HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-12-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - STATE BUILDING CODES (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE: December 12, 1995
City Manager Approv
Item to be presented
Ruben M. Barrera
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF STATE BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING
CODES
ORDINANCE NO. 96-3
DEPARTMENT: Building and Engineering Services
Every three years the model codes, (the building code, electrical code, mechanical code and
plumbing code) are republished to include the technical changes that have been adopted by the
State. Following the publishing of the codes, the State agencies responsible for enforcement of
these codes review the publications and submit any amendments to the Building Standards
Commission for public hearing and adoption of these amendments as the State Building,
Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical codes. Local jurisdictions are required to adopt these codes
and any qualifying local amendments within 180 days of the State Code adoption date. The City
portions of the Municipal Code reserved for adoption of the model codes are Chapter 18,
Building Code; Chapter 19, Electrical Code; Chapter 20, Plumbing Code; and Chapter 21,
Mechanical Code.. Regardless of when the City adopts the local amendments, the revised
technical provision of the latest model code editions will be enforced by the City beginning
December 28, 1995. The amendments and administrative provision will be effective 30 days
after adoption by the City Council.
The submittal before you recognizes the adoption of the 1994 edition of the Uniform Building
Code published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBG), the 1994 edition
of the Uniform Plumbing Code published by the International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and the 1993 edition of the National Electrical Code published
by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The mechanical code adoption will be
delayed until February due to processing delays at the State level.
This submittal does not include any new local technical amendments to the uniform codes but
does contain the adoption of certain Los Angeles County standards, such as security provisions
and enforcement of substandard buildings and properties. Any proposed technical amendments
developed following the 1994 earthquake which have not been incorporated into the State Codes
will be submitted in early 1996 pending a final report by the Earthquake Recovery Unit.
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Agenda Item:A
ADOPTION OF BUILDING CODE,
ELECTRICAL CODE, AND PLUMBING CODE
December 12, 1995 - 2
This submittal also contains revised administrative provisions which are not dictated by the
State for adoption. Building and Safety has modeled the layout of the Uniform Building Code
for these provisions to allow for uniformity, but has maintained portions of Los Angeles County
language for certain sections to allow for consistent enforcement with the unincorporated areas
of the Santa Clarita Valley. This format is also included for use with the City's Electrical Code
and Plumbing Code.
Waive further reading, and pass to second reading, Ordinance 96-3.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance No. 96-3
TITLE 18
e
ADOPTION OF THE BUILDING CODE
18.01.010. Adoption of the Building ode. There is hereby adopted by reference
that certain Building Code known and designated as 'The Uniform Building Code, 1994
Edition;' prepared by the International Conference of Building Officials and including those
sections of the California Building Code requiring enforcement by the local Building
Department and including all Appendix Chapters except Chapter 3 Divisions III & IV, 10,11, 12,
13, 21, 30, and 33. Such Code shall be and become the Building Code of the City, regulating the
erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition,
conversion, occupancy, use, height, area and maintenance of all structures and certain
equipment therein specifically regulated, regulating grading, providing for the issuance of
permits and a collection of fees therefore, and providing penalties for violation of such Code.
Amendments to the technical portions of the Uniform Building Code shall be noted in Chapter
18.02 and the administrative provisions of the code shall be noted in Chapter 18.03.
At least one copy of the Uniform Building Code, 1994 Edition, has been deposited
in the office of the City Clerk, and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and
examination by the public.
Chapter 18.02
AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN SECTIONS
18.02.010. Amendments to Certain Sections. The following sections of the
Uniform Building Code, as adopted by Section 18.01.010 hereof, are hereby added or amended
as follows:
A. Section 1503 amended -- Roof covering requirements. Section 1503 of the
Uniform Building Code is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1503. The roof covering on any structure regulated by this code shall be a
minimum Class - B, unless specified to be Class - A in Table No. 15-A, as classified in Section
1504. Wood shakes and shingles shall be fire retardant as defined in Section 1502.
The roof -covering assembly includes the roof deck, underlayment, interlayment,
insulation and covering which is assigned a roof -covering classification.
