Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Ch. 7 California Residential Code

* Chapter 7, as established by § 4 of Ord. 1546-NS eff. January 1, 2011, was repealed and replaced by Ord. 1591-NS eff. January 1, 2014. Sections 8-7.01 through 8-7.08, codified by § 4 Ordinance No. 1591-NS, effective January 1, 2014 were repealed by Ordinance No. 1624-NS, effective January 1, 2017. Sections 8-7.01 through 8-7.08, codified by § 4 Ordinance No. 1624-NS, effective January 1, 2017 were repealed by Ordinance No. 1669-NS, effective January 10, 2020. Sections 8-7.01 through 8-7.08, codified by § 5 Ordinance 1669-NS, effective January 10, 2020 were repealed by Ordinance No. 1707-NS, effective January 1, 2023. Sections 8-7.01 through 8-7.08, codified by § 6 Ordinance 1707-NS, effective January 1, 2023 were repealed by § 6 Ordinance No. 1741-NS, effective January 1, 2026.

That certain Code designated as the “California Residential Code”, 2025 Edition, based upon the International Residential Code, 2024 Edition, as amended herein is adopted.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

The City Council, after due consideration, finds and determines that due to the geographical location of the City and the unusual soil, geological and topographical conditions prevailing within the City, the public health and welfare would best be served by adopting and amending the 2025 California Residential Code including Appendix AH, AJ, AQ, AT, AX, AZ, and BB and therefore said California Residential Code is hereby amended as follows:

Section R101.2 “Scope” is amended to read as follows:

101.2 Scope.

The provisions of this code and Title 8, Chapter 4, the City of Thousand Oaks Code Administration shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, removal and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade plane in height.

Exception: The following shall be permitted to be constructed in accordance with this code where provided with an automatic sprinkler system complying with Section R313:

1. Live/work units located in townhouses and complying with the requirements of Section 508.5 of the California Building Code.

2. Owner-occupied lodging houses with five or fewer guestrooms.

3. A care facility with five or fewer persons receiving custodial care within a dwelling unit.

4. A care facility with five or fewer persons receiving medical care within a dwelling unit.

5. A day care facility for five or fewer persons of any age receiving care within a dwelling unit.

Sections R104, R105, R106, R107, R108, R109, R110, R111, R112, R113, and R114 of Chapter 1, Division II are hereby deleted.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

The last sentence of Section R401.1 of Chapter 4 is amended to read as follows:

Wood foundations in Seismic Design Category D0, D1, D2 or E shall not be permitted.

Section R401.1 “Application” is amended by adding the following paragraph:

Grading related work shall comply with the requirements of this code and the requirements of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Title 7, Chapter 3 and Section 8-1.24 of the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code for grading regulations, administered by the Department of Public Works, for requirements governing excavation, grading and earthwork construction including fills and embankments.

Section R403.1 “General” is amended to read as follows:

All exterior walls shall be supported on continuous concrete footings or other approved structural systems that shall be of sufficient design to accommodate all loads according to Section R301 and to transmit the resulting loads to the soil within the limitations as determined from the character of the soil.

Footings shall be supported on undisturbed natural soils or engineered fill. Concrete footing shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Section R403 or in accordance with ACI 332.

Section R403.1.1 “Minimum size” is amended to read as follows:

All foundation and/or slab designs shall be predicated upon a soil analysis. Said design shall not be less than those minimum requirements set forth in Municipal Code Section 8-1.17, Table 1809.7(1) for each soil expansion range.

Post-tensioned slab design, when recommended by the soils engineer, may be used in lieu of the requirements when approved by the Building Official.

In areas where the soil is found to be in an expansive range index over twenty (20), the soil under the footings and slabs shall be pre-saturated in accordance with Table 1809.7(1). Municipal Code Section 8-1.17 for additional requirements.

Section R403.1.5 “Slope” is amended by adding the following:

For structures located in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2 or E, stepped footings shall be reinforced with four one-half (1/2") inch diameter deformed reinforcing bars. Two (2) bars shall be placed at the top and bottom of the footings as shown in Figure R403.1.5.

[Figure]

Figure R403.1.5

Section R403.1.7 “Footings on or adjacent to slopes” is amended to read as follows:

Footings shall comply with the requirements of this code and the requirements of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Section 8-1.17 section 1808.7 for foundations on or adjacent to slopes.

Sections R403.1.7.1, R403.1.7.2 and R403.1.7.4 are hereby deleted.

Section R403.1.8 “Foundations on Expansive Soils” is amended to read as follows:

R403.1.8 Foundations on Expansive Soils.

Foundation and floor slabs for buildings located on expansive soils shall be designed in accordance with Section 1808.6 of the California Building Code and Municipal Code Section 8-11.17.

Exception: Slab-on-ground and other foundation systems that have performed adequately in soil conditions similar to those encountered at the building site are permitted subject to the approval of the building official.

R403.1.8.1 Expansive Soils Classifications

Soils meeting all of the following provisions shall be considered to be expansive, except that tests to show compliance with Items 1, 2 and 3 shall not be required if the test prescribed in Item 4 is conducted:

1. Plasticity Index (PI) of 15 or greater, determined in accordance with ASTM D4318.

2. More than 10 percent of the soil particles pass a No. 200 sieve (75 µm), determined in accordance with ASTM D422.

3. More than 10 percent of the soil particles are less than 5 micrometers in size, determined in accordance with ASTM D422.

