Scope and application of the CHBC

Grounded in the retrieved California Historical Building Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

• CHBC § 8-1001 High relevance — show source text

  Section

  8-1001 Purpose and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 8-1002 Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 8-1003 Site Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

  APPENDIX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

  HISTORY NOTE APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE ix

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  x 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-1 ADMINISTRATION

  Note: The California Historical Building Code, Part 8 of Title 24, governs for all qualified historical buildings or properties in the State of California.

  SECTION 8-101 — TITLE, PURPOSE AND INTENT

  8-101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Historical Building Code and will be referred to herein as “the CHBC.”

  8-101.2 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide regulations for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, relocation or reconstruction of buildings or properties designated as qualified historical buildings or properties (as defined in Chapter 8-2). The CHBC is intended to provide solutions for the preservation of qualified historical buildings or properties, to promote sustainability, to provide access for persons with disabilities, to provide a cost-effective approach to preservation, and to provide for the reasonable safety of the occupants or users. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept solutions that are reasonably equivalent to the regular code (as defined in Chapter 8-2) when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-101.3 Intent. The intent of the CHBC is to facilitate the preservation and continuing use of qualified historical buildings or properties while providing reasonable safety for the building occupants and access for persons with disabilities.

  SECTION 8-102 — APPLICATION

  8-102.1 Application. The CHBC is applicable to all issues regarding code compliance for qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC may be used in conjunction with the regular code to provide solutions to facilitate the preservation of qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC shall be used by any agency with jurisdiction and whenever compliance with the code is required for qualified historical buildings or properties.

  1. State or local enforcing agency. The state or local enforcing agency shall apply the provisions of the CHBC in permitting repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation, relocation or continued use of a qualified historical building or property when so elected by the private property owner.
  2. **State agencies.
• CHBC § 8-101.1 High relevance — show source text

  8-101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Historical Building Code and will be referred to herein as “the CHBC.”

  8-101.2 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide regulations for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, relocation or reconstruction of buildings or properties designated as qualified historical buildings or properties (as defined in Chapter 8-2). The CHBC is intended to provide solutions for the preservation of qualified historical buildings or properties, to promote sustainability, to provide access for persons with disabilities, to provide a cost-effective approach to preservation, and to provide for the reasonable safety of the occupants or users. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept solutions that are reasonably equivalent to the regular code (as defined in Chapter 8-2) when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-101.3 Intent. The intent of the CHBC is to facilitate the preservation and continuing use of qualified historical buildings or properties while providing reasonable safety for the building occupants and access for persons with disabilities.

  SECTION 8-102 — APPLICATION

  8-102.1 Application. The CHBC is applicable to all issues regarding code compliance for qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC may be used in conjunction with the regular code to provide solutions to facilitate the preservation of qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC shall be used by any agency with jurisdiction and whenever compliance with the code is required for qualified historical buildings or properties.

  1. State or local enforcing agency. The state or local enforcing agency shall apply the provisions of the CHBC in permitting repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation, relocation or continued use of a qualified historical building or property when so elected by the private property owner.
  2. State agencies. All state agencies shall apply the provisions of the CHBC in permitting repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, relocation, reconstruction or continued use of qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-102.1.1 Additions, alterations and repairs. It is the intent of the CHBC to allow nonhistorical expansion or addition to a qualified historical building or property, provided nonhistorical additions shall conform to the requirements of the regular code (as defined in Chapter 8-2).

  8-102.1.2 Relocation. Relocated qualified historical buildings or properties shall be sited to comply with the regular code or with the solutions listed in the CHBC. Nonhistorical new construction related to relocation shall comply with the regular code. Reconstruction and restoration related to relocation is permitted to comply with the provisions in the CHBC.

  8-102.1.3 Change of occupancy. For change of use or occupancy, see Chapter 8-3, Use and Occupancy.

  8-102.1.4 Continued use. Qualified historical buildings or properties may have their existing use or occupancy continued if such use or occupancy conformed to the code or to the standards of construction in effect at the time of construction, and such use or occupancy does not constitute a distinct hazard to life safety as defined in the CHBC.

