Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 15 — BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 15.03 Residential Code
Whittier Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Whittier
Cite as: Whittier Municipal Code Chapter 15.03 · Text as of 2026-10-04
15.03.010 - California Residential Code adopted by reference.¶
(a) The City Council of the City of Whittier hereby adopts the California Residential Code specified in Chapter 15.01.010 as Chapter 15.03.010 of Title 15 of this Code, except such portions as are deleted, modified, or amended as set forth in this chapter. Said Code is adopted and incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
(b) The purpose of this Code is to prescribe regulations for the protection of the public health and safety and to establish minimum regulations for the erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, maintenance of one-and-two family dwelling units not exceeding three stories in height and separate means of egress.
(Ord. No. 3173, § 4, 12-9-25)
State Law reference— Adoption by reference, Government Code § 50022.1 et seq.
15.03.020 - Chapter 1 amended.¶
The text within Chapter 1 is deleted and replaced with the following:
Chapter 1 Administrative Provisions
Section 101. For administrative provisions for this Code, see Sec. 15.01.040.
Residential Code Amendments ( 15.03)¶
15.03.030 - Table R301.2(1) amended.¶
Table R301.2(1) amended to read as follows:
TABLE R301.2(1) CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DESIGN CRITERIA
| GROUND SNOW LOAD | WIND DESIGN | WIND DESIGN | SEISMIC DESIGN CATE- GORY f | SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM | SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM | SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM | WINTER DESIGN TEMP e | ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT RE- QUIRED h | FLOOD HAZARDS g | AIR FREEZING INDEX i | MEAN ANNUAL TEMP j |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUND SNOW LOAD | Speed d (mph) | Topographic effects | SEISMIC DESIGN CATE- GORY f | Weathering a | Frost line Depth b | Termite c | WINTER DESIGN TEMP e | ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT RE- QUIRED h | FLOOD HAZARDS g | AIR FREEZING INDEX i | MEAN ANNUAL TEMP j |
| Zero | 85 | No | D 2 or E | Negligible | 12-24" | Very Heavy | 43 | No | See Exhibit B | 0 | 60 |
For SI: 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kPa, 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s.
a. Weathering may require a higher strength concrete or grade of masonry than necessary to satisfy the structural requirements of this code. The weathering column shall be filled in with the weathering index (i.e., "negligible," "moderate" or "severe") for concrete as determined from the Weathering Probability Map [Figure R301.2(3)]. The grade of masonry units shall be determined from ASTM C 34, C 55, C 62, C 73, C 90, C 129, C 145, C 216 or C 652.
b. The frost line depth may require deeper footings than indicated in Figure R403.1(1). The jurisdiction shall fill in the frost line depth column with the minimum depth of footing below finish grade.
c. The jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table to indicate the need for protection depending on whether there has been a history of local subterranean termite damage.
d. The jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with the wind speed from the basic wind speed map [Figure R30l.2(4)].Wind exposure category shall be determined on a site-specific basis in accordance with Section R301.2.1.4.
e. The outdoor design dry-bulb temperature shall be selected from the columns of 971/2-percent values for winter from Appendix D of the California Plumbing Code. Deviations from the Appendix D temperatures shall be permitted to reflect local climates or local weather experience as determined by the building official.
f. The jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with the seismic design category determined from Section R301.2.2.1.
g. The jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with (a) the date of the jurisdiction's entry into the National Flood Insurance Program (date of adoption of the first code or ordinance for management of flood hazard areas), (b) the date(s) of the Flood Insurance Study and (c) the panel numbers and dates of all currently effective FIRMs and FBFMs or other flood hazard map adopted by the authority having jurisdiction, as amended.
h. In accordance with Sections R905.2.7.1, R905.4.3.1, R905.5.3.1, R905.6.3.1, R905.7.3.1 and R905.8.3.1, where there has been a history of local damage from the effects of ice damming, the jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with "YES." Otherwise, the jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with "NO."
i. The jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with the 100-year return period air freezing index (BF-days) from Figure R403.3(2) or from the l00-year (99%) value on the National Climatic Data Center data table "Air Freezing Index-USA Method (Base 32°)" at www.ncdc.noaa.gov/fpsf.htrnl.
j. The jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with the mean annual temperature from the National Climatic Data Center data table "Air Freezing Index-USA Method (Base 32°F)" at www.ncdc.noaa.gov/fpsf.html.
k. In accordance with Section R301.2.1.5, where there is local historical data documenting structural damage to buildings due to topographic wind speed-up effects, the jurisdiction shall fill in this part of the table with "YES." Otherwise, the jurisdiction shall indicate "NO" in this part of the table.
(Ord. No. 3173, § 4, 12-9-25)
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