Chapter 15.80

• A. The 2025 California Residential Code (Based on the 2024 International Residential Code) and State of California Amendments, and all appendices thereto, published by the International Code Council, and all revisions and amendments heretofore and hereafter adopted by the International Code Council, are hereby adopted by reference as the Residential Code of the City of Union City, regulating the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of residential buildings within the City of Union City.

• B. One copy of said Code and appendices thereto has been filed for use and examination by the public in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Union City at 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, California, and the same or identical copy thereof, not less than one in number, shall at all times be kept on file for similar use.

• C. The rules, regulations, provisions, requirements, orders, and matters established and adopted hereby shall take effect and be in full force on January 1, 2026.

• (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

This chapter may be cited and shall be known as the "Residential Code of the City of Union City."

(Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Whenever any of the names or terms defined in this section are in the chapters or Codes adopted herein by reference, each such term or name shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this section.

"Administrative Authority" shall mean the Building Inspection Division, Economic and Community Development Department.

"Building Official" shall mean the Chief Building Official of the City of Union City.

"City" shall mean the "City of Union City."

"City Council" shall mean the City Council of the City of Union City.

"Code Enforcement Division" shall mean the Building Inspection Division.

"Mayor" shall mean the Mayor of the City of Union City. (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section 1.8.9 is amended by the addition of Section 1.8.9.3 to read as follows:

A citation may be issued in accordance with the Union City Municipal Code Section 1.16.030. A person charged with an infraction is guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during which any violation of any provision of this chapter of the Union City Municipal Code is continued, and can be cited each day as a separate offense.

The infraction procedure provides for the following fines:

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First citation infraction $150.00
Second citation infraction $300.00
Third citation misdemeanor $600.00

Court costs may also be imposed in addition to the infractions and/or misdemeanor fines. Individuals cited are not entitled to legal representation for the first or second citation infraction. Upon the third citation/misdemeanor, individuals cited may be represented by legal counsel in a court of law.

(Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section 1.8.9 is amended by the addition of Section 1.8.9.4 to read as follows:

It is hereby found and declared that the existence of a violation of any of the foregoing sections of this Chapter within the City of Union City is a public nuisance and dangerous to the public health and safety of persons within said City, and in addition to any other remedies provided by law, the Union City Police Department or appropriate legal officer is authorized and directed to investigate any such nuisance, to notify in the form and manner hereinabove provided any person or persons maintaining such nuisance, to abate same in conformance to the provisions of this Chapter, and upon failure to comply, to enter upon said premises, public or private wherein said nuisance exists and summarily abate same. (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Code is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Code. The Legislative Body hereby declares that it would have passed this Code, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared unconstitutional. (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section 1.8.4.2 is amended to read as follows:

Fees shall be assessed as set forth in the fee schedule adopted by the City of Union City. (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section 1.8.8 is amended to read as follows:

The Board of Appeals shall be comprised of one or more hearing officers appointed by the City Council. The decision of the appointed hearing officer(s) is final as to any related Appeals Board and City Council actions.

(Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section 1.8.10.2 is amended by the addition of Section 1.8.10.2.1 to read as follows:

In addition to other permits required by this Code, no person, firm or corporation shall move or cause to be moved any building or structure from any location, lot, piece, or parcel of land located within or without the corporate limits of the City of Union City to any other lot, piece or parcel of land located within the incorporated territory of the City of Union City without first having obtained a separate structure moving permit for each building or structure to be moved, pursuant to Chapter 15.70 of the Union City Municipal Code. (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section R313 is amended to read as follows:

Where Required. An automatic fire extinguishing system shall be installed in the occupancies and locations as set forth in the Union City Fire Code, Chapter 15.20. (Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section R602.10.4, Table R602.10.3(3), and Section R602.10.4.4 are amended, and Footnote g is added to read as follows:

• g. In Seismic Design Categories C, D0, D1, and D2, Method GB and method PCP is not permitted.

Add the "g" footnote notation in the title of Table R602.10.3(3).

Add a new subsection R602.10.4.4, to read as follows:

In Seismic Design Categories C, D0, D1, and D2, Method GB and PCP are not permitted for use as intermittent braced wall panels.

(Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)

Section R403.1.3.5 is amended by the addition of Section R403.1.3.5.5 to read as follows:

Concrete footings, including post-tension design, shall have minimum reinforcement of at least two continuous horizontal reinforcing bars, one top and one bottom, not smaller than No. 4 bars. Bottom reinforcement shall be located a minimum of 3 inches (76 mm) clear from the bottom of the footing. Plain concrete footings are not allowed.

(Ord. 2025-006, 11/25/2025)