CHBC · California Historical Building Code

Which agencies enforce CHBC requirements for historical sites and districts?

Q: Who hears appeals or interprets CHBC provisions?

The State Historical Building Safety Board (SHBSB) is the CHBC appeal and review body and may be consulted by enforcing agencies or affected parties for interpretation and appeals (see § 8-104.1 and § 8-104.2 ) .

If your property is designated a qualified historical building or part of a historic district, the local building department (for locally permitted work) or the appropriate state agency (for state-owned properties) is the enforcing authority that must apply the CHBC; state agencies also must follow SHBSB review rules for certain actions.

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

What the code requires — 2–4 sentences

The state or local enforcing agency is responsible for administering and enforcing the CHBC for qualified historical buildings or properties within their jurisdiction — in other words, the building department or agency that issues permits for the site must apply the CHBC when it is used. See § 8-103.1 . Separately, all state agencies must apply and enforce the CHBC for qualified historical buildings or properties they own or control under their jurisdiction. See § 8-103.2 .

The enforcing agency with permitting authority over the property — either the local building department or the relevant state agency — is the body that must administer the CHBC for qualified historical sites or districts.

Requirements in detail

Who is the enforcing authority?

Enforcing agency (also phrased in the CHBC as authority having jurisdiction) — the entity that issues permits, approvals, and enforces building standards for a property — administers the CHBC for qualified historic properties within its permitting jurisdiction. See § 8-103.1 and the CHBC definition of Enforcing Agency .
State agencies must likewise apply and enforce the CHBC for qualified historical buildings or properties that fall under their authority (state-owned properties or programs). See § 8-103.2 .

When the CHBC is used (jurisdictional triggers)

Local application is used when the property owner elects to use the CHBC and the local permitting agency has jurisdiction. See CHBC application language and local/state distinctions in § 8-102.1 .
State agencies have an affirmative duty to apply CHBC provisions to qualified historic properties under their control. See § 8-103.2 .

Decision table — which agency does what

Decision dimension	Local enforcing agency (city/county)	State agency	Code Reference
Applies CHBC when owner elects to use it	Yes — local building department administers CHBC for permitting	N/A	§ 8-102.1
Applies CHBC for state-owned properties	Only if local jurisdiction applies to non-state property	Yes — must administer and enforce for properties under state agency jurisdiction	§ 8-103.2
Authority to permit repairs, alterations, additions under CHBC	Local enforcing agency (permits/inspections)	State agency acting as enforcing authority for its properties	§ 8-103.1
Appeal / technical review body	Local appeals then SHBSB for statewide significance	State agencies must consult SHBSB for review/appeals per State law	§ 8-104.1 and § 8-104.2.1

(Each Code Reference column points to the CHBC sections describing the duty or mechanism cited above.)

Exceptions & special cases

Use of the CHBC is limited to qualified historical buildings or properties (properties designated by an appropriate local or state jurisdiction). The CHBC does not automatically apply to non‑qualified buildings. See definition and qualification discussion in CHBC introductory material and definitions .
For state agencies, special procedural requirements (e.g., consultation and review by the State Historical Building Safety Board, SHBSB) apply before taking actions that affect qualified historic buildings — see § 8-104.2.1 and related procedural provisions. See § 8-103.2 (state enforcement) and § 8-104.2.1 for SHBSB review requirements .
Where an imminent threat (danger to life/safety) exists for a state-owned historic property, the state agency must consult the SHBSB before demolition or similar irreversible action. See § 8-104.2.2 .

Common mistakes

Assuming CHBC applies automatically to every old building. The CHBC applies only to qualified historical buildings or properties — designation is required. See CHBC scope and definition .
Confusing who enforces the CHBC: the local building department enforces CHBC within its permitting jurisdiction; state agencies enforce CHBC over state properties — both are named enforcing agencies in the code. See § 8-103.1 and § 8-103.2 .
Failing to use the SHBSB process: state agencies (and local agencies in appeals of statewide significance) must use the State Historical Building Safety Board for reviews and appeals when required. See § 8-104.1 and § 8-104.2 .
Treating CHBC as a waiver of life-safety standards: the CHBC provides alternative, performance-based solutions; it does not allow lower safety than reasonably equivalent to the regular code in critical occupancies. See intent and limitations in CHBC chapters (see Chapter 8-1 and structural chapter references) .