  8-102.1.5 Unsafe buildings or properties. When a qualified historical building or property is determined to be unsafe as defined in the regular code, the requirements of the CHBC are applicable to the work necessary to correct the unsafe conditions. Work to remediate the buildings or properties need only address the correction of the unsafe conditions, and it shall not be required to bring the entire qualified historical building or property into compliance with regular code.

• CHBC § 8-7 High relevance — show source text

  12 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-7 STRUCTURAL REGULATIONS

  SECTION 8-701 — PURPOSE, INTENT AND SCOPE

  8-701.1 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide alternative regulations to the regular code for the structural safety of buildings designated as qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept any reasonably equivalent alternatives to the regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-701.2 Intent. The intent of this chapter is to encourage the preservation of qualified historical buildings or structures while providing standards for a minimum level of building performance with the objective of preventing partial or total structural collapse such that the overall risk of life-threatening injury as a result of structural collapse is low.

  8-701.3 Application. The alternative structural regulations provided by Section 8-705 are to be applied in conjunction with the regular code whenever a structural upgrade or reconstruction is undertaken for qualified historical buildings or properties.

  SECTION 8-702 — GENERAL

  8-702.1 The CHBC shall not be construed to allow the enforcing agency to approve or permit a lower level of safety of structural design and construction than that which is reasonably equivalent to the regular code provisions in occupancies which are critical to the safety and welfare of the public at large, including, but not limited to, public and private schools, hospitals, municipal police and fire stations and essential services facilities.

  8-702.2 Nothing in these regulations shall prevent voluntary and partial seismic upgrades when it is demonstrated that such upgrades will improve life safety and when a full upgrade would not otherwise be required.

  SECTION 8-703 — STRUCTURAL SURVEY

  8-703.1 Scope. When a structure or portion of a structure is to be evaluated for structural capacity under the CHBC, it shall be surveyed for structural conditions by an architect or engineer knowledgeable in historical structures. The survey shall evaluate deterioration or signs of distress. The survey shall determine the details of the structural framing and the system for resistance of gravity and lateral loads. Details, reinforcement and anchorage of structural systems and veneers shall be determined and documented where these members are relied on for seismic lateral resistance.

  8-703.2 The results of the survey shall be utilized for evaluating the structural capacity and for designing modifications to the structural system to reach compliance with this code.

  8-703.3 Historical records. Past historical records of the structure or similar structures may be used in the evaluation, including the effects of subsequent alterations.

  SECTION 8-704 — NONHISTORICAL ADDITIONS AND NONHISTORICAL ALTERATIONS

  8-704.1 New nonhistorical additions and nonhistorical alterations which are structurally separated from an existing historical building or structure shall comply with regular code requirements.

  8-704.2 New nonhistorical additions which impose vertical or lateral loads on an existing structure shall not be permitted unless the affected part of the supporting structure is evaluated and strengthened, if necessary, to meet regular code requirements.

  Note: For use of archaic materials, see Chapter 8-8.

  SECTION 8-705 — STRUCTURAL REGULATIONS

• CHBC § 8-604 High relevance — show source text

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE 11

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  ACCESSIBILITY

  SECTION 8-604 — EQUIVALENT FACILITATION

  Use of other designs and technologies, or deviation from particular technical and scoping requirements, are permitted if the application of the alternative provisions contained in Section 8-603 would threaten or destroy the historical significance or characterdefining features of the historical building or property.

  1. Such alternatives shall be applied only on an item-by- item or a case-by-case basis.
  2. Access provided by experiences, services, functions, materials and resources through methods including, but not limited to, maps, plans, videos, virtual reality and related equipment, at accessible levels. The alternative design and/or technologies used will provide substantially equivalent or greater accessibility to, and usability of, the facility.
  3. The official charged with the enforcement of the standards shall document the reasons for the application of the design and/or technologies and their effect on the historical significance or character-defining features. Such documentation shall be in accordance with Section 8-602.2, Item 2, and shall include the opinion and comments of state or local accessibility officials, and the opinion and comments of representative local groups of people with disabilities. Such documentation shall be retained in the permanent file of the enforcing agency. Copies of the required documentation should be available at the facility upon request.

  Note: For commercial facilities and places of public accommodation (Title III entities).

  Equivalent facilitation for an element of a building or property when applied as a waiver of an ADA accessibility requirement will not be entitled to the Federal Department of Justice certification of this code as rebuttable evidence of compliance for that element.

