Susanville Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 Building Standards Code

The California Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition Title 24, Chapters 1 and 2 adopted by the California Building Standards Commission, including amendments, appendices, annexes, attachments and modifications included in Title 15 Buildings and Construction of the city of Susanville Municipal Code is adopted as the building code of the city and one certified copy thereof shall be kept in the office of the building official.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

Appendices C, G, H, I and J of the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted as part of the building code of the city.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

Appendix BF and CI of the California Residential Building Code, 2025 Edition, is adopted as part of the building code of the city.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

Annex C of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, is adopted as part of the building code of the city.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

Appendices B and C of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted as part of the building code of the city.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

A. Appendices A, C and I of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted as part of the building code of the city.

B. A pressure expansion tank with a minimum acceptance capacity of one gallon shall be installed in every new potable water system connected to the city's water system. Additionally, when a water heater is replaced and there is not an expansion tank present one shall be installed.

C. A pressure regulator in compliance with California Plumbing Code, 2025, and with a maximum supply pressure setting of 80 psi shall be installed in each water system where the city determines that there may be the potential for excess water pressure.

D. All proposed gray water systems shall require planning division use permit approval prior to issuance of a plumbing permit.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

Appendices B, BB, C, CC, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q and Appendix Chapter 4 of the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted as part of the fire code of the city.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 17-1007 § 2, 2017; Ord. 2020-1021 § 2, 2020; Ord. 22-1038 § 2, 2022; Ord. 25-1050, 12/3/2025)

Limits of districts referred to in Section 5704.2.9.6.1 of the California Fire Code in which storage of class 1 and class 2 liquids in aboveground tanks are prohibited.

The limits of districts referred to in Section 5704.2.9.6.1 of the California Fire Code in which new aboveground storage of class 1 and class 2 liquids are prohibited, are established as follows:

Commencing at a point which is the point on the easterly line of Roop Street distant 300 feet north of the northerly right-of-way line of Main Street and thence running easterly and parallel to the northerly and easterly right-of-way line of Main Street to the southeasterly right-of-way line of Riverside Drive Extension; thence southwesterly along the southeasterly right-of-way line of Riverside Drive Extension and Riverside Drive to a point which is southwesterly 300 feet distant from the southwesterly right-of-way line of Main Street; thence northwesterly and westerly parallel to the southerly line of Main Street to the easterly line of Roop Street; thence northerly, along the easterly line of Roop Street to the point of beginning.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)

A. Section 903.2 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

An Automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all levels of all new Groups A, B, E, F, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4, and S occupancies of more than 3,000 square feet.

Automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 13 for Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4, and S occupancies. NFPA 13R is applicable for residential occupancies up to and including four stories in height, in Groups R-1, R-2, R-4 occupancies.

Exceptions to or reductions in code requirements are not allowed for the installation of sprinkler systems, in accordance with NFPA 13R, unless specifically allowed by the California Fire Code.

Exceptions:

1. Detached gazebos, temporary tents and ramadas for public use.

2. Independent buildings such as restrooms or snack shops 600 square feet or less that are of non-combustible construction associated with golf courses, parks, and similar uses.

3. Guardhouses that are less than 300 square feet in size used to control access to or within residential and/or commercial developments of combustible construction or 600 square feet or less that are of non-combustible construction.

4. Detached equipment or storage buildings for commercial use not exceeding 300 square feet.

5. Detached non-combustible canopies used exclusively for automotive, motor fuel-dispensing stations not exceeding 5,000 square feet, or detached non-combustible carports or parking canopies regardless of size.

6. Recreation vehicles that were not site built and are portable in nature.

7. Factory built buildings utilized as temporary office buildings similar to real estate leasing offices and construction offices.

B. Building Additions. Section 903.21.2.1 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Building additions in existing occupancies other than R-3 shall be protected by an automatic fire sprinkler as follows:

a. Existing buildings less than 3,000 square feet as of January 1, 2014. Additions resulting in the structure exceeding 3,000 square feet shall be protected by automatic fire sprinklers in the new addition area. Additions resulting in the structure exceeding 3,000 square feet and increasing the size by more than 50% will require that the entire structure be retrofitted with automatic fire sprinklers.

b. Existing buildings greater than 3,000 square feet as of January 1, 2014. Addition(s) resulting in an increase of up to 50% of the existing size shall be protected with automatic fire sprinklers in the new addition area. Additions greater than 50% of the existing building size will require the entire structure to be retrofitted with automatic fire sprinklers.

c. They are required to be protected in accordance with the California Fire Code, NFPA 13R, and NFPA 13.