Worked example — concrete scenario

Scenario: A privately owned, city‑designated historic theater (a qualified historical building) wants to repair and alter its stagehouse and requests permits under the CHBC. The owner elects to use the CHBC.

The theater is within City A; the permit application is filed with the City A Building Department. Because the city is the local permitting authority, City A (the local enforcing agency) must administer and enforce the CHBC for this work. This responsibility flows from § 8-103.1 and the CHBC application rules § 8-102.1 .
If the proposed work affects an element deemed a distinct hazard (immediate danger), the enforcing agency may require only the work necessary to correct that condition under CHBC provisions addressing unsafe buildings (see Chapter 8-2/8-102 guidance) .
If the theater were state‑owned instead, the responsible state agency (for example, a state parks or cultural agency) would be the enforcing agency and must apply the CHBC for the theater, per § 8-103.2 . If the state agency proposed demolition because the building was an imminent threat, the agency must consult the SHBSB before demolition per § 8-104.2.2 .

(Example figures such as permit fees or construction cost estimates are illustrative and not specified by the CHBC.)

Related provisions

§ 8-102.1 — Application; when state or local enforcing agencies apply CHBC
§ 8-104.1 — State Historical Building Safety Board (SHBSB): appeal and review body
§ 8-104.2 — SHBSB review procedures; state agencies must obtain review in certain circumstances
§ 8-104.2.2 — Imminent threat: consultation with SHBSB before demolition by a state agency
Definitions: Enforcing Agency and Qualified historical building or property (see Chapter 8-2 definitions and CHBC preface)

Code references

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

CHBC § 8-102.1.6 High relevance — show source text
8-102.1.6 Additional work. Qualified historical buildings or properties shall not be subject to additional work required by the regular code, regulation or ordinance beyond that required to complete the work undertaken. Certain exceptions for accessibility and for distinct hazards exist by mandate and may require specific action, within the parameters of the CHBC.

SECTION 8-103 — ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT

8-103.1 Authority. The state or local enforcing agency, pursuant to authority provided under Section 18954 of the Health and Safety Code, shall administer and enforce 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.

8-103.2 State enforcement. All state agencies pursuant to authority provided under Section 18954 and Section 18961 of the Health and Safety Code shall administer and enforce the CHBC with respect to qualified historical buildings or properties under their respective jurisdiction.

8-103.3 Liability. Prevailing law regarding immunity of building officials is unaffected by the use and enforcement of the CHBC.

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ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 8-104 — REVIEW AND APPEALS

8-104.1 State Historical Building Safety Board (SHBSB or Board). In order to provide for interpretation of the provisions of the CHBC and to hear appeals, the SHBSB shall act as an appeal and review body to state and local agencies or any affected party.

8-104.2 SHBSB review. When a proposed design, material or method of construction is being considered by the enforcing agency, the agency chief, the building official or the local board of appeals may file a written request for opinion to the SHBSB for its consideration, advice or findings. In considering such request, the SHBSB may seek the advice of other appropriate private or public boards, individuals, or state or local agencies. The SHBSB shall, after considering all of the facts presented, including any recommendation of other appropriate boards, agencies or other parties, determine if, for the purpose intended, the proposal is reasonably equivalent to that allowed by these regulations in proposed design, material or method of construction, and it shall transmit such findings and its decision to the enforcing agency for its application. The Board may recover the costs of such reviews and shall report the decision in printed form, copied to the California Building Standards Commission.

8-104.2.1 State agencies. All state agencies with ownership of, or that act on behalf of state agency owners of, qualified historical buildings or properties, shall consult and obtain SHBSB review prior to taking action or making decisions or appeals that affect qualified historical buildings or properties, per Section 18961 of the Health and Safety Code.

8-104.2.2 Imminent threat. Where an emergency is declared and a qualified historical building or property is declared an imminent threat to life and safety, the state agency assessing such a threat shall consult with the SHBSB before any demolition is undertaken, per Section 18961 of the Health and Safety Code.
CHBC § 8-102.1.1 High relevance — show source text
1. 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.

8-102.1.6 Additional work. Qualified historical buildings or properties shall not be subject to additional work required by the regular code, regulation or ordinance beyond that required to complete the work undertaken. Certain exceptions for accessibility and for distinct hazards exist by mandate and may require specific action, within the parameters of the CHBC.