  12 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-7 STRUCTURAL REGULATIONS

  SECTION 8-701 — PURPOSE, INTENT AND SCOPE

  8-701.1 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide alternative regulations to the regular code for the structural safety of buildings designated as qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept any reasonably equivalent alternatives to the regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-701.2 Intent. The intent of this chapter is to encourage the preservation of qualified historical buildings or structures while providing standards for a minimum level of building performance with the objective of preventing partial or total structural collapse such that the overall risk of life-threatening injury as a result of structural collapse is low.

  8-701.3 Application. The alternative structural regulations provided by Section 8-705 are to be applied in conjunction with the regular code whenever a structural upgrade or reconstruction is undertaken for qualified historical buildings or properties.

  SECTION 8-702 — GENERAL

  8-702.1 The CHBC shall not be construed to allow the enforcing agency to approve or permit a lower level of safety of structural design and construction than that which is reasonably equivalent to the regular code provisions in occupancies which are critical to the safety and welfare of the public at large, including, but not limited to, public and private schools, hospitals, municipal police and fire stations and essential services facilities.

  8-702.2 Nothing in these regulations shall prevent voluntary and partial seismic upgrades when it is demonstrated that such upgrades will improve life safety and when a full upgrade would not otherwise be required.

• CHBC § 8-1001.1 High relevance — show source text

  8-1001.1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations for the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction of associated historical features of qualified historical buildings, properties or districts (as defined in Chapter 8-2), and for which Chapters 8-3 through 8-9 of the CHBC may not apply.

  8-1001.2 Scope. This chapter applies to the associated historical features of qualified historical buildings or properties such as historical districts that are beyond the buildings themselves which include, but are not limited to, natural features and designed site and landscape plans with natural and man-made landscape elements that support their function and aesthetics. This may include, but will not be limited to:

  1. Site plan layout configurations and relationships (pedestrian, equestrian and vehicular site circulation, topographical grades and drainage, and use areas).
  2. Landscape elements (plant materials, site structures other than the qualified historical building, bridges and their associated structures, lighting, water features, art ornamentation, and pedestrian, equestrian and vehicular surfaces).
  3. Functional elements (utility placement, erosion control and environmental mitigation measures).

  SECTION 8-1002 — APPLICATION

  8-1002.1 The CHBC shall apply to all sites and districts and their features associated with qualified historical buildings or qualified historical districts as outlined in 8-1001.2 Scope.

  8-1002.2 Where the application of regular code may impact the associated features of qualified historical properties beyond their footprints, by work performed secondarily, those impacts shall also be covered by the CHBC.

  8-1002.3 This chapter shall be applied for all issues regarding code compliance or other standard or regulation as they affect the purpose of this chapter.

  8-1002.4 The application of any code or building standard shall not unduly restrict the use of a qualified historical building or property that is otherwise permitted pursuant to Chapter 8-3 and the intent of the State Historical Building Code, Section 18956.

  SECTION 8-1003 — SITE RELATIONS

  The relationship between a building or property and its site, or the associated features of a district (including qualified historical landscape), site, objects and their features are critical components that may be one of the criteria for these buildings and properties to be qualified under the CHBC. The CHBC recognizes the importance of these relationships. This chapter shall be used to provide context sensitive solutions for treatment of qualified historical buildings, properties, district or their associated historical features, or when work to be performed secondarily impacts the associated historical features of a qualified historical building or property.

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE 23

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  24 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