4. Expansion Index greater than 20, determined in accordance with ASTM D4829.

Section R404.2 “Wood foundation walls” is amended by adding the following sentence:

Wood foundation walls shall not be used for structures located in Seismic Design Category D0, D1, D2, and E.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

Section R506.1 “General” is amended by adding the following:

In lieu of a more detailed design per Section 1808.6 of the 2025 California Building Code, the following minimum requirements for concrete slab on ground shall apply:

Slab floors shall be reinforced as set forth in Municipal Code Section 8-1.17 Table 1809.7 (1).

All slabs founded on soils found to be in an expansive index of over fifty (50) shall be doweled into foundation walls with No. 3 minimum reinforcing steel bars bent twelve (12") inches minimum into the wall and thirty-six (36") inches minimum into the slab at twenty-four (24") inches maximum on center. Interior walls with continuous footings/foundations shall have similar floor ties.

Exception: An alternate design, such as a floating slab eliminating the requirement for doweling, may be submitted to the Building Official for approval.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

Part III, Chapter 9, Section R901.1 “Scope” is amended by adding the following paragraph:

The roofing requirements of Chapter 15 of the 2025 California Building Code, as modified by Municipal Code Sections 8-1.14 and 8-1.15 shall also govern the design materials, construction and quality of roof assemblies.

Section R902.1.2 “Roof coverings in all other areas” is amended to read as follows:

R902.1.2 Roof Coverings in all other areas. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than fifty (50%) percent 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 A.

Section R902.2 “Fire retardant-treated shingles and shakes” is amended as follows:

R902.2 Fire-Retardant-Treated Shingles and Shakes. Fire-retardant-treated wood shakes and shingles are wood shakes and shingles complying with UBC Standard 15-3 or 15-4 which are impregnated by the full-cell vacuum-pressure process with fire-retardant chemicals, and which have been qualified by UBC Standard 15-2 for use on Class A roofs. Fire-retardant-treated wood shakes and shingles shall comply with ICC-ES EG107 and with the weathering requirements contained in Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7 (j). Each bundle shall bear labels from an ICBO accredited quality control agency identifying their roof-covering classification and indicating their compliance with ICC-ES EG107 and with the weathering requirements contained in Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7 (j).

Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7 (j) No wood roof covering materials shall be sold or applied in this state unless both of the following conditions are met:

1. The materials have been approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal as complying with the requirements of this section.

2. The materials have passed at least five years of the 10-year natural weathering test. The 10-year natural weathering test required by this subdivision shall be conducted in accordance with Standard 15-2 of the 1994 edition of the Uniform Building Code at a testing facility recognized by the State Fire Marshal.

Section R902.3 “Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Product” is amended to read as follows:

R902.3 Building-Integrated photovoltaic product. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products installed as the roof covering shall be tested, listed and labeled for fire classification in accordance with UL 7103 [SFM] Section R902.1 through R902.1.3. Class A products shall be installed where the edge of the roof is less than 3 feet (914 mm) from a lot line.

Section R902.4 “Rooftop-Mounted Photovoltaic (PV) panel systems” is amended to read as follows:

R902.4 Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic (PV) Panel Systems. Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panel systems installed on or above the roof covering shall be tested, listed and identified with a fire classification in accordance with UL 2703. Listed systems shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and their listing. Class A photovoltaic panel systems and modules shall be installed in jurisdictions designated by law as requiring their use or where the edge of the roof is less than 3 feet (914 mm) from a lot line.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

Chapter 10, Section R1001.3.1 “Vertical Reinforcing” is amended to read as follows:

Vertical Reinforcing. For chimneys up to forty (40") inches maximum wide, four No. 4 minimum continuous vertical bars shall be placed between wythes of solid masonry or within the cells of hollow unit masonry, extended to the bottom one-third of the footing and turned a twenty-four (24") inches minimum horizontal, and grouted in accordance with Section R606. Grout shall be prevented from bonding with the flue liner so that the flue liner is free to move with thermal expansion. For chimneys more than forty (40") inches minimum wide, two additional No. 4 vertical bars shall be provided for each additional flue incorporated into the chimney or for each additional forty (40") inches in width or fraction thereof.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

Appendix BF, Section BF105.1 “Design Loads” is amended to read as follows:

Section BF105.1 Design loads.

Patio covers shall be designed and constructed to sustain, within the stress limits of this code, all dead loads plus a vertical live load of 20 pounds per square foot minimum except roof dead loads 3 pounds or less per square foot may be designed at 10 pounds per square foot minimum live load. Such covers shall be designed to resist to minimum wind load set forth in Section R301.2.1.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)

Section CJ103.3 “Occupant Load” is amended to read as follows:

CJ103.3 Occupant Load.

Except as otherwise stated in this appendix, the maximum occupant load allowed in buildings and structures used as emergency housing shall be determined by the enforcing agency, but the interior floor area shall not be less than 64 square feet (5.9 m2) for one occupant. Where more than one person occupies the building/structure, the required floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet (4.65 m2) for each occupant in excess of one.

Exceptions:

1. Tents.

2. Recreational vehicles and park trailers designed for human habitation that meet the requirements in the Health and Safety Code, Sections 18009.3 and 18010, as applicable.

3. For emergency housing, including emergency sleeping cabins, the minimum interior floor area may be reduced to 53 square feet (4.9 m2) if the enforcing agency determines that 53 square feet (4.9 m2) is adequate space for a single-occupancy sleeping unit.

Section CJ104.1 “General” is amended to read as follows:

CJ104.1 General.

Emergency sleeping cabins shall have an interior floor area of not less than 64 square feet (5.9 m2) for one occupant. Where more than one person occupies the cabin, the required floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet (4.65 m2) for each occupant in excess of one. The interior floor area shall not exceed 400 square feet (37 m2), excluding lofts.

(§ 6, Ord. 1741-NS, eff. January 1, 2026)