Chapter 15.04 — CONSTRUCTION CODES

Note: Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025 repealed and replaced §§ 15.04.010—15.04.080, adopted by Ord. 22-13.

Except as hereinafter provided in this title, the following codes are adopted by reference as the building codes of the city of Temecula:

• A. California Building Code, 2025 Edition, Volumes 1 and 2 (Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• B. California Historical Building Code, 2025 Edition (Part 8 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• C. California Existing Building Code, 2025 Edition (Part 10 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• D. California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition (Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• E. California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition (Part 4 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• F. California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition (Part 5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), including Appendix A, B, D, H, IAPMO IS 31-2022 of Appendix I and J.

• G. California Fire Code, 2025 Edition (Part 9 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), including Chapters 3, 25, Sections 503, 510.2, 1103.2 and 5707;

• H. California Administrative Code, 2025 Edition (Part 1 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• I. California Energy Code, 2025 Edition (Part 6 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• J. California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition, (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), including Appendix A5 Non-Residential Voluntary Measures;

• K. California Referenced Standards Code, 2025 Edition (Part 12 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

• L. California Residential Code, 2025 Edition (Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), including Appendix CI Swimming;

• M. California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2025 Edition (Part 7 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations);

A copy of each of the above codes shall be maintained in the office of city clerk and shall be made available for public inspection while such codes are in force. (Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

City of Temecula, CA § 15.04.020 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

§ 15.04.020

The following amendments, additions and deletions are made to the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this chapter.

• A. Section 105.2 is hereby amended by modifying subsection 4 under Building, to read as follows:

  4. Retaining walls that are not over three (3) feet in height unless supporting a sloped surcharge and garden walls not over four (4) feet in height, measured from the top of footing to top of wall or impounding flammable Class I, Class II or III-A liquids.

• B.

  • Section 105.3 is hereby amended by adding subsection 8 to read as follows:
  8. All contractors and their subcontractors must have current and valid city business licenses.

• C. Section 105.5 is amended to read as follows:

105.5 Expiration: Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 12 months or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180 days or if the permit is revoked. Before such work can be recommenced a new permit shall first be obtained by reinstatement of the permit and the fee therefor shall be one half the amount required for reinstating the permit for such work. A permittee may request an extension of a permit. The Building Official may grant in writing, one or more extensions of time for periods of not more than 180 days per extension. The permittee shall request an extension pursuant to this subdivision in writing and demonstrate justifiable cause for the extension.

• D. Section 110.3.8 is amended to read as follows:

110.3.8 Fire- and smoke-resistant penetrations. Protection of joints and penetrations in fire resistance-rated assemblies shall not be concealed from view until inspected for all designed fire protection. Required fire seals/fire barriers in fire assemblies at fire-resistant penetrations shall be installed and certified by a third party, state of California licensed fireproofing company and certification of compliance shall be provided for building official's final approval.

• E. Section 111.1 is hereby amended by adding the following: To ensure appropriate continued use of any occupied space the building official will issue a new Certificate of Occupancy upon any change of tenant at the fee rates established by resolution of the City Council.

• F.

• Section 114.4.1 is hereby added to read as follows:

114.4.1 Civil penalty. Any person, firm or corporation who shall proceed with or commence work for which a permit is required by these building and construction regulations without first having obtained such permit shall, if subsequently permitted to obtain a permit therefor, pay double the fee fixed for such work. The original permit fee shall be for issuance of the permit and the balance shall be a civil penalty. This provision shall not apply to emergency work when it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the building official that such work was urgently necessary and that it was not practical to obtain a permit before commencement of the work. In all such cases a permit must be secured as soon as it is practicable to do so, and if there is an unreasonable delay in securing the required permit, the civil penalty as provided in this section shall be charged. In no event shall such civil penalty exceed the permit fee plus five hundred dollars. The civil penalty provided in this section shall be in addition to any other fines and remedies prescribed elsewhere in this code. The payment of such fees and fine shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of these building and construction regulations in the execution of the work.

• G. Section 502.1 is amended to read as follows:

502.1 Address identification. New and existing buildings shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Where required by the fire code official, address numbers shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Commercial, multi-family residential and industrial buildings shall have a minimum of twelve (12) inch numbers with suite numbers being a minimum of six (6) inches in size. All suites shall have a minimum of six (6) inch high letters and/or numbers on both the front and rear doors. Single-family residences and multi-family residential units shall have four (4) inch letters and/or numbers, as approved by the Fire Prevention Bureau. Address numbers shall be maintained and illuminated.