SECTION 8-103 — ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT

8-103.1 Authority. The state or local enforcing agency, pursuant to authority provided under Section 18954 of the Health and Safety Code, shall administer and enforce 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.

8-103.2 State enforcement. All state agencies pursuant to authority provided under Section 18954 and Section 18961 of the Health and Safety Code shall administer and enforce the CHBC with respect to qualified historical buildings or properties under their respective jurisdiction.

8-103.3 Liability. Prevailing law regarding immunity of building officials is unaffected by the use and enforcement of the CHBC.

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ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 8-104 — REVIEW AND APPEALS

8-104.1 State Historical Building Safety Board (SHBSB or Board). In order to provide for interpretation of the provisions of the CHBC and to hear appeals, the SHBSB shall act as an appeal and review body to state and local agencies or any affected party.

**8-104.2 SHBSB review.
CHBC § 323-9843 High relevance — show source text
State Librarian [SL]

library.ca.gov csllaw@library.ca.gov (916) 323-9843 Public Library Construction & Renovation

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HOW TO DETERMINE WHERE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE

Symbols in the margins indicate where changes have been made or language has been deleted.

This symbol indicates that a change has been made.
- This symbol indicates deletion of language.
vi 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

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PART 8 CONTAINS ALTERNATIVE REGULATIONS

FOR QUALIFIED HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

The California Historical Building Code (CHBC) is unique among state regulations. The authoring of the original CHBC required state agencies promulgating regulations for building construction to work in harmony with representatives of other design and construction disciplines. The result was a totally new approach to building codes for historical structures, which maintains currently acceptable life safety standards. These regulations are also unique in that they are performance oriented rather than prescriptive. The provisions of the CHBC are to be applied by the enforcing authority of every city, county, city and county, or state agency in permitting repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, rehabilitation, relocation, related construction, change of use or continued use of a qualified historical building. The authority for use of the CHBC is vested in Sections 18950 through 18961 of the Health and Safety Code. Section 18954 states, “The building department of every city or county or other local agency that has jurisdiction over the enforcement of code within its legal authority shall apply the alternative standards and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 18959.5 in permitting repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, moving, or continued use of a qualified historical building or structure. A state agency shall apply the alternative regulations adopted pursuant to Section 18959.5 in permitting repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, moving, or continued use of a qualified historical building or structure.” However, be aware that in order to use the CHBC, the structure under consideration must be qualified by being designated as an historical building or structure. Section 18955 states, “For the purposes of this part, a qualified historical building or structure is any structure or property, collection of structures, and their related sites deemed of importance to the history, architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction. This shall include historical buildings or structures on existing or future national, state or local historical registers or official inventories, such as the National Register of Historic Places, State Historical Landmarks, State Points of Historical Interest, and city or county registers or inventories of historical or architecturally significant sites, places, historic districts, or landmarks. This shall also include places, locations, or sites identified on these historical registers or official inventories and deemed of importance to the history, architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction.” The regulations of the CHBC have the same authority as state law and are to be considered as such. Liability is the same as for prevailing law. The intent of the CHBC is to save California’s architectural heritage by recognizing the unique construction problems inherent in historical buildings and by providing a code to deal with these problems.
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 § 8-104.2 High relevance — show source text
8-104.2 SHBSB review. When a proposed design, material or method of construction is being considered by the enforcing agency, the agency chief, the building official or the local board of appeals may file a written request for opinion to the SHBSB for its consideration, advice or findings. In considering such request, the SHBSB may seek the advice of other appropriate private or public boards, individuals, or state or local agencies. The SHBSB shall, after considering all of the facts presented, including any recommendation of other appropriate boards, agencies or other parties, determine if, for the purpose intended, the proposal is reasonably equivalent to that allowed by these regulations in proposed design, material or method of construction, and it shall transmit such findings and its decision to the enforcing agency for its application. The Board may recover the costs of such reviews and shall report the decision in printed form, copied to the California Building Standards Commission.

8-104.2.1 State agencies. All state agencies with ownership of, or that act on behalf of state agency owners of, qualified historical buildings or properties, shall consult and obtain SHBSB review prior to taking action or making decisions or appeals that affect qualified historical buildings or properties, per Section 18961 of the Health and Safety Code.