• CHBC § 8-6 High relevance — show source text

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  APPENDIX A	Col2	Col3	Col4
  CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY	CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY	CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY	CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY
  	Title II Public Entities	Title III Private Entities	Title III Barrier Removal
  SECTION 8-601 PURPOSE, INTENT, SCOPE **8-601.1 Purpose.**The purpose of the CHBC is to provide alternative regulations to facilitate access and use by persons with disabilities to and throughout facilities designated as quali- fied historical buildings or properties. These regulations require enforcing agencies to accept alternatives to regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties. **8-601.2 Intent.**The intent of this chapter is to preserve the integrity of qualified historical buildings and properties while providing access to and use by persons with disabilities. **8-601.3 Scope.**The CHBC shall apply to every qualified historical building or property that is required to provide access to persons with disabilities. 1.Provisions of this chapter do not apply to new construction or reconstruction/replicas of historical buildings. 2. Where provisions of this chapter apply to alteration of qualified historical buildings or properties, alteration is defined in_ California Building Code_ (CBC), Chapter 2. 8-601.4 General application. The provisions in the CHBC apply to local, state and federal governments (Title II entities); alteration of commercial facilities and places of public accommodation (Title III entities); and barrier removal in commercial facilities and places of public accommodation (Title III entities). Except as noted in this chapter.	Applies	Applies	Applies
  SECTION 8-602 — BASIC PROVISIONS 8-602.1 Regular code. The regular code for access for people with disabilities (Title 24, Part 2, Vol.1, Chapter 11B) shall be applied to qualified historical buildings or properties unless strict compliance with the regular code will threaten or destroy the historical significance or character-defining features of the building or property. **8-602.2 Alternative provisions.**If the historical significance or character-defining features are threatened, alternative provisions for access may be applied pursuant to this chapter, provided the following conditions are met: 1.These provisions shall be applied only on an item-by-item or case-by-case basis. 2.Documentation is provided, including meeting minutes or letters, stating the reasons for the application of the alternative provisions. Such documentation shall be retained in the permanent file of the enforcing agency.	Applies	Applies	Applies
  Section 8-603 — ALTERNATIVES **8-603.1 Alternative minimum standards.**The alternative minimum standards for alter- ations of qualified historical buildings or facilities are referenced in Section 202.5 of the_ 2010_ ADA Standards for Accessible Design, as incorporated and set forth in federal regulation 28 CFR Pt. 36. **8-603.2 Entry.

• CHBC § 8-1002.1 High relevance — show source text

  8-1002.1 The CHBC shall apply to all sites and districts and their features associated with qualified historical buildings or qualified historical districts as outlined in 8-1001.2 Scope.

  8-1002.2 Where the application of regular code may impact the associated features of qualified historical properties beyond their footprints, by work performed secondarily, those impacts shall also be covered by the CHBC.

  8-1002.3 This chapter shall be applied for all issues regarding code compliance or other standard or regulation as they affect the purpose of this chapter.

  8-1002.4 The application of any code or building standard shall not unduly restrict the use of a qualified historical building or property that is otherwise permitted pursuant to Chapter 8-3 and the intent of the State Historical Building Code, Section 18956.

  SECTION 8-1003 — SITE RELATIONS

  The relationship between a building or property and its site, or the associated features of a district (including qualified historical landscape), site, objects and their features are critical components that may be one of the criteria for these buildings and properties to be qualified under the CHBC. The CHBC recognizes the importance of these relationships. This chapter shall be used to provide context sensitive solutions for treatment of qualified historical buildings, properties, district or their associated historical features, or when work to be performed secondarily impacts the associated historical features of a qualified historical building or property.

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE 23

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  24 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  APPENDIX A	Col2	Col3	Col4
  CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY	CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY	CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY	CHAPTER 8-6—TABLE 1—PROVISION APPLICABILITY
  	Title II Public Entities	Title III Private Entities	Title III Barrier Removal
  SECTION 8-601 PURPOSE, INTENT, SCOPE **8-601.1 Purpose.**The purpose of the CHBC is to provide alternative regulations to facilitate access and use by persons with disabilities to and throughout facilities designated as quali- fied historical buildings or properties. These regulations require enforcing agencies to accept alternatives to regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties. **8-601.2 Intent.**The intent of this chapter is to preserve the integrity of qualified historical buildings and properties while providing access to and use by persons with disabilities. **8-601.3 Scope.**The CHBC shall apply to every qualified historical building or property that is required to provide access to persons with disabilities. 1.Provisions of this chapter do not apply to new construction or reconstruction/replicas of historical buildings. 2. Where provisions of this chapter apply to alteration of qualified historical buildings or properties, alteration is defined in_ California Building Code_ (CBC), Chapter 2. **8-601.4 General application.

