Ventura Municipal Code § 12.110.010 Adoption of California Residential Code, 2025 Edition

3 Editor’s note(s): Ord. No. 2019-015, adopted October 7, 2019, amended Chapter 12.110 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 12.110 pertained to the same subject matter, and derived from Ord. No. 2013-019, adopted December 9, 2013; and Ord. No. 2016-013, adopted December 17, 2016.

Pursuant to California Government Code Sections 50022.1 to 50022.8, inclusive, Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, known as the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition (“CRC”), including all standard printed chapters and sections (whether adopted by the state matrix or not), is adopted by reference subject to the amendments, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter. The CRC will apply to residential occupancies identified by this code. One true copy of the CRC is on file in the office of the building official and is available for public inspection as required by law. (Ord. No. 2019-015, § 2, 10-7-19; Ord. No. 2022-017, § 2, 11-28-22; Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 11-18-25)

A. The city council finds that certain local climatic, geological, and/or topographical conditions exist as follows:

1. Climatic. The city experiences periods of high temperatures accompanied by low humidity and high winds each year. These conditions could create an environment in which the fire department may have great difficulty in controlling fires occurring in hillside brush areas as well as structures not having built-in fire protection. The city also experiences periods of intense rainfall, which create the need for special drainage precautions.

2. Geological. The city is located in an area with expansive soils and includes hillsides that are subject to mudflows and unstable conditions. Special foundation considerations and soils analyses requirements must be in place to provide a reasonable degree of structural integrity for buildings constructed in these areas. Several earthquake faults run through the city that, when active, will impose unique lateral loads on structures in the city. Special lateral structural design criteria are needed to resist these lateral loads imposed by active earthquake faults in the city.

3. Topographical. The city has hillside and flat land developments that require special drainage precautions, as well as a system of roadways and highways that generate traffic noise. Structures would be subject to water damage without special requirements addressing site drainage.

4. Administrative. Administrative changes are those made to either sections of the state building standards codes that are not specifically adopted by a state agency or that are needed to coordinate the state codes with the city’s local Charter and municipal code. Administrative amendments shall not result in waiving or reducing the state building standards codes regulations nor create new building standards.

B. The CRC is therefore modified, amended, added to, and changed based on the foregoing findings as further set forth below:

1. Chapter 1, Division II is replaced in its entirety with the following:

Division II Administration.

R100. Administration. Refer to Chapter 1, Division 11, of the 2025 California Building Code, as adopted by the City of San Buenaventura, for all administrative requirements and regulations.

2. Section R301.1 is amended by adding the following to the end of the section:

Relocation of Existing Buildings. Relocated residential buildings shall comply with the relocation requirements found in the 2025 California Existing Building Code, Chapter 14.

3. Section R301.1.3.3.4 is added to read as follows:

Section R301.1.3.3.4 Seismic design provisions for buildings constructed on or into slopes steeper than one unit vertical and three units horizontal (33.3 percent slope). The design and construction of new buildings and additions to existing buildings when constructed on or into slopes steeper than one unit vertical and three units horizontal (33.3 percent slope) shall comply with Section 1613 of the California Building Code.

4. Section R301.2.2.11 is added to read as follows:

Section R301.2.2.11 Anchorage of Mechanical, Electrical, or Plumbing Components and Equipment. Mechanical, electrical, or plumbing components and equipment shall be anchored to the structure. Anchorage of the components and equipment shall be designed to resist loads in accordance with the California Building Code and ASCE 7, except where the component is positively attached to the structure and flexible connections are provided between the component and associated ductwork, piping, and conduit; and either:

1. The component weighs 400 lb (1,780 N) or less and has a center of mass located 4 ft (1.22 m) or less above the supporting structure; or

2. The component weighs 20 lb (89N) or less or, in the case of a distributed system, 5 lb/ft (73 N/m) or less.

5. Section 306.4 is added to read as follows:

Section 306.4 Grading and fill in flood hazard areas. Grading and filling in flood hazard areas must comply with the City Floodplain Management Ordinance. Where the City Floodplain Management Ordinance and this code conflict relative to grading and filling, the City Floodplain Management Ordinance takes precedence.

6. Section R401.1 is amended to add the following paragraph at the beginning of the section:

All grading in the City must comply with the current City Grading Ordinance. Where the City Grading Ordinance and this code conflict with respect to grading regulations, the City Grading Ordinance will take precedence. Building and foundation permits shall not be issued prior to the City Engineer’s final approval of the associated grading work supporting, or otherwise affected by, the building or foundation.

