Chapter 13.20 — RESIDENTIAL CODE

Except as hereinafter provided, Title 30, Residential Code, of the Los Angeles County Code (hereinafter the "Residential Code"), as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition (Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), incorporating Sections 102 through 119 of Chapter 1, Section 1206 of Chapter 12, Chapters 67, 68, 69, 98, 99, and Appendix J of Title 26 of the Los Angeles County Code. Chapters 2 through 10, Chapter 44, and Appendices BB, BF, BJ, and CJ, are hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Residential Code of the City of West Hollywood.

In the event of any conflict between provisions of the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, Title 30 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Residential Code contained in the West Hollywood Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.

A copy of Title 30 of the Los Angeles County Code and the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, whenever any of the following names or terms are used in the Residential Code, each such name or terms shall be deemed and construed to have the meaning ascribed to it in this section as follows:

"Board of Appeals" shall mean the board of appeals established in Section 105 of the West Hollywood Building Code.

"Building Department" shall mean the City of West Hollywood Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department.

"Building Official" and "Engineer" shall mean the person designated to act as Building Official by the City Council.

"City Council" or "Board of Supervisors" shall mean the City Council of the City of West Hollywood unless the context requires otherwise.

"County," "County of Los Angeles" or "unincorporated territory of the County of Los Angeles" shall mean the City of West Hollywood.

"County Engineer" shall mean the Building Official of the City of West Hollywood or his/her duly appointed representative.

"Electrical Code" shall mean the Electrical Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.08 of this code.

"Existing Building Code" shall mean the Existing Building Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.26 of this code.

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 13.20.020

WEST HOLLYWOOD CODE

§ 13.20.040

"Fire Code" shall mean the Fire Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 14.04 of this code.

"General fund" shall mean the city treasury of the City of West Hollywood.

"Green Building Standards Code" shall mean the Green Building Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.24 of this code.

"Health Code" or "Los Angeles County Health Code" shall mean the Health Code of the City of West Hollywood as adopted by Section 7.04.010 of the West Hollywood Municipal Code.

"Health Officer" shall mean the Health Officer of Los Angeles County.

"Historical Building Code" shall mean the Historical Building Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.44 of this code.

"Jurisdiction" shall mean the City of West Hollywood.

"Mechanical Code" shall mean the Mechanical Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.16 of this code.

"Plumbing Code" shall mean the Plumbing Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.12 of this code.

"Residential Code" shall mean the Residential Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.20 of this code.

"Special inspector" shall mean a person holding a valid Certificate of Registration issued by the County of Los Angeles as set forth in Section 108.6 of the Building Code, or a person otherwise determined to be qualified by the Building Official.

(Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 24-16, 6/24/2024; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/ 2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, subsection R112.1 of the Residential Code is amended to read as follows:

R112.1 General. In order to conduct the hearing provided for in this chapter and the hearings provided for in Chapters 98 and 99, the City Council shall act as the board of appeals. (Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, the Residential Code is amended by adding subsection 106.2.1 to read as follows:

R106.2.1 Construction Debris Control.

The Federal Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of any material other than storm runoff to the storm sewer system. The City streets adjacent to or serving all properties in West Hollywood are part of the storm sewer system. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of property upon which construction work, of any type, takes place to provide a plan for controlling discharges of construction debris in order to prevent the discharge of such debris to the storm sewer system. No

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City of West Hollywood, CA

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

§ 13.20.040

§ 13.20.060

construction work shall take place until such plan is approved by the Director of Public Works or his/her designee.

Where feasible, the area for containment of debris shall be located upon the same lot where the construction is to take place. Due to the topographic nature of the city, certain on-site locations may not be feasible. In such cases as determined by the Director of Public Works or his/her designee, the owner or contractor may obtain an encroachment permit to establish the area of containment in the street in front of the property, subject to all conditions imposed as part of the permit. For the purposes of this section, construction debris shall be considered to include liquid, cementitious, organic, or earth materials. The plan for controlling construction debris shall establish a work area for trades which require water to produce their work. Such area shall be dyked or excavated to prevent water borne debris from leaving the construction site.

Products of such activity shall be properly disposed of in accordance with all applicable laws prior to final approval of the building permit. These products include without limitation, brick dust, concrete spoil, stucco spoil, and similar materials.

(Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, subsection R105.3 of the Residential Code is amended by adding a new paragraph to read as follows:

8. Contain adequate evidence as required by the Director of Community Development Department or his/her designee that the proposed construction fully complies with all applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance.

(Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 24-16, 6/24/2024; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/ 2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, the first paragraph of subsection 106.4.1 of the Residential Code is amended to read as follows:

106.4.1.1 Expiration of Application.

When no permit is issued within 18 months following the date of the application therefor, the application shall automatically expire. Plans and specifications previously submitted may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official. The Building Official may grant up to two extensions not exceeding 180 days per extension, beyond the initial 18-month limit upon written request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken and upon the payment of an extension fee as determined by the Building Official, not to exceed 25 percent of the plan check fee.

(Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, Section R101.3 of the Residential Code is amended to add a third paragraph that reads as follows:

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 13.20.060

WEST HOLLYWOOD CODE

§ 13.20.090

R101.3 Scope. The provisions of this section shall apply only to permits for buildings or structures on individual lots or parcels and are not intended to be supplementary to geologic investigations required to qualify divisions of land as set forth in Title 19 of the West Hollywood Municipal Code.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, the Residential Code is amended by adding subsection 106.6.6 to read as follows:

The Building Official may require a more extensive investigation by a professional geologist as to the absence of a known active earthquake fault prior to the issuance of a permit. (Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

• a. Compliance with Code. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy, or maintain any building or structure or perform any grading in the City of West Hollywood, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of the Residential Code.

• b. Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of the Building Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of the Residential Code is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation such person shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

• (Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.20.010, fees for plan check, inspection and all other miscellaneous services shall be based on the fee schedule as approved by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 10-862U § 5, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 5, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 5, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 5, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 5, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

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City of West Hollywood, CA

BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION

§ 13.24.010

§ 13.24.015