B. Section 1803.3 added -- Soils Containing Sulfates. Section 1803.3 added to the
Uniform Building Code to read as follows:
"1803.3 - Soils Containing Sulfates. Foundations for structures resting on soils
containing sulfates shall require special design consideration. (See also Sections 2604(c),
1804.6 and 1806.10."
C. Section 1804.6 added -- Soils Containing Sulfates. Subsections 1804.6 and
1804.7 are renumbered to 1804.7 and 1804.8 and a new subsection 1804.6 is added to read:
"1804.6 - Soils Containing Sulfates. In soils containing sulfates, the Building
Official may require that special provisions be made in the foundation design and construction
to safeguard against damage due to salt weathering. The Building Official may require a
special investigation and report to provide this design and construction criteria:'
D. Section 1806.10 added -- Foundation on Expansive Soil. Section 1806.10 is
added to read as follows:
"1806.10 - Foundations on Expansive Soil. Foundation systems on expansive soil
shall be constructed in a manner that will minimize damage to the structure from movement
of the soil Slab -on -grade and mat -type footings for buildings located on expansive soils may
be designed in accordance with the provisions of Division III or such other engineering design
based upon geotechnical recommendation as approved by the Building Official. For
residential -type buildings, where such an approved method of construction is not provided,
foundations and floor slabs shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Depth of foundations below the natural and finish grades shall be not less than
24 inches for exterior and 18 inches for interior foundations.
2. Exterior walls and interior bearing walls shall be supported on continuous
foundations.
3. Foundations shall be reinforced with at least two continuous one -half-inch
diameter deformed reinforcing bars. One bar shall be placed within four inches of the bottom
of the foundation and one within four inches of the top of the foundation.
4. Concrete floor slabs on grade shall be cast on a four -inch fill of coarse aggregate
or on a moisture barrier membrane. The slabs shall be at least three and one-half inches thick
and shall be reinforced with welded wire mesh or deformed reinforcing bars. Welded wire
mesh shall have a cross-sectional area of not less than five -hundredths square inch per foot
each way. Reinforcing bars shall have a diameter of not less than three -eights inch and be
spaced at intervals not exceeding 24 inches each way.
5. The soil below an interior concrete slab shall be saturated with moisture to a
depth of 18 inches prior to casting the concrete.
E. Section 1806.11 added -- Foundations on Soils Containing Sulfates. Section
1806.11 is added to read as follows:
"1806.11 - Foundations on Soils Containing Sulfates. Foundations systems on
soils containing sulfates shall be constructed in a manner that will minimize damage to the
structure from salt weathering. Slab -on -grade footings for buildings located on soils
containing sulfates may be designed in accordance with engineering design based upon
geotechnical recommendations as approved by the Building Official. For residential -type
buildings, where such an approved method of construction is not provided, foundation and
floor slabs shall comply with the requirements specified under Section 1806.10, items 1, 2,3 and
4:'
F. Section 1023 added --'Building Security.' Section 1023 is hereby added to
read as follows:
Section 1023 - Building Security
1023.1. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide a nominal level of resistance
to unlawful entry.
1023.2. Scope. The provisions of this section shall apply to enclosed Group B, F, M and
R Occupancies and enclosed private garages.
1023.3. Limitations. No provisions of this chapter shall require or be construed to
require devices on exit doors or on sleeping room emergency exits contrary to the
requirements specified in Chapter 10 and Section 310.4.
1023.4. Alternate Security Provisions. The provisions of this chapter are not intended
to prevent the use of any device or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this
code when such alternate provides equivalent security.
1023.5. Definitions. For the purpose of this section, certain terms are defined as follows:
CYLINDER GUARD is a protective metal device of hardened steel or with a hardened
steel insert that covers or surrounds the exposed portion of the lock cylinder for the purpose
of protecting the cylinder from wrenching, prying, cutting, driving through, or pulling out by
attack tools.