• CHBC § 8-503 High relevance — show source text

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE 9

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  MEANS OF EGRESS

  SECTION 8-503 — ESCAPE OR RESCUE WINDOWS AND DOORS

  Basements in dwelling units and every sleeping room below the fourth floor shall have at least one openable window or door approved for emergency escape which shall open directly into a public street, public way, yard or exit court. Escape or rescue windows or doors shall have a minimum clear area of 3.3 square feet (0.31 m [2] ) and a minimum width or height dimension of 18 inches (457 mm) and be operable from the inside to provide a full, clear opening without the use of special tools.

  SECTION 8-504 — RAILINGS AND GUARDRAILS

  The height of railings and guard railings and the spacing of balusters may continue in their historical height and spacing unless a distinct hazard has been identified or created by a change in use or occupancy.

  10 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-6 ACCESSIBILITY

  SECTION 8-601 — PURPOSE, INTENT AND SCOPE

  8-601.1 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide alternative regulations to facilitate access and use by persons with disabilities to and throughout facilities designated as qualified historical buildings or properties. These regulations require enforcing agencies to accept alternatives to regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-601.2 Intent. The intent of this chapter is to preserve the integrity of qualified historical buildings and properties while providing access to and use by persons with disabilities.

  8-601.3 Scope. The CHBC shall apply to every qualified historical building or property that is required to provide access to persons with disabilities.

  1. Provisions of this chapter do not apply to new construction or reconstruction/replicas of historical buildings.
  2. Where provisions of this chapter apply to alteration of qualified historical buildings or properties, alteration is defined in California Building Code (CBC), Chapter 2.

  8-601.4 General application. The provisions in the CHBC apply to local, state and federal governments (Title II entities); alteration of commercial facilities and places of public accommodation (Title III entities); and barrier removal in commercial facilities and places of public accommodation (Title III entities). Except as noted in this chapter.

  SECTION 8-602 — BASIC PROVISIONS

  8-602.1 Regular code. The regular code for access for people with disabilities (Title 24, Part 2, Vol. 1, Chapter 11B) shall be applied to qualified historical buildings or properties unless strict compliance with the regular code will threaten or destroy the historical significance or character-defining features of the building or property.

  8-602.2 Alternative provisions. If the historical significance or character-defining features are threatened, alternative provisions for access may be applied pursuant to this chapter, provided the following conditions are met:

  1. These provisions shall be applied only on an item-by-item or a case-by-case basis.
  2. Documentation is provided, including meeting minutes or letters, stating the reasons for the application of the alternative provisions. Such documentation shall be retained in the permanent file of the enforcing agency.

  SECTION 8-603 — ALTERNATIVES

• CHBC § 8-302.6 High relevance — show source text

  8-302.6 Fire-resistive construction. See Chapter 8-4.

  8-302.7 Light and ventilation. Existing provisions for light and ventilation which do not, in the opinion of the enforcing agency, constitute a safety hazard may remain. See Section 8-303.6 for residential requirements. See Section 8-503 for Escape or Rescue Windows and Doors.

  SECTION 8-303 — RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES

  8-303.1 Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide regulations for those buildings designated as qualified historical buildings or properties and classified as residential occupancies. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept any reasonably equivalent alternative to the regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings and properties.

  8-303.2 Intent. The intent of the CHBC is to preserve the integrity of qualified historical buildings and properties while maintaining a reasonable degree of protection of life, health and safety for the occupants.

  8-303.3 Application and scope. The provisions of this section shall apply to all qualified historical buildings used for human habitation. Those dwelling units intended only for display, or public use with no residential use involved, need not comply with the requirements of this section.

  8-303.4 Fire escapes. See Chapter 8-5.

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE 5

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  USE AND OCCUPANCY

  8-303.5 Room dimensions. Rooms used for sleeping purposes may contain a minimum of 50 square feet (4.6 m [2] ) floor area, provided there is maintained an average ceiling height of 7 feet (2134 mm). Other habitable rooms need only be of adequate size to be functional for the purpose intended.

  8-303.6 Light and ventilation. Windows in habitable rooms shall have an area of 6 percent of the floor area, or 6 square feet (0.56 m [2] ), whichever is greater. Windows in sleeping rooms shall be openable (see Section 8-503). Residential occupancies need not be provided with electrical lighting.

  8-303.7 Alteration and repair. The alteration and repair of qualified historical buildings or properties may permit the replacement, retention and extension of original materials and the continued use of original methods of construction, provided a life safety hazard is not created or continued. Alterations and repairs shall be consistent with the CHBC.