8-104.2.2 Imminent threat. Where an emergency is declared and a qualified historical building or property is declared an imminent threat to life and safety, the state agency assessing such a threat shall consult with the SHBSB before any demolition is undertaken, per Section 18961 of the Health and Safety Code.

8-104.3 SHBC appeals. If any local agency administering and enforcing the CHBC or any person adversely affected by any regulation, rule, omission, interpretation, decision or practice of the agency enforcing the CHBC wishes to appeal the issue for resolution to the SHBSB, either of these parties may appeal directly to the Board. The Board may accept the appeal only if it determines that issues involved are of statewide significance. The Board may recover the costs of such reviews and shall make available copies of decisions in printed form at cost, copied to the California Building Standards Commission.

8-104.4 Local agency fees. Local agencies, when actively involved in the appeal, may also charge affected persons reasonable fees not to exceed the cost of obtaining reviews and appeals from the Board.

SECTION 8-105 — CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND MATERIALS

8-105.1 Repairs. Repairs to any portion of a qualified historical building or property may be made in-kind with historical materials and the use of original or existing historical methods of construction, subject to conditions of the CHBC. (See Chapter 8-8.)

8-105.2 Solutions to the California Historical Building Code . Solutions provided in the CHBC, or any other acceptable regulation or methodology of design or construction and used in whole or in part, with the regular code, or with any combination of the regular code and the CHBC, shall be allowed. The CHBC does not preclude the use of any proposed alternative or method of design or construction not specifically prescribed or otherwise allowed by these regulations. Any alternative may be submitted for evaluation to the appropriate enforcing agency for review and acceptance. The enforcing agency may request that sufficient evidence or proof be submitted to substantiate any claims that may be made regarding such solutions. Any alternative offered in lieu of that prescribed or allowed in the CHBC shall be reasonably equivalent in quality, strength, effectiveness, durability and safety to that of the CHBC.
CHBC § 653-5791 High relevance — show source text
Option 5 > Option 2 State Housing Law: including Housing Accessibility, Hotels/Motels, Apartments/Condominiums, Dormitories, Single-Family Dwellings, ADUs, Permanent Structures in Mobile Home Parks

Option 5 > Option 4 Factory-Built Housing Option 5 > Option 5 Employee Housing

Department of Water Resources [DWR]

water.ca.gov DWRwebcomment@water.ca.gov

(916) 653-5791 Plumbing for Recycled Water, Floodplain Construction

Division of the State Architect

dgs.ca.gov/DSA (916) 445-8100

Access Compliance DSAAC 445-5827 DSAaccess@dgs.ca.gov Access for Persons with Disabilities

Structural Safety [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC]

Public Schools & Community Colleges, State Essential Services Buildings

State Historical Building Safety Board [SHBSB] (916) 445-7627 shbsb@dgs.ca.gov

Historical Building Rehabilitation, Preservation, Restoration or Relocation

Energy Commission [CEC]

energy.ca.gov Title24@energy.ca.gov (800) 772-3300 Building Energy Efficiency, Compliance Manual & Compliance Forms

Office of the State Fire Marshal [SFM]

osfm.fire.ca.gov codedevelopment@fire.ca.gov

(916) 568-3800 Fire & Life Safety

State Lands Commission [SLC]

slc.ca.gov MOTEMS.Public@slc.ca.gov (510) 741-4950 Marine Oil Terminals

State Librarian [SL]

library.ca.gov csllaw@library.ca.gov (916) 323-9843 Public Library Construction & Renovation

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HOW TO DETERMINE WHERE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE

Symbols in the margins indicate where changes have been made or language has been deleted.

This symbol indicates that a change has been made.
- This symbol indicates deletion of language.
vi 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE

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

PART 8 CONTAINS ALTERNATIVE REGULATIONS

FOR QUALIFIED HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

The California Historical Building Code (CHBC) is unique among state regulations. The authoring of the original CHBC required state agencies promulgating regulations for building construction to work in harmony with representatives of other design and construction disciplines. The result was a totally new approach to building codes for historical structures, which maintains currently acceptable life safety standards. These regulations are also unique in that they are performance oriented rather than prescriptive. The provisions of the CHBC are to be applied by the enforcing authority of every city, county, city and county, or state agency in permitting repairs, alterations and additions necessary for the preservation, rehabilitation, relocation, related construction, change of use or continued use of a qualified historical building. The authority for use of the CHBC is vested in Sections 18950 through 18961 of the Health and Safety Code.
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