DEAD BOLT is a bold which has no automatic spring action and which is operated by
a key cylinder, thumbturn or lever, and is positively held fast when in the projected position.
DEADLOCKING LATCH is a latch in which the latch bolt is positively held in the
projected position by a guard bolt, plunger or auxiliary mechanism.
LATCH is a device for automatically retaining the door in a closed position upon its
closing.
1023.6. TESTS.
1023.6.1 Sliding Glass Doors. Panels shall be closed and locked. Tests shall be performed
in the following order:
1. Test A. With the panels in the normal position, a concentrated load of 300 pounds
shall be applied separately to each vertical pull stile incorporating a locking device, at a point
on the stile within six inches of the locking device, in the direction parallel to the plane of glass
that would tend to open the door.
2. Test B. Repeat Test A while simultaneously adding a concentrated load of 150 pounds
to the same area of the same stile in a direction perpendicular to the plane of glass toward the
interior side of the door.
3. Test C. Repeat Test B with the 150 -pound force in the reversed direction toward the
exterior side of the door.
4. Test D, E, and F. Repeat Tests A, B and C with the movable panel lifted upwards to
its full limit within the confines of the door frame.
5. Identification. Sliding glass door assemblages subject to the provisions of this section
shall bear a label or other approved means of identification indicating compliance with these
tests. The label shall be a type authorized through a recognized testing agency which provides
periodic follow-up inspection service.
1023.6.2 Sliding Glass Windows. Sash shall be closed and locked. Tests shall be
performed in the following order:
1. Test A. With the sliding sash in the normal position, a concentrated load of 150
pounds shall be applied separately to each sash member incorporating a locking device, at a
point on the sash member within six inches of the locking device, in the direction parallel to
the plane of glass that would tend to open the window.
2. Test B. Repeat Test A while simultaneously adding a concentrated load of 75 pounds
to the same area of the same sash member in the direction perpendicular to the plan of glass
toward the interior side of the window.
3. Test C. Repeat Test B with the 75 pounds of force in the reversed direction toward
the exterior side of the window.
4. Test D, E and F. Repeat Tests A, B and C with the movable sash lifted upwards to its
full limit within the confines of the window frame.
5. Identification. Sliding glass window assemblages subjects to the provisions of this
section shall bear a label or other approved means of identification indicating compliance with
these tests. The label shall be a type authorized through a recognized testing agency which
provides periodic follow-up inspection service.
1023.7 DOORS
1023.7.1 General. A door forming a part of the enclosure of a dwelling unit or of an area
occupied by one tenant of a building shall be constructed, installed, and secured as set forth
in Sub -Sections 1023.72,1023.7.4, and 1023.7.5 when such door is directly reachable or capable
of being reached from a street, highway, yard, court, passageway, corridor, balcony, patio,
breezeway, private garage, portion of the building which is available for use by the public or
other tenants, or similar area. In residential occupancies, all entry doors to dwelling units or
guest rooms shall be arranged so that the occupant has a view of the area immediately outside
the door without opening the door. Such view may be provided by a door viewer, through
windows located in the vicinity of the door, or through view ports in the door or adjoining wall.
Such windows or view ports shall be constructed in compliance with the provisions of Section
1023.8. A door enclosing a private garage with an interior opening leading directly to a
dwelling unit shall also comply with said Section 1023.7.2, 1023.7.3, 1023.7.4, 1023.7.5.
1023.7.2.1. Swinging Doors. Swinging wooden doors which are openable from the inside
without the use of a key shall be one of the following constructions or shall be of a construction
having equivalent forced -entry resistance:
1. Solid core doors not less than 13/8 inches in thickness.
2. Wood panel -type doors with panels fabricated of lumber not less than 9/16 inch
thickness, provided shaped portions of the panels are not less than 1/4 inch thick. Individual
panels shall not exceed 300 square inches in area. Stiles and rails shall be of solid lumber with
overall dimensions of not less than 13/8 inches in thickness and 3 inches in width. Mullions
shall be considered a part of adjacent panels unless sized as required herein for stiles and rails
except mullions not over 18 inches long may have an overall width of not less than 2 inches.