C. Modifications. The chief of the fire department shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of the fire code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee, or his or her duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code, provided that the intent of the code shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when granted or allowed shall be entered upon the records of the city and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.

D. Appeals. Whenever the chief of the fire department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a license or permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal the decision of the chief of the fire department to the city council within 30 days from the date of the decision being appealed.

E. Determination of New Materials, Processes or Occupancies Which Shall Require Permits. The building inspector and the chief of the fire department shall act as a committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies, which shall require permits, in addition to those now enumerated in the code. The chief of the fire department shall post such list in a conspicuous place in his or her office, and distribute copies thereof to interested persons.

F. Fire Prevention and Self-Inspection.

1. Bureau of Fire Prevention—Appointment of Inspectors. The chief of the fire department may designate such members of the fire department as inspectors, as shall from time to time be necessary. The chief of the fire department shall recommend to the city council the employment of technical inspectors, who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination shall be open to members and nonmembers of the fire department, and appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term with removal only for cause.

2. Self-Inspection for Certain Low Risk Businesses. For the purpose of providing and maintaining functions necessary for the prevention of fire and for the protection of life and property from fire and panic, the chief of the fire department does establish a self-inspection program assuring certain occupancies within the city are inspected on a periodic basis for fire safety or at the discretion of the chief of the fire department or designee. The chief of the fire department will maintain the policy, forms and documents to administer this self-inspection program. Failure to comply with this self-inspection program will result in treble inspection fees as outlined in the current "City of Susanville Fees for Services."

G. Penalties for Violation. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the California Fire Code adopted herein or fails to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the city council or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor. All persons violating the Fire Prevention Code shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time. The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013; Ord. 19-1015 § 1, 2019)

The 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings shall be used when addressing substandard and dangerous buildings that cannot be addressed with Health and Safety Code Sections 17920 through 17927 or other adopted codes and is adopted as part of the building code of the city.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)

Due to local climate conditions the following amendments shall apply in all cases:

A. Building Code Section 1809.5 item Number 1 shall read as:

The frost line in the city of Susanville is hereby determined to be twenty inches below finished grade.

B. Section 1809.8 for plain concrete is revised to read:

In each building foundation, except those that are engineered by a California licensed architect, civil or structural engineer, there shall be two # 4 reinforcing bars spaced six inches apart side by side in the footings.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)

A permit applicant may qualify for a temporary certificate of occupancy under the provisions of the building code when they are unable to comply with all of conditions of his or her project, the building official with the consent of other applicable departments/divisions is authorized to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy, provided that the applicant satisfies the following requirements: (1) agreeing in writing to perform any such act or condition within a specified period of time; and (2) furnishing security in connection with the performance of such act or condition. The security shall be one of those allowed by the state of California Government Code Section 66499(a), and shall be at least 125% of the costs of performance of such act or condition.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)

No building or structure shall be used or a certificate of occupancy shall only be issued when the building permit is issued as final, all fees have been paid, and all other departments, agencies and divisions who have placed conditions upon the permit have been satisfied. Certificates of occupancy are issued for all new construction including, but not limited to, industrial, commercial and residential buildings; building additions where a change in occupancy classification occurs; and any change in occupancy classification for an existing building.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)

On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing and fire systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required in accordance with the established fee schedule as currently adopted by resolution of the city of Susanville. The permit cost is based upon the current cost of construction valuation established by either taking the actual contract price or shall be determined by the use of the most recent building valuation data chart for construction cost as published in the "Building Safety Journal," published by the ICC, and/or by permit fees established by resolution for individual electrical, mechanical, or plumbing items or fixtures.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)

Where work for which a permit is required is started prior to obtaining a permit the fees for said permit shall be doubled. The payment of the double fee shall not relieve the persons from fully complying with the other provisions of this title or from additional penalties prescribed in this title.

(Ord. 13-994 § 1, 2013)