulated by this code and the technical codes shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate, appropriate permit for each building, structure or building service equipment has first been obtained from the Siskiyou County Building Department.

Sec. 9-1.032. Permit applications.

Application for permits shall be made in the manner specified in Section 302 of the Uniform Administrative Code. Application shall be accompanied by plans and specifications as required by Section 302. The application form shall be supplied by the Building Department and completed by the property owner or authorized licensed agent.

Sec. 9-1.033. Issuance of permits.

The Building Department shall check the application, plans and specifications and issue or deny a permit for such work in the manner specified in Section 303 of the Uniform Administrative Code. The permit shall have the validity specified in Section 303 of the Uniform Administrative Code and shall be subject to suspension or revocation as specified in Section 303 and shall expire automatically in a manner specified in Section 303.

Sec. 9-1.034. Compliance with fire, flood, health, zoning and Road Department regulations.

No permit shall be issued for any project subject to fire, flood, health, zoning or Road Department approval unless and until the Building Official is satisfied that the work to be authorized by said permit complies with fire, flood, health, zoning and Road Department regulations.

Sec. 9-1.035. Certificates of use and occupancy.

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to use or occupy any building or structure without first obtaining a certificate of use and occupancy when required by Section 109 of the Uniform Building Code.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989, §§ II and III, Ord. 92-29, eff. September 7, 1992, and §§ XI—XIV, Ord. 95-28, eff. December 12, 1995)

Sec. 9-1.041. Inspections required.

All work for which a permit is required by this chapter shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Building Official.

Sec. 9-1.042. Inspection record cards.

Work requiring a permit shall not commence until the permit holder or his/her agent shall have posted an inspection record card, issued by the Building Official. The permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises and in such a position as to allow the required entries to be made thereon regarding inspection of the work.

Sec. 9-1.043. Approval required. It is unlawful for any person to continue any work beyond the point indicated for each of the inspections.

Sec. 9-1.044. Permanent utility connections.

It is unlawful for any person or utility company to connect electric power lines or natural gas or liquid petroleum gas sources permanently to any building or structure for which a building permit is required by this chapter until the appropriate inspection has been made. This subsection shall not prohibit the use of a temporary power pole during construction.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989)

(a) Repair to agricultural (Group U, Division 3) structures may be made without approvals, permits or inspections.

(b) Electrical equipment shall not be required for single-family dwellings where electrical power is not available from a serving public utility and not otherwise required by the Uniform Housing Code.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989, as amended by § XV, Ord. 95-28, eff. December 12, 1995)

The total valuation used to compute fees shall be determined by the Building Official, either by the application of the most recent edition of the Building Valuation Data as published by the International Code Council or by the actual costs of construction. Evidence showing the actual cost shall be in the form of contract or by other reliable evidence which would give a true account of such cost.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989)

(Ord. No. 08-18, § I, 11-4-2008)

The schedule of fees is contained in the Uniform Administrative Code, 1997 Edition.

Fee Exception: A permit will be issued without a fee for governmental agencies and quasi-governmental agencies, including but not limited to, fire companies when such permit authorizes work to be done on properties of such agencies for their own use and the governmental or quasi-governmental entities obtain the permit themselves. Notwithstanding the above waiver of fees, the Essential Services Building Act of 1986 and the California Building Code require that certain tests and inspections be made on specified buildings by a registered or licensed third party. The cost of expenses associated with such tests and inspections will be paid for by the affected public or quasi-governmental entity.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989, as amended by § I, Urgency Ord. 90-21, eff. June 26, 1990, § XVI, Ord. 95-28, eff. December 12, 1995, and § I, Ord. 97-28, eff. November 13, 1997)

(Ord. No. 08-18, § I, 11-4-2008)

The Chief Building Inspector may approve a request for refund if made in accordance with Section 304.6 of the Uniform Administrative Code.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989)

(Ord. No. 08-18, § I, 11-4-2008)

This chapter is not to be construed as imposing upon the County any liability or responsibility for damages resulting from defective building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical work; nor shall the County or any official or employee thereof be held to assume any special liability or responsibility by reason of the inspections authorized by this chapter.

(§ I, Ord. 89-14, eff. June 8, 1989)