Carved areas shall have a thickness of not less than 3/8 inches. Dimensional tolerance
published in recognized industry standards may be utilized.
3. Hollow -core doors or doors less than 1318 inches in thickness either of which are
covered on the side face with 16 -gauge sheet metal attached with screws at 6 inches maximum
centers around the perimeter.
Lights in doors shall be as set forth in Sections 1023.8.
1023.7.2.2 A single swinging door, the active leaf of a pair of doors, and the bottom leaf of
Dutch doors shall be equipped with a dead bolt and a latch. If a key -locking feature is
incorporated in the latching mechanism, a dead latch shall be used. The dead bolt and latch
may be activated by one lock or by individual locks. Dead bolts shall contain hardened inserts,
or equivalent, so as to repel cutting tool attack. The dead bolt lock or locks shall be key
operated from the exterior side of the door and engaged or disengaged from the interior side
of the door by a device not requiring a key, tool or excessive force.
EXCEPTIONS: 1. The latch may be omitted from doors in Group B, F, or M
Occupancies.
2. In other than residential occupancies, locks may be key, or otherwise operated from
the inside when not prohibited by Chapter 10 or other laws and regulations.
3. A swinging door of width greater than 5 feet may be secured as set forth in Section
1023.7.2.4.
4. In residential occupancies, doors not required by Section 310.4 or 1004 may be
equipped with security -type hardware which requires a key to release from the interior
side of the door if the sleeping rooms are protected with a fire -warning system as set
forth in Section 310.9.
A straight dead bolt shall have a minimum throw of 1 inch and the embedment shall be
not less than 5/8 inch into the holding device receiving the projected bolt. A hook shape or
expanding lug dead bolt shall have a minimum throw of 3/4 inch. All dead bolts or locks which
automatically activate two or more dead bolts shall embed at lease 1/2 inch, but need not
exceed 3/4 inch, into the holding devices receiving the projected bolts.
1023.7.2.3 The inactive leaf of a pair of doors and the upper leaf of Dutch doors shall be
equipped with a dead bolt or dead bolts as set forth in Subsection 1023.7.2.2
EXCEPTIONS: 1. The bolt or bolts need not be key operated, but shall not be otherwise
activated, from the exterior side of the door.
2. The bolt or bolts may be engaged or disengaged automatically with the dead bolt or
by another device on the active leaf or lower leaf.
3. Manually -operated hardened bolts at the top and bottom of the leaf and which embed
a minimum of 1/2 inch into the device receiving the projected bolt may be used when not
prohibited by Chapter 10 or other laws and regulations.
1023.7.2.4 Door stops on wooden jambs for in -swinging doors shall be of one-piece
construction with the jamb or joined by a rabbet.
1023.7.2.5 Nonremovable pins shall be used in pin -type hinges which are accessible from
the outside when the door is closed.
1023.7.2.6 Cylinder guards shall be installed on cylinder locks for dead bolts whenever the
cylinder projects beyond the outside face of the door or is otherwise accessible to attack tools.
1023.7.3. Sliding Glass Doors. Sliding glass doors shall be equipped with locking devices
and shall be so installed that, when subjected to tests specified in Section 1023.6, remain intact
and engaged. Movable panels shall not be rendered easily openable or removable from the
frame during or after the test.
Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim -type cylinder locks installed in
hollow -metal doors whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise
accessible to gripping tools.
Locking devices installed on sliding glass doors providing the exit required by Section
1003 or providing for the emergency escape or rescue required by Section 310.4 shall be
releasable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or excessive force.
1023.7.4. Overhead and Sliding Doors. Metal or wooden overhead and sliding doors shall
be secured with a dead bolt lock, padlock with a hardened steel shackle, or equivalent when
not otherwise locked by electric power operation. Locking devices, when installed at the jamb
of metal or wooden overhead doors, shall be installed on both jambs when such doors exceed
9 feet in width. Metal or wooden sliding doors exceeding 9 feet in width and provided with a
jamb -locking device shall have the door side opposite the lock restrained by a guide or
retainer.