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

Wood foundations and crushed stone footings in Seismic Design Category D0, D1, or D2 shall not be permitted.

8. Section R401.3 is amended to add the following paragraph at the beginning of the section:

All site drainage components and systems shall also comply with any State issued stormwater discharge permit requirements. Where State stormwater discharge permits conflict with this code, the City Engineer and Chief Building Official will determine the most appropriate regulations from both documents that assure clean water discharges into State waterways and promote the safety and general welfare of the community.

9. Section R401.4.1 is replaced in its entirety with Sections 1803.2 and 1803.3 of the California Building Code.

10. Section R401.5 is added to read as follows:

Section R401.5 Grading. Also refer to the City of San Buenaventura Grading Ordinance for requirements governing excavation, grading, and earthwork construction including fills and embankments.

11. Section R403.1.2 is amended entirely to read as follows:

Section R403.1.2 Continuous footing in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, or D2. Continuous footing in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, or D2 shall be supported by continuous solid or fully grouted masonry or concrete footings. All required interior braced wall panels in buildings located in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, or D2 shall be supported on continuous foundations.

12. Section R403.1.5 is amended by adding the following to the end of the section:

For structures located in Seismic Design Categories D0, D01, or D02, stepped footings shall be reinforced with four one-half (4 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.

13. Figure R403.1.5 is added.

[Figure]

Figure R403.1.5.

14. Section R404.2 is amended by adding the following to the end of the first paragraph:

Wood foundation walls shall not be used for structures located in Seismic Design Category D0, D01, or D02.

15. Footnote “j” is added to Table R602.3(1) to read as follows:

j. Use of Staples in braced wall panels shall be prohibited in Seismic Design Category D0, D01, or D02.

16. Footnote “b” of Table R602.3(2) is amended as follows:

b. Staples shall have a minimum crown width of 7/16-inch on diameter except as noted. Use of staples in roof, floor, subfloor, and braced wall panels shall be prohibited in Seismic Design Category D0, D01, or D02.

17. Exception of Section R602.3.2 is deleted.

18. Table R602.10.4 footnote “f” is added to read as follows:

f. Use of staples in brace wall panels shall be prohibited in Seismic Design Category D0, D01, D02.

19. The first sentence of Section R802.8 is amended to read as follows:

Roof framing members and ceiling joists having a depth-to-thickness ratio exceeding 2 to 1, based on nominal dimensions, shall be provided with lateral support at points of bearing to prevent rotation.

20. Section R805.2 is added to read as follows:

Section R805.2 Suspended ceilings. Suspended acoustical ceilings shall be designed in accordance with ASCE-7 and Section 1613.9 of the California Building Code.

21. Section R902.1, not including the exceptions and its subsections, is amended to read as follows:

Section R902.1 Roof Covering Materials. Roofs shall be covered with materials as set forth in Sections R904 and R905. A minimum Class B roofing shall be installed. Roofing shall be listed and tested in accordance with UL 790 or ASTM E 108.

22. Section R902.1.2 is retitled to “Roof Coverings in Other Areas.”

23. Section R902.1.3 is amended to read as follows:

Section R902.1.3 Additions to Existing Buildings. In any 12-month period, additions of less than 26% of the existing roof area may be of Class B materials that match the existing roof. Additions in high fire hazard areas must meet the current high fire hazard area roofing requirements in addition to this section.

24. Section R902.2 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section R902.2 Wood Shingles and Shakes. No wooden shakes or shingles, treated or untreated, shall be used for roof covering unless specifically allowed in Sections R902.1.1, R902.1.2, or R902.1.3 of this code.

25. Section R1001.3.1 is amended to read as follows:

Section R1001.3.1 Vertical reinforcing. For chimneys up to 40 inches (1016 mm) wide, four No. 4 continuous vertical bars adequately anchored into the concrete foundation shall be placed between wythes of solid masonry or within the cells of hollow unit masonry 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 40 inches wide, two additional No. 4 vertical bars adequately anchored into the concrete foundation shall be provided for each additional flue incorporated into the chimney or for additional 40 inches (1016 mm) in width or fraction thereof.

26. Chapter 17 of the California Building Code is adopted in its entirety.

27. Chapter 33 of the California Building Code is adopted in its entirety.

28. Appendix Q “Emergency Housing” is adopted in its entirety. (Ord. No. 2019-015, § 2, 10-7-19; Ord. No. 2022-017, § 2, 11-28-22; Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 11-18-25)