Exception: Building address numbers within the Downtown Core District (DTC) of the Old Town Specific Plan, are permitted to be a minimum of eight (8) inches in size.

• H. Section 901.2.1 is added to read as follows:

901.2.1 As-built/Revised documents. An electronic copy of as-built/revised drawings shall be submitted to the fire department online for approval prior to final of any permits. Redlines are not considered as-builts/revised plans.

• I.

• Section 903.2 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

903.2 Where required.

1. In all new buildings and structures which are 3,600 square feet or greater, an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided regardless of occupancy classification. Where the Sections 903.2.1 — 903.2.21 of the California Fire Code require more restrictive requirements than those listed below, the more restrictive requirement shall take precedence.

2. All existing buildings, except for one- and two-family dwellings, shall be retrofitted with automatic fire sprinklers when a structure exceeds 3,600 square feet and changes are made to the building including any of the following: change of use/occupancy, removal of an existing fire wall as defined by the California Building Code, or additions of 50% or more are made to the original building area and the resulting square footage exceeds 5,000 square feet.

3. One- and two-family dwellings shall have an automatic fire sprinkler system regardless of square footage in accordance with the California Residential Code. Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in mobile homes, manufactured homes and multifamily manufactured homes with two dwelling units in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

Exceptions: Unless required elsewhere in this code or the California Building Code, automatic fire sprinkler systems shall not be required for the following:

1. Spaces or areas in telecommunications buildings used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated electrical power distribution equipment, batteries not required to have an automatic sprinkler system by Section 1207 for energy storage systems and standby engines, provided that those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic smoke detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 and are separated from the remainder of the building by not less than 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code or not less than 2-hour horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the California Building Code, or both.

2. Detached Group U occupancies used for agricultural purposes constructed in accordance with the California Building Code.

3. Detached non-combustible equestrian arena shade canopies that are open on all sides and used for riding only - no commercial, assembly or storage uses.

4. Non-combustible fueling station canopies not exceeding 10,000 square feet when separated from other buildings by a distance of not less than 50 feet.

5. Detached fabric or non-combustible shade structures that are open on all sides and used to shade playground equipment, temporary storage of vehicles and dining areas with no cooking.

6. Where determined by the Fire Chief that no major life safety hazard exists, and the fuel load does not pose a significant threat to firefighter safety or to other structures or property, automatic fire sprinklers may be exempted.

The following exceptions in the California Fire Code shall not be allowed:

• a. Exception in Section 903.2.3.

• b. Exception in Section 903.2.11.3.

• J. Section 903.3.5.3 is added to read 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.

• K. Section 903.3.10 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

903.3.10 Floor control valves. Approved supervised indication control valves shall be provided at the point of connection to the riser in all buildings. Valve locations will be placed in the fire sprinkler riser room on each riser.

• L. Section 904.2.2.1 is added to read as follows:

904.2.2.1 Extinguishing system monitoring requirements. All automatic fire- extinguishing systems will be required to be monitored by a fire alarm monitoring system. If a fire alarm monitoring system is not present, one will be required to be installed to provide monitoring for the automatic fire-extinguishing system. Where a fire alarm signaling system, or a Dedicated Function Fire Alarm System is serving the occupancy where the extinguishing system is located, the actuation of the automatic fire-extinguishing system shall actuate the fire alarm signaling system in accordance with the requirements of NFPA 72.

• M. Sections 907.1.6, 907.1.7 and 907.1.8 are added to read as follows:

907.1.6 Fire alarm control panel (FACP). The main fire alarm control panel shall be located in the same room as, and sharing the same access as the fire sprinkler riser. The FACP shall have a minimum 36 inches of face clearance and 6 inches side clearance from any other wall or equipment. Based on our climatic weather conditions and the requirements set forth in any of the manufacture specifications and installation requirements for fire alarm electronic equipment/panels, this room may be required to be climate controlled

907.1.7 Notification appliance. New tenant spaces and new occupancy buildings shall require alarm notification appliances. For multi-tenant buildings, an alarm notification appliance shall be placed in each tenant suite. For existing buildings with new tenants an alarm notification appliance shall be required in each tenant space. For existing buildings that are not equipped with a fire alarm system or sprinkler monitoring system, new tenants or owners shall be required to install the appropriate type of fire alarm system.

907.1.8 Duct detectors. Duct detectors located in any buildings that have a fire alarm system shall be powered from the main building fire alarm power supply.