Cylinder guards shall he installed on all mortise or rim -type cylinder locks installed in
hollow -metal doors whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise
accessible to gripping tools.
1023.7.5. Metal Accordion Grate or Grille -Type Doors. Metal accordion grate or grille -type
doors shall be equipped with metal guides at top and bottom, and a cylinder lock or padlock
and hardened steel shackle shall be provided.
Cylinder guards shall be installed on all mortise or rim -type cylinder locks installed in
hollow -metal doors whenever the cylinder projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise
accessible to gripping tools.
1023.8. LIGHTS.
1023.8.1 General. A window, skylight or other light forming apart of the enclosure of a
dwelling unit or of an area occupied by one tenant of a building shall be constructed, installed
and secured as set forth in Sections 1023.8.3, when the bottom of such window, skylight or light
is not more than 16 feet above the grade of a street, highway, yard, court, passageway, corridor,
balcony, patio, breezeway, private garage, portion of the building which is available for use by
the public or other tenants, or similar area.
A window enclosing a private garage with an exterior opening leading directly to a
dwelling unit shall also comply with said Sections 1023.8.3.
1023.8.2. Material. Lights within 40 inches of a required locking device on a door when
in the closed and locked position and openable from the inside without the use of a key, and
lights with a least dimension greater than 6 inches but less than 48 inches in Group .B
Occupancies, shall be fully tempered glass, laminated glass of at least 1/4 inch thickness,
approved burglary -resistant material, or guarded by metal bars, screens or grilles in an
approved manner.
1023.8.3 Locking Devices
1023.8.3.1. Locking devices installed on windows providing the emergency egress required
by Section 310A shall be releasable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or excessive
force.
1023.8.3.2 Sliding glass windows shall be provided with locking devices that, when subject
to the tests specified in Section 1023.6, remain intact and engaged. Movable panels shall not
be rendered easily openable or removable from the frame during or after the tests.
1023.8.3.3 Other openable windows shall be provided with substantial locking devices
which render the building as secure as the devices required by this section. In Group B, F, and
M Occupancies, such devices shall be a glide bar, cross bar, and/or padlock with hardened steel
shackle.
1023.8.3.4 Special louvered windows, except those above the first story in Group R
Occupancies which cannot be reached without a ladder, shall be of material or guarded as
specified in Section 1023.14 and individual panes shall be securely fastened by mechanical
fasteners requiring a tool for removal and not accessible from the outside when the window
is in the closed position.
1023.9 Other Openings
1023.9.1. General. Openings, other than doors or lights, which form a part of the
enclosure, or portion thereof, housing a single occupant and the bottom of which is not more
than 16 feet above the grade of a street, highway, yard, court, passageway, corridor, balcony,
patio, breezeway or similar area, or from a private garage, or from a portion of the building
which is occupied, used or available for use by the public or other tenants, or an opening
enclosing a private garage attached to a dwelling unit which openings therein shall be
constructed, installed and secured as set forth in Section 1023.9.2.
1023.9.2 Hatchways, Scuttles and Similar Openings
1023.9.2.1. Wooden hatchways less than 13/4 -inch -thick solid wood shall be covered on the
inside with 16 -gauge sheet metal attached with screws at 6 inch maximum centers around
perimeter.
1023.9.2.2 The hatchway shall be secured from the inside with a slide bar, slide bolt, and/or
padlock with a hardened steel shackle.
1023.9.2.3 Outside pin -type hinges shall be provided with nonremovable pins or a means
by which the door cannot be opened through removal of hinge pins while the door is in the
closed positions.
1023.9.2.4 Other openings exceeding 96 square inches with a least dimension exceeding 8
inches shall be secured by metal bars, screens or grilles in an approved manner.