  The amount of alterations and repairs is not limited, provided there is no nonhistorical increase in floor area, volume or size of the building or property.

  8-303.8 Exiting. See Chapter 8-5.

  6 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-4 FIRE PROTECTION

  SECTION 8-401 — PURPOSE, INTENT AND SCOPE

  8-401.1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations for fire protection of qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept any reasonably equivalent alternatives to the regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-401.2 Intent. The intent of the CHBC is to preserve the integrity of qualified historical buildings or properties while maintaining a reasonable degree of fire protection based primarily on the life safety of the occupants and firefighting personnel.

• CHBC § 8-9 High relevance — show source text

  Bolt spacing shall not
  exceed 6 feet (1830 mm) on center and shall not be less than 12 inches (305 mm) on center.
  6. Other masonry based on tests or other substantiated data.
  7. Embedded bolts to be tested as specified in regular code standards.
  8. Stresses given may be increased for combinations of loads as specified in the regular code.
  9. Adhesives shall be approved by the enforcing agency and installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. All drilling dust shall be removed from drilled
  holes prior to installation.|

  18 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-9 MECHANICAL, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

  SECTION 8-901 — PURPOSE, INTENT AND SCOPE

  8-901.1 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide regulations for the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems of buildings designated as qualified historical buildings or properties. The CHBC requires enforcing agencies to accept any reasonable equivalent solutions to the regular code when dealing with qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-901.2 Intent. The intent of the CHBC is to preserve the integrity of qualified historical buildings or properties while providing a reasonable level of protection from fire, health and life safety hazards (hereinafter referred to as safety hazards) for the building occupants.

  8-901.3 Scope. The CHBC shall be applied in conjunction with the regular code whenever compliance with the regular code is required for qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-901.4 Safety hazard. No person shall permit any safety hazard to exist on premises under their control, or fail to take immediate action to abate such hazard. Existing systems which constitute a safety hazard when operational may remain in place, provided they are completely and permanently rendered inoperative. Safety hazards created by inoperative systems shall not be permitted to exist. Requirements of the regular code concerning general regulations shall be complied with, except that the enforcing agency shall accept solutions which do not cause a safety hazard.

  8-901.5 Energy conservation. Qualified historical buildings or properties covered by this part are exempted from compliance with energy conservation standards. When new nonhistorical lighting and space conditioning system components, devices, appliances and equipment are installed, they shall comply with the requirements of Title 24, Part 6, The California Energy Code, except where the historical significance or character-defining features are threatened.

  SECTION 8-902 — MECHANICAL

  8-902.1 General. Mechanical systems shall comply with the regular code unless otherwise modified by this chapter.

  8-902.1.1 The provisions of the CHBC shall apply to the acceptance, location, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement or addition of any heating, ventilating, air conditioning, domestic incinerators, kilns or miscellaneous heat-producing appliances or equipment within or attached to a historical building.

  8-902.1.2 Existing systems which do not, in the opinion of the enforcing agency, constitute a safety hazard may remain in use.

  8-902.1.3 The enforcing agency may approve any alternative to the CHBC which would achieve equivalent life safety.

  8-902.2 Heating facilities. All dwelling-type occupancies covered under this chapter shall be provided with heating facilities. Woodburning or pellet stoves or fireplaces may be acceptable as heating facilities.

• CHBC § 8-3 High relevance — show source text

  TREATMENT. An act of work to carry out preservation, restoration, stabilization, rehabilitation or reconstruction.

  4 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-3 USE AND OCCUPANCY

  SECTION 8-301 — PURPOSE AND SCOPE

  8-301.1 Purpose. The purpose of the CHBC is to provide regulations for the determination of occupancy classifications and conditions of use for qualified historical buildings or properties.

  8-301.2 Scope. Every qualified historical building or property for which a permit or approval has been requested shall be classified prior to permit issuance according to its use or the character of its occupancy in accordance with the regular code and applicable provisions of this chapter.

  SECTION 8-302 — GENERAL

  8-302.1 Existing use. The use or character of occupancy of a qualified historical building or property, or portion thereof, shall be permitted to continue in use regardless of any period of time in which it may have remained unoccupied or in other uses, provided such building or property otherwise conforms to all applicable requirements of the CHBC.