• N. Section 1505.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1505.1 General. Roof assemblies shall be divided into the classes defined in this section. Class A, B and C roof assemblies and roof coverings required to be listed by this section shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E108 or UL 790. In addition, fire-retardant wood roof coverings shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D2898. The minimum roof coverings installed on buildings shall comply with Table 105.1 base do the type of construction of the building. The roof covering or roofing assembly on any structure regulated by this Code within the Historical District Overlay, generally known as the Old Town Temecula Historical Preservation District, shall not be less than a Class C roofing assembly.

• O. Section 1907A.2.1 is added to read as follows:

1907A.2.1 Additional requirements. Slab dowels in all occupancies, slab connection from existing slabs to new construction shall be placed at a minimum twenty-four (24) inches on center with reinforcing steel of one-half inch minimum diameter, eight (18) inches in length. Embedment to existing shall be a minimum of six (6) inches.

• P. The following appendices are deleted in their entirety:

Appendices A, B, D, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and P. (Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

The following amendments, additions and deletions are made to the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this chapter.

• A. All Appendences, except CI are deleted.

• B. Appendix CI is amended by adding item (8) to Section 115922(a) to read as follows:

• (8) One (1) of the two (2) required pool safety features of the seven (7) specified above and from the Health and Safety Code Section 115922, must be an enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 of that code. The second required pool safety feature must be one of the remaining six (6) features listed in Section 115922

• (Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

The following amendments, additions and deletions are made to the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this chapter.

• A. Section 90.4 is hereby amended by adding the following to the end of the code section:

The following amendments, additions and deletions are made to the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this chapter.

• A. Section 104.5 is hereby deleted in its entirety and superseded by Sections 15.02.010 through 15.02.050 of this Municipal Code, expressly incorporated herein by reference. All references in the California Mechanical Code to fees, fee schedules, or fee tables shall mean the fee schedule as established by resolution of the city council in accordance with Section 15.02.010 herein.

• B. Section 106.3 is hereby amended to read as follows:

106.3 Penalties. Violations of this Code are subject to the prohibitions set forth in Section 15.02.060 and the penalties set forth in Chapter 1.20, of this Municipal Code.

• C. The first paragraph in Section 504.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:

504.1 General. Where not specified in this chapter, exhaust ducts shall be constructed and installed in accordance with Chapter 6 and shall be airtight as approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. Environmental air ducts that have an alternate function as a part of an approved smoke-control system do not require design as Class I product-conveying ducts. Aluminum flex ducts are not permitted to be installed horizontally in rooms that produce steam. An angle greater than forty-five degrees from the vertical is considered a horizontal run.

• (Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

The following amendments, additions and deletions are made to the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this chapter:

• A. Section 106.3 is amended to read as follows:

  • 106.3 Penalties. Violations of this Code are subject to the prohibitions set forth in Section 15.02.060 and the penalties set forth in Chapter 1.20, of this Municipal Code.

• B. Section 104.5 is deleted in its entirety and superseded by Sections 15.02.010 through 15.02.050 of this Municipal Code, expressly incorporated herein by reference. All references in the California Plumbing Code to fees, fee schedules, or fee tables shall mean the fee schedule as established by resolution of the City Council in accordance with Section 15.02.010 herein.

• C. Section 211.0 is amended by revising the definition of 'industrial waste pipe' to read as follows:

Indirect Waste Pipe. An indirect waste pipe is a pipe that does not connect directly with the drainage system but conveys liquid wastes by discharging through an approved air gap into a plumbing fixture, interceptor or receptacle which is directly connected to the drainage system.

1. Section 719.5 is hereby amended to read as follows:

719.5 Access. Cleanouts installed under concrete or asphalt paving shall be made accessible by yard boxes, or by extending flush in paving with a 'brass cap' or other approved material for installation where subject to vehicular traffic.

2. Section 1213.3.1 is added to read as follows:

1213.3.1 Test Pressure. Testing of gas piping two (2) inches or greater or exceeding twenty (20) feet in length shall require a thirty (30) minute test witnessed by the jurisdiction. Such test shall be sixty (60) p.s.i. All welded pipe shall be graph tested for twenty-four (24) hours at sixty (60) p.s.i. witnessed by the jurisdiction. No gas tests shall be performed at less than ten (10) p.s.i. and at not less than fifteen (15) minutes witnessed by the jurisdiction.

3. Section 1211.8.1 is added to read as follows:

1211.8.1 Installation. The installation of Seismic Gas Shutoff Valves shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Be installed by a contractor licensed in the appropriate classification by the State of California.

Exception: Seismic gas shutoff valves may be installed by a gas utility provided a permit is obtained and the valves are installed and approved in accordance with this section.