G. Section 3406.2 of Appendix Chapter 34, Division I amended -- Effective Date.
Section 3406.2 of the Appendix Chapter 34, Division I of the Uniform Building Code is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"3406.2 - Effective Date. Within six months of the effective date on an order issued by
the Building Official or at the time work is performed on a building which requires a building
permit, the building shall be brought into compliance with the provision of this Division."
H. Section 421.1 of Appendix Chapter 4 Division I amended
Section 421.1 of the Appendix Chapter 4, Division I subparagraph 1 and 5 of the Uniform
Building Code are amended to read as follows:
"1. The top of the barrier shall be at least 60 inches above grade measured on the
side of the barrier which faces away from the swimming pool. The maximum vertical clearancq
between grade and the bottom of the barrier shall be 2 inches measured on the side of the
barrier which faces away from the swinuning pool. This may be increased to 4 inches when the
grad is of a solid surface such as concrete decking.
915. All required fencing shall be constructed so as to limit the climbability of the
fencing. Any decorative design work on the side away from the swimming pool, such as
protrusions, indentations or cutouts, which render the barrier easily climbable, is prohibited."
I. Chapter 98 Unoccupied Buildings and Structures and Chapter 99 Building and
Property Rehabilitation
Chapter 98 and 99, of the Los Angeles County Building Code, 1988 Edition are hereby
adopted in their entirety.
CHAPTER 18.03
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
18.03.100. Title, Scope and General
(NOTE: The chapter designation of the Municipal Code (18.03.xxx) as indicated in the above section has
been omitted from the other sections of this Chapter for clarity, It is understood that a section noted as
105, in the following, is the same as section 18.03.105 of the Municipal Code.)
101.1 Title
The regulations contained in this Chapter shall be known as the Administrative Provisions of the
Santa Clarita Building Code and shall be used in conjunction with the technical provisions of Title 18 and
the provisions of Title 24, California Code of Regulations, mandated by the State of California to be
enforced by the local Building Department, all of which may be cited herein as "this code".
101.2 Purpose
The purpose of this code is to:
1. Provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by
regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and
maintenance of all buildings and structures within the City of Santa Clarita and certain equipment
specifically regulated herein, and
2. To assure that barrier -free design is incorporated in all buildings, facilities, site work and other
developments to which this code applies to assure that they are accessible to, and usable by, physically
handicapped persons.
Consistent with these purposes, the provisions of this Code are intended and always have been
intended to conger a benefit on the community as a whole and are not intended to establish a duty of care
toward any particular person.
This Code shall not be construed to hold the City or an officer, employee, or agent thereof
responsible for any damage to persons or property by reason of any inspection authorized herein, and/or
for any action or omission in connection with the application and or enforcement of this Code. By
adopting the provisions of this Code the City does not intend to impose on itself, its employees, or agents
any mandatory duties of care toward persons and property within its jurisdiction so as to provide a basis
of civil liability for damages.
This section is declaratory of existing law and is not to be construed as suggesting that such was
not the purpose and intent of previous Code adoptions.
101.3 Scope
The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair
and use of any building, structure or site within the City of Santa Clarita, except work located in a public
way, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in this code, and
hydraulic flood control structures.
For additions, alterations, moving and maintenance of buildings and structures, see Chapter 34.
For temporary buildings and structures see Section 3103 and Appendix Chapter 31.
Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of
construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern. Where there is a conflict between
general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall be applicable.
Wherever in this code reference is made to the appendix, only the UBC appendix sections adopted
in Section 18.01.010 of the Municipal Code shall apply.
101.4 Validity
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this code is, for any reason, held to be
unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita declares that it would have passed this code, and each
section, subsection, clause or phase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more section,
subsections, sentences, clauses and phases be declared unconstitutional.
102 Unsafe Buildings and Hazardous Sites
102.1.1 Unsafe Buildings
102.1.1.1 Definitions
All buildings or structures which are structurally unsafe or not provided with adequate egress,
or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human like, or which in relation to
existing use constitute a hazardous to safety or health, or public welfare, by reason of inadequate
maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, fire hazard, disaster damage, or abandonment