Stanton Municipal Code Ch. 16.04 Building Code

Note: Ord. 1128, was repealed by Ord. 1164, 9/23/2025.

There is hereby adopted by reference the California Building Code Volumes 1 and 2, together with Chapter 1 and Appendix J, 2025 Edition, based on the 2024 International Building Code as published by the International Code Council. Such Code, and amendments thereto as set forth in this chapter, are incorporated, pursuant to California Government Code Section 50022.2 et seq., as though fully set forth at length herein, for the purpose of prescribing regulations for the erecting, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, improving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, equipment use, height, and area of buildings and structures within the corporate limits of the city. From the date on which this section takes effect, the provisions of said code, together with amendments thereto, shall be controlling within the corporate limits of the city.

(Ord. 1164, 9/23/2025)

Based upon the findings of the city council and upon the recommendations of the fire chief and building official, the city council hereby amends the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, applicable within the corporate limits of the city, as follows:

Section 104.8 of the California Building Code is hereby amended by adding a sentence to the end of the paragraph as follows:

Section 104.8 Liability.

The provisions of this section shall apply if the building official or his/her authorized representatives are employees of this jurisdiction and shall also apply if the building official or his/her authorized representatives are acting under contract as agents of this jurisdiction.

Section 105.2 Work exempt from a permit is amended by amending the following categories of work that are exempt from a building permit:

A. Section 105.2 "Building" Item 1 is amended to read as follows:

1. One story detached accessory structures used as storage sheds, playhouses or similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet and the ceiling height is not over 7 feet.

B. Section 105.2 "Building" Item 2 is amended to read as follows:

1. Fences not over six feet high and block walls not over three feet high.

C. Section 105.2 "Building" Item 4 is amended to read as follows:

1. Retaining walls which are not over four feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.

D. Section 105.2 "Building" Item 9 is amended to read as follows:

1. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R occupancy that are less than 18 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above ground.

Section 105.5 Expiration is amended to read as follows:

105.5. Expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 12 months and, after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended, abandoned or uncompleted for a period of 180 days after the work has commenced or 180 days past the last required inspection. The building official is authorized to grant an extension of time for not more than 180 days. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated. No permit shall be extended more than once.

If work has been suspended or abandoned past 12 months, the permit shall be expired, and new permit(s) issued. The fee for such renewal of permit(s) shall be one half of the original permit fee or one half of the fee of the current adopted fee schedule at the time of renewal. Permits which have been abandoned and require only final inspection may be reissued at minimum fee or as determined by the building official.

Section 105.8 Reconstruction is added to read as follows:

105.8. Reconstruction. If the value of the reconstruction (or renovation) of a building is equal to or exceeds 75% of the existing habitable square footage of the building, the entire building shall comply with the code provisions for new construction. The value of the reconstruction (or renovation) for a property shall include the value of all construction stemming from construction-related permits issued within the last two years.

Section 113.1 General is amended to read as follows:

113.1 General. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of this code, there shall be and is hereby created a Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall consist of five members and composed of the Mayor and the other members of the City Council. Said members shall hold their respective membership on said Board of Appeals by reason of, and concurrently with their terms of service as Council members and shall cease to be such members upon their ceasing to be Council members. The Building Official shall be the Secretary of the Board. The Board may adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its investigations and shall render all its decisions and findings on contested matters in writing to the Building Official, with duplicative copy thereof to any appellant or contestant affected by any such decision of finding.

Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The Mayor shall be the presiding Officer of the Board. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Brown Act.

The Board shall have the right, subject to such limits as the City Council may prescribe by resolution, to employ at the cost and expense of the City, such qualified individuals as the Board, in its discretion, may deem reasonably necessary in order to assist it in its investigations and making its findings and decisions.

Section 202 of the California Building Code is hereby revised by adding "Barrier," "Swimming Pool," "Spark Arrester," and "OCFA" as follows:

BARRIER. Barrier is a fence, wall, building wall, or any combination of these that completely surrounds the swimming pool and obstructs access to the swimming pool.

SWIMMING POOL. Any body of water created by artificial means which is designed, intended for use, or used for swimming or immersion purposes, which has a water depth exceeding 18 inches. The term, "pool," includes swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, above-and below-ground, and vinyl-lined pools; pool does not include plumbing fixtures such as bathtubs nor does it apply to man-made lakes, reservoirs, farm ponds, or ponds used primarily for public park purposes, water conservation purposes, irrigation purposes or for the watering of livestock.

OCFA. Orange County Fire Authority, fire authority having jurisdiction.

SPARK ARRESTER. A listed device constructed of noncombustible material specifically for the purpose of meeting one of the following conditions:

Section 903.2 Where required is hereby amended as follows:

[F] 903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in buildings and structures shall be provided in the following locations:

Section 903.3.5.3 Hydraulically calculated systems is added as follows:

903.3.5.3 Hydraulically calculated systems. The design of hydraulically calculated fire sprinkler systems shall not exceed 90% of the water supply capacity.

Exception: When static pressure exceeds 100 psi, and when required by the fire code official, the fire sprinkler system shall not exceed the water supply capacity specified by Table 903.3.5.3.

Section 1505.1 General is amended, by the deletion of Table 1505.1 and the addition of a new Table 1505.1 thereto, to read as follows:

TABLE 1505.1 a MINIMUM ROOF COVERING CLASSIFICATIONS TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1505.1.2 Roof coverings within all other areas other than Fire Hazard Severity Zones or a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is amended, by the deletion of the entire section and the addition of a new section thereto, to read as follows:

1505.1.2 Roof coverings within all other areas other than Fire Hazard Severity Zones or a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50% of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class B.

Section 1803.1.1.1 is amended to add the following:

1803.1.1.1 Geologic or geotechnical reports. The Building Official may require a geologic or geotechnical report or both, in accordance with the 2025 California Building Code; a geologic report shall be prepared by a Certified Engineering Geologist licensed by the State of California. A geotechnical report shall be prepared by a registered Civil Engineer versed in soils engineering and qualified to perform this work. When both a geotechnical and geologic report are required, the two reports shall be coordinated before submission to the Building Official. The Building Official, at his/her discretion shall obtain any technical support necessary to approve the report. Submitted reports shall contain a finding regarding the safety of the site from any variety of geologic hazard and a finding regarding the effect the proposed improvements, grading and/or construction and use of the site will have on the stability of the site and/or property outside the site. Any recommendation or action presented in the approved reports along with any conditions of approval shall be incorporated into the construction of site improvements. A fee shall be collected for the cost of review of the reports and any required addendums.

Section 1807.1.6 Prescriptive design of concrete and masonry foundation walls is amended to read as follows:

1807.1.6 Prescriptive design of concrete and masonry foundation walls. Concrete and masonry foundation walls that are laterally supported at the top and bottom shall be permitted to be designed and constructed in accordance with this section. Prescriptive design of foundation walls shall not be used for structures assigned to Seismic Design Category D, E or F.

Section 3109.1.1 Construction permit; safety features required is added to read as follows:

3109.1.1 Construction permit; safety features required. New or remodeled pools or spas, at a private single-family home, shall have an enclosure complying with the amended California Residential Code Appendix CI.

(Ord. 1164, 9/23/2025)