West Hollywood Municipal Code Ch. 13.16 Mechanical Code (CA)

Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history: Ords. 85-21, 86-101, 87-134, 88-214, 89-248U, 91-281, 92-345U and 99-547U. Prior code §§ 8400 – 8404.

§ 13.16.010. Adoption of Mechanical Code.¶

Except as hereinafter provided, Title 29, Mechanical Code, of the Los Angeles County Code (hereinafter the "Mechanical Code"), as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition (Part 4 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), including Subsections 119.1.2.0 through 119.1.14.0 of Chapter 1; Chapters 2 through 17; and Appendices B, C and D, is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Mechanical Code of the City of West Hollywood.

In the event of any conflict between provisions of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, Title 29 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Mechanical Code contained in the West Hollywood Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.

A copy of Title 29 of the Los Angeles County Code and the California Mechanical 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. 02-641U § 4, 2002; Ord. 07-779U § 4, 2007; Ord. 10-862U § 4, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 4, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 4, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 4, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 4, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

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§ 13.16.020. Definitions.¶

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.16.010, whenever any of the following names or terms are used in the Los Angeles County Mechanical Code, each such name or term shall be deemed and construed to have the meaning ascribed to it in this section as follows:

"Building Code," "Uniform Building Code" or "Los Angeles County Building Code"

shall mean the Building Code of the City of West Hollywood as contained in Chapter 13.04 of this code.

"Building Department"

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

"Building Official"

shall mean the Building Official of the City of West Hollywood.

"City"

shall mean the City of West Hollywood.

"Electrical Code"

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

"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.

"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.

"Plumbing Code"

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

"Administrative Authority," "Chief Mechanical Inspector," "Authority Having Jurisdiction" or "Mechanical Inspector"

shall mean the Building Official of the City of West Hollywood.

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§ 13.16.030. Amendments to Mechanical Code.¶

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.16.010 of this Code, the Mechanical Code is amended as follows:

a. Section 104 of the Mechanical Code is amended to read as follows:

104. Building Official. The office of Building Official exists in the Building and Safety Division of the City of West Hollywood. The Building Official shall administer the provisions of this Code and shall be well versed in accepted mechanical engineering practices and techniques, construction and installation methods, and in the statutes of the State of California and the ordinances of the City of West Hollywood relating to heating, ventilating, comfort cooling, refrigeration systems, and other miscellaneous heat-producing equipment.

b. Section 105 of the Mechanical Code is amended to read as follows:

105. Use of Terms. Whenever the term "Chief Mechanical Inspector," "Mechanical Inspector," "Authority Having Jurisdiction" or "Administrative Authority" is used in this Code, other than in Section 104, such term shall be construed to mean the "Building Official" of the City of West Hollywood or his/her authorized representative.

c. Section 109 of the Mechanical Code is amended to read as follows:

109. Board of Appeals. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the Authority Having Jurisdiction relative to the application and interpretations of this Code, the Board of Appeals as established in Section 13.04.030 of the West Hollywood Municipal Code shall act as a Board of Appeals. The Board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its investigations.

d. The second paragraph of subsection 112.1 of the Mechanical Code is amended to read as follows:

111.2 Permit 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 Chief Mechanical Inspector. The Chief Mechanical Inspector may, before or after expiration of the application, 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 Chief Mechanical Inspector, not to exceed 25 percent of the plan check fee.

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§ 13.16.040. Violations and Penalties.¶

No person, firm or corporation shall erect, install, alter, repair, relocate, add to, replace, use or maintain heating, ventilating, comfort cooling, or refrigeration equipment in the city, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of the Mechanical Code. Maintenance of equipment which was unlawful at the time it was installed, and which would be unlawful under said Mechanical Code, shall constitute a continuing violation of said Mechanical Code.

Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of the Mechanical 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 Mechanical 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.

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§ 13.16.050. Fees.¶

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.16.010, fees for plan check, inspection and all other miscellaneous services shall be based on the fee schedule set approved by resolution of the City Council.

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