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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 § 18959.5 High relevance — show source text
A state agency shall apply the alternative regulations adopted pursuant to Section 18959.5 in permitting repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, safety, moving, or continued use of a qualified historical building or structure.” However, be aware that in order to use the CHBC, the structure under consideration must be qualified by being designated as an historical building or structure. Section 18955 states, “For the purposes of this part, a qualified historical building or structure is any structure or property, collection of structures, and their related sites deemed of importance to the history, architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction. This shall include historical buildings or structures on existing or future national, state or local historical registers or official inventories, such as the National Register of Historic Places, State Historical Landmarks, State Points of Historical Interest, and city or county registers or inventories of historical or architecturally significant sites, places, historic districts, or landmarks. This shall also include places, locations, or sites identified on these historical registers or official inventories and deemed of importance to the history, architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction.” The regulations of the CHBC have the same authority as state law and are to be considered as such. Liability is the same as for prevailing law. The intent of the CHBC is to save California’s architectural heritage by recognizing the unique construction problems inherent in historical buildings and by providing a code to deal with these problems.

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HISTORICAL PREFACE

The background of the California Historical Building Code can be traced to December 1973, when the State Department of Parks and Recreation published the California History Plan, Volume I, in which Recommendation No. 11 was proposed by the then California Landmarks Advisory Committee (later to become The State Historical Resources Commission). This proposal expressed a need for a new building code to meet the intent of protecting the public health and safety and also retain “enough flexibility to allow restoration of a Historic feature while still retaining its Historic integrity.” No. 11 of this History Plan supported this need by stating that “. . . restoration . . . is frequently made difficult by unnecessarily rigid interpretation of building . . . codes.” In March of 1974, the Landmarks Committee by resolution recommended that the Director of the State Department of Parks and Recreation and the State Architect initiate a study to develop this needed code. These two officials accepted this concept and jointly called a statewide meeting in Sacramento on May 14th of that year. Attending were representatives from both the public and private sectors, such as members of the building industry, design professions, local and state building officials, and others interested in this problem. Out of this open conference, a steering committee was formed to explore in depth the ways and means of implementing the new historical building code concept. This ad hoc committee was chaired by a representative from the California Council, American Institute of Architects and composed of a comprehensive cross section of the professional organizations and government agencies concerned with design and code enforcement. Meetings began late in 1974 and continued into early 1975. By April of that year, a legislative subcommittee of the ad hoc group drafted a sample bill for the proposed code and requested that it be carried by Senator James R. Mills, President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
CHBC § 8-9 Medium 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.|

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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 § 8-904.2.7 Medium 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.
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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.
CHBC § 8-604 Medium relevance — show source text
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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.

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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 § 8-1002.1 Medium 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.

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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.

Frequently asked questions

Who decides whether a building is a "qualified historical building"?

An appropriate local or state governmental jurisdiction must designate the property as a qualified historical building or property; the CHBC only applies to such designated properties .

If a private owner wants CHBC relief, can the local building department refuse?

Local building departments are the enforcing agencies that apply the CHBC when the owner elects to use it; the CHBC is intended for use by local agencies in permitting repairs, alterations and additions for qualified historic properties when so elected by the private property owner (see § 8-102.1) .

What if a state agency owns the historic property?

All state agencies must administer and enforce the CHBC for qualified historic properties under their jurisdiction; they must consult the SHBSB for certain reviews and imminent threat actions as required by the CHBC and state law (see § 8-103.2 and § 8-104.2.1) .

Who hears appeals or interprets CHBC provisions?

The State Historical Building Safety Board (SHBSB) is the CHBC appeal and review body and may be consulted by enforcing agencies or affected parties for interpretation and appeals (see § 8-104.1 and § 8-104.2) .

Does enforcement under the CHBC change legal liability for building officials?

No — the CHBC states prevailing law regarding immunity of building officials is unaffected by the use and enforcement of the CHBC (see § 8-103.3) .

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Related in the CHBC

What documentation is required when applying alternatives, and where are SHBSB rulings recorded?

How does the State Historical Building Safety Board (SHBSB) review and appeals process work?

Enforcement, review, appeals and documentation

California Historical Building Code