  8-302.2 Change in occupancy. The use or character of the occupancy of a qualified historical building or property may be changed from or returned to its historical use or character, provided the qualified historical building or property conforms to the requirements applicable to the new use or character of occupancy as set forth in the CHBC. Such change in occupancy shall not mandate conformance with new construction requirements as set forth in regular code.

  8-302.3 Occupancy separations. Required occupancy separations of more than one hour may be reduced to one-hour fire-resistive construction with all openings protected by not less than three-fourths-hour fire-resistive assemblies of the self-closing or automatic-closing type when the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout the entire building in accordance with Section 8-410.2. Doors equipped with automatic-closing devices shall be of a type which will function upon activation of a device which responds to products of combustion other than heat.

  Required occupancy separations of one hour may be omitted when the building is provided with an automatic sprinkler system throughout.

  8-302.4 Maximum floor area. Regardless of the use or character of occupancy, the area of a one-story qualified historical building or property may have, but shall not exceed, a floor area of 15,000 square feet (1393.5 m [2] ) unless such an increase is otherwise permitted in regular code. Multistory qualified historical buildings (including basements and cellars) shall be in accordance with regular code requirements.

  Exception: Historical buildings may be unlimited in floor area without fire-resistive area separation walls:

  1. When provided with an automatic sprinkler, or
  2. Residential occupancies of two stories or less when provided with a complete fire alarm and annunciation system and where the exiting system conforms to regular code.

  8-302.5 Maximum height. The maximum height and number of stories of a qualified historical building or property shall not be limited because of construction type, provided such height or number of stories does not exceed that of its historical design.

• CHBC § 8-904.2.7 High relevance — show source text

  8-904.2.7 Lighting load calculations for services and feeders may be based on actual loads as installed in lieu of the “watts per square foot” method.

  8-904.2.8 Determination of existing loads may be based on maximum demand recordings in lieu of calculations, provided all of the following are met:

  1. Recordings are provided by the serving agency.
  2. The maximum demand data is available for a one-year period. Exception: If maximum demand data for a one-year period is not available, the maximum demand data shall be permitted to be based on the actual amperes continuously recorded over a minimum 30-day period by a recording ammeter connected to the highest loaded phase of the feeder or service. The recording should reflect the maximum demand when the building or space is occupied and include the measured or calculated load at the peak time of the year, including the larger of the heating or cooling equipment load.
  3. There has been no change in occupancy or character of load during the previous 12 months.
  4. The anticipated load will not change, or the existing demand load at 125 percent plus the new load does not exceed the ampacity of the feeder or rating of the service.

  2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE 21

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  22 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  8-10 QUALIFIED HISTORICAL DISTRICTS, SITES AND OPEN SPACES

  SECTION 8-1001 — PURPOSE AND SCOPE

  8-1001.1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations for the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction of associated historical features of qualified historical buildings, properties or districts (as defined in Chapter 8-2), and for which Chapters 8-3 through 8-9 of the CHBC may not apply.

  8-1001.2 Scope. This chapter applies to the associated historical features of qualified historical buildings or properties such as historical districts that are beyond the buildings themselves which include, but are not limited to, natural features and designed site and landscape plans with natural and man-made landscape elements that support their function and aesthetics. This may include, but will not be limited to:

  1. Site plan layout configurations and relationships (pedestrian, equestrian and vehicular site circulation, topographical grades and drainage, and use areas).
  2. Landscape elements (plant materials, site structures other than the qualified historical building, bridges and their associated structures, lighting, water features, art ornamentation, and pedestrian, equestrian and vehicular surfaces).
  3. Functional elements (utility placement, erosion control and environmental mitigation measures).

  SECTION 8-1002 — APPLICATION

  8-1002.1 The CHBC shall apply to all sites and districts and their features associated with qualified historical buildings or qualified historical districts as outlined in 8-1001.2 Scope.

  8-1002.2 Where the application of regular code may impact the associated features of qualified historical properties beyond their footprints, by work performed secondarily, those impacts shall also be covered by the CHBC.

  8-1002.3 This chapter shall be applied for all issues regarding code compliance or other standard or regulation as they affect the purpose of this chapter.