2. Be mounted rigidly to the exterior of the building or structure containing the fuel gas piping.

Exception: This requirement need not apply if the Building Department determines that the seismic gas shutoff valve has been tested and listed for an alternate method of installation.

3. Be listed by an approved testing laboratory and certified by the Office of the State Architect.

4. Be approved by the Building and Safety Department.

5. Have thirty (30) year warranty, which warrants that the valve is free from defects, and will continue to properly operate for thirty (30) years from the date of installation.

   6. Where seismic gas shutoff valves are installed as required by this section, they shall be maintained for the life of the building or structure or be replaced with a valve complying with the requirements of this section.

• H. The following chapter of the 2025 California Plumbing Code is adopted in its entirety: Chapter 13, Health Care Facilities and Medical Gas and Vacuum Systems.

• I. The following Appendices of the 2025 California Plumbing Code are adopted in their entirety: Appendix A, B, D, H, IAPMO IS 31-2022 of Appendix I, and J.

• (Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation violating any provision or to failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter or any of the codes hereby adopted, shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapters 1.20, 1.21 and 1.24 of the Temecula Municipal Code. Each and every person, firm, partnership, or corporation shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or any portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the codes hereby adopted is committed, continued or permitted by such person, firm, partnership or corporation, and shall be deemed punishable therefore as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the codes hereby adopted shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated by the city through civil process by means of restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisances. (Ord. 2025-14, 11/18/2025)

All existing and proposed electrical, telephone, C.A.T.V., telecommunications and similar service wires or cables, carrying below thirty-four kilovolts capacity, which will provide direct service or is adjacent to the property being developed, shall be installed underground within the exterior boundary lines of such property. Utility service poles may be placed on the rear of the property to be developed only for the purpose of terminating underground facilities. The developer or owner is responsible for complying with the requirements of the utility companies for the installation of such facilities. For the purposes of this section, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts in an underground system, may be placed above ground. The planning commission may, in its sole discretion and prior to the issuance of the building permit for the project, waive all or part of the requirements of this section upon making written findings that the topography or other physical condition of the property makes compliance with the requirements of this section impossible or the cost thereof will exceed two hundred percent of the normal and customary cost of under-grounding said wires on property with an average grade of less than three percent.

(Ord. 04-02 § 1; Ord. 07-17 § 2; Ord. 07-19 § 2; Ord. 10-13 § 1)

• A. Definitions.

  1. "Small residential rooftop solar energy system" shall have the same meaning as provided in the Solar Rights Act, Government Code Section 65850.5(j)(3), as the same may be amended from time to time.

• B. Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy System Standard Plan and Permit Application Checklist.

  1. The building official is authorized to develop and update the standard plan(s) and check-list(s) of all requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The small residential rooftop solar system standard plan(s) and check-list(s) shall substantially conform to recommendations for expedited permitting, including the check-lists and standard plans contained in the most cur-rent version of the California Solar Permitting Guidebook adopted by the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, and must be consistent with state law.

  2. All documents required for the submission of a small residential rooftop solar energy sys-tem permit application, the standard plan(s), and checklist(s) shall be made available on the publicly accessible city website.

  3. Electronic submittal of the required permit application and documents by the Internet shall be available to all small residential rooftop solar energy system permit applicants. (An applicant's electronic signature shall be accepted on all forms, applications, and other documents in lieu of a wet signature.)

• C. Permit Application Review.

  1. An application that satisfies the information requirements in the checklist(s) and standard plan(s) shall be deemed complete.

  2. If an application is deemed incomplete, a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional information or documentation required to be eligible for expedited permit issuance shall be sent to the applicant for resubmission.

  3. The building official shall issue a build-ing permit for any complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist(s) and standard plan(s) as follows: within one to three business days for over the counter and electronic applications, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable. Review of the application shall be limited to the building official's review of whether the application meets local, state, and federal health and safety requirements.

  4. Any condition imposed on an application shall be designed to mitigate the specific, ad-verse impact upon health and safety at the lowest possible cost.

• D. Inspection Requirements.

  1. Inspection requests may be submitted by email or phone.

  2. Only one inspection shall be required and performed by the building official for small residential rooftop solar energy systems eligible for expedited review.

3. The inspection shall be done in a timely manner. The building official shall use his or her best efforts to schedule an inspection within two business days of a request and provide a four-hour inspection window.

   4. If a small residential rooftop solar en-ergy system fails inspection, a subsequent inspection is authorized but need not conform to the requirements of this section.

• E. Fees. Fees for permits and inspections associated with this section may be established by resolution of the city council.

• (Ord. 15-08 § 3)