Williams Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 Building Code

Footnotes:

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State Law reference— Provisions authorizing cities to adopt codes by reference, Gov. Code §§ 50022.1—50022.10; Local housing codes, Health and Safety Code §§ 17922 and 17951 et seq.; City power to regulate building, Gov. Code § 38660.

The California Building Code, 2025 Edition, Volumes 1 and 2, including Chapter 1, which incorporates and amends the International Building Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted by this reference and incorporated herein as if set forth in full, as the building code of the city.

(Ord. No. 185-11, § 3, 3-2-2011; Ord. No. 205-14, § 3, 4-16-2014; Ord. No. 222-17, § 3, 10-18-2017; Ord. No. 240-20, § 3, 8-19-2020; Ord. No. 274-25, § 3, 10-15-2025)

A. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter to do anything in contrary to the provisions set forth in this Code.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, move, remove, demolish or occupy any building, structure or equipment regulated by this Code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this Code.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to cause, allow or maintain any property, building or structure, or any equipment thereon to become a public nuisance dangerous or unsafe.

D. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter to remove or deface any notice issued by the building official where such notice has been posted on any property, building or structure.

(Ord. No. 232-19, § 3, 3-20-2019; Ord. No. 240-20, § 3, 8-19-2020; Ord. No. 274-25, § 3, 10-15-2025)

Any violation of this Code may be abated by any enforcement process authorized by law or as outlined in this Code.

A. Unsafe to use or occupy. Where a structure, property or equipment is deemed unsafe, an "unsafe to use or occupy" placard shall be posted. Where a structure has been posted unsafe the building official shall make a determination as to what use or occupancy may be appropriate based on the conditions present and identify restrictions, either by posting another placard or displaying the restrictions on the original posting placard. The placard shall be conspicuously posted at, or as close as practicable, to all entry and exit doors.

B. Stop work. Whenever the building official finds any work regulated by this Code being performed in a manner either contrary to the provisions of this Code or dangerous or unsafe, the building official is authorized to issue a stop work order.

1. Issuance. The stop work order shall be posted on the property where the work is being completed. The order may also be served by mail or by personal service to the owner of the property involved, or to the owner's agent, or to the person doing the work. Upon issuance of a stop work order, the cited work shall immediately cease. The stop work order shall state the reason for the action, and the conditions under which the cited work will be permitted to resume.

2. Where a stop work order has been served pursuant to work completed in conflict or to the contrary of the permit authorizing such work, a penalty of sixty dollars for "re-inspection" shall apply and be collected prior to any corrective work being completed or any new inspections being scheduled or made.

C. Notice of violation. The building official is authorized to serve a notice of violation on the person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, moving, removal, demolition or occupancy of a code, or in violation of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this Code. Such notice shall be a request for the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition and the abatement of the violation.

D. Notice and order to abate. The building official is authorized to serve a notice and order to abate public nuisance to the owner of a property or to the person creating the violation, or to both, pursuant to the guidelines set forth in sections 1.12.050 and 8.16.050, and any other applicable provision of the Code. Such notice shall be mandatory and shall order the abatement of a violation of this Code within a time certain.

E. Notice of noncompliance. The building official is authorized to cause a notice of noncompliance to be recorded against a parcel where a permit has expired, has been suspended or revoked, has become null and void, or where work has been completed without first obtaining a permit or where a building, structure, piece of equipment or property is deemed unsafe or where a building has been occupied prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. A copy of the notice of noncompliance shall be kept on file within the building department's records. The building official may provide advance notice of the recording of notice of noncompliance to the property owner and may cause a copy of said notice to be delivered to owner of record as it appears on the last equalized assessment role or to another address as the owner directs.

F. Notice of compliance. Where work or conditions cited in any notice issued by the building department has been corrected or removed, the building official may cause a notice of compliance to be recorded. The notice of compliance shall reference the original notice of noncompliance.

G. Prosecution of violation. If the notice of violation is not complied with promptly, the building official is authorized to request the legal counsel of the jurisdiction to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this Code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.

(Ord. No. 232-19, § 4, 3-20-2019; Ord. No. 240-20, § 3, 8-19-2020; Ord. No. 274-25, § 3, 10-15-2025)

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of the code adopted by reference in this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in chapter 1.12 of this Code.

(Ord. No. 185-11, § 3, 3-2-2011; Ord. No. 205-14, § 3, 4-16-2014; Ord. No. 222-17, § 3, 10-18-2017; Ord. No. 232-19, § 4, 3-20-2019; Ord. No. 240-20, § 3, 8-19-2020; Ord. No. 274-25, § 3, 10-15-2025)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 232-19, § 3, adopted March 20, 2019, set out provisions intended for use as § 15.04.020. Subsequently, § 4 of said ordinance renumbered the former § 15.04.020 as § 15.04.040.