Yuba City Municipal Code Ch. 9 California Residential Building Code

Adoption of the California Residential Building Code, 2022 Edition, based on the 2021 International Residential Code including, Chapter 1, Division II Administration as published by the International Code Council (ICC) as amended by the City of Yuba City. One copy is and shall, at all times, be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R103.3 of Chapter 1, Division II Administration, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Deputies. In accordance with the prescribed procedures of this jurisdiction and with the concurrence of the appointing authority, the building official shall have the authority to appoint a deputy building official, the related technical officers, inspectors, plans examiners and other employees which may include the City Fire Chief and County Health Officer. Such employees shall have the powers as delegated by the building official. For the maintenance of existing properties, see the California Building Code.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R105.5 of Chapter 1, Division II Administration, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Expiration. Every permit issued by the Building Official under the provisions of this Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within twelve (12) months from the issue date of such permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of twelve (12) months. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained to do so, and the fee thereof shall be one-half (1/2) the amount required for a new permit for such work, provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work; and provided further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one (1) year.

Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which he may commence work under that permit, when he or she is unable to commence work within the time required by this section and for good and satisfactory reasons. The Building Official may extend the time for action by the permittee for a period not exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days upon written request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken. No permit shall be extended more than twice. In order to renew action of the permit after expiration, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee and the work shall comply with all the provisions for a completely new building.

When a permit expires by limitations and has become null and void, and the Building Inspection Division has not been notified in writing by the permittee that no work was done under the permit, the Building Official may file a "Notice of Non-compliance" with the Sutter County Recorder's Office for failure of obtaining the required inspections.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R108.2 of Chapter 1, Division II Administration, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Schedule of permit fees. On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with Chapter 8 of Title 3 of the Yuba City Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R112 of Chapter 1, Division II Administration, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Board of Appeals. Whenever the term "Board of Appeals" is used in this code, such reference shall mean the "Building Board of Appeals" created by Chapter 12 of Title 7 of the Yuba City Municipal Code or the "Accessibility Board of Appeals" created by Chapter 13 of Title 7 of the Yuba City Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R313.2.1 of Chapter 3, Building Planning, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Design and Installation. Automatic residential fire sprinkler systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with Section R313.3 or NFPA 13D. A listed and approved exterior combination horn/strobe device attached to the fire sprinkler system flow switch shall be provided on the front of the dwelling, or on the side within 4 feet of the front. The device shall be mounted between 96 inches and 120 inches from adjacent finished grade.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R313.3.1.2 of Chapter 3, Building Planning, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby added to read:

Attic Spaces. An Intermediate Temperature sprinkler head shall be provided at the high-point of each attic space.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R313.3.1.3 of Chapter 3, Building Planning, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby added to read:

Attached Garages. Attached garages are to be provided with fire sprinkler protection at the same design density as the dwelling.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R313.3.5.3 of Chapter 3, Building Planning, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Connections to automatic fire sprinkler systems. The potable water supply to automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be protected against backflow by using the "passive purge method". The fire sprinkler contractor shall provide a "T" fitting in the fire sprinkler piping at the most hydraulically remote water closet (toilet). The plumber shall connect the water supply for the water closet to the "T".

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Section R313.3.8.2 of Chapter 3, Building Planning, of the California Residential Code 2022 Edition is hereby amended to read:

Final inspection. The following items shall be verified upon completion of the system:

1. Sprinkler are not painted, damaged or otherwise hindered from operation.

2. Where a pump is required to provide water to the system, the pump starts automatically upon system water demand.

3. Pressure-reducing valves, water softeners, water, filters or other impairments to water flow that were not part of the original design have not been installed.

4. The sign or valve tag required by Section R313.3.7 is installed and the owner's manual for the system is present.

5. The exterior combination horn/strobe device shall be tested for proper operation by opening the inspector test valve on the fire sprinkler system.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

The City Council finds that the following regulations as contained in this Chapter are necessary to mitigate unique local climatic conditions and impose substantially the same requirements as are contained in the international model industry codes. The unique local conditions as found and determined are as follows:

Yuba City is located in the northern portion of the Central Valley. The area is bounded to the north by the Siskiyou Mountains, the west by the Coastal Mountains, the east by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the south by the Delta region. These geographical factors, and the area's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, combine to determine weather and wind conditions that influence the area and can create a particularly hazardous fire situation.

Four (4) weather conditions routinely present themselves which can result in extremely dangerous fire situations that could result in widespread conflagration. The four (4) conditions are temperature, relative humidity, wind and fog.

Temperatures in the Yuba City area during the summer months are in the ninety (90) degree Fahrenheit range with high temperatures of one hundred (100) degrees being very common.

Low relative humidity is a very important weather condition that can intensity fire behavior. When relative humidities fall below thirty (30%) percent, the potential for fire spread is significantly increased. A recent review of data available from the National Weather Service of a recent thirty-eight (38) month period revealed that the Yuba City area experienced four hundred three (403) days when the relative humidity was recorded at or below thirty (30%) percent.

Wind velocity directly contributes to flame spread and the potential for conflagration. Winds, in combination with relative humidities below thirty (30%) percent, contribute to "drying out" fuels. The Yuba City area is subject to strong north winds which are usually very drying in nature. A review was made of the days with relative humidity at or below thirty (30%) percent and winds of ten (10) miles per hour or more using the same thirty-eight (38) month period as was previously mentioned. Of the four hundred three (403) days of thirty (30%) percent or below relative humidity, one hundred ninety-seven (197) days also had winds that equaled or exceeded ten (10) miles per hour.

The weather conditions described above have a direct influence on fire behavior. High temperatures, low humidities and wind, singularly and in combination, produce a potentially explosive fire situation.

In addition to the weather conditions described above, the Yuba City area also experiences very dense fog conditions in the wintertime. The presence of dense fog poses significant response problems to emergency response vehicles. Obviously, if dense fog is present, response speeds must be reduced. This reduction in response speed results in longer response times. The longer it takes the fire department to arrive, the larger the fire grows. Using the same thirty-eight (38) month period mentioned above, research was done to determine how many days of heavy fog the Yuba City area experienced. Heavy fog was defined as one-fourth (1/4) of a mile visibility or less. The data revealed that during the thirty-eight (38) months reviewed, heavy fog occurred on one hundred three (103) days. It is important to note that the fog prone months of November and December were missing for two (2) of the three (3) years reviewed.

As a result of these findings of fact on local climatic conditions within the Yuba City area, the City Council finds that the residential building code provisions and the automatic sprinkler requirements herein established by this Chapter are considered "reasonable and necessary modifications" as provided for in California Health and Safety Code sections 18941.5(b) and 17958 et seq. Because of these serious concerns as reflected in the foregoing findings of fact, it is important that for the effective protection of the citizenry and property within the City limits of the City of Yuba City from the ravages of fire and the reduction of the potential for community-wide conflagration that this ordinance be enacted. Only with the enactment of these regulations can the reduction of the potential for community-wide conflagration and the protection of the citizenry and property within this jurisdiction be realized.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)

Violations to this chapter will be penalized under the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of the Yuba City Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 006-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 013-22, § 3(Exh. A), 12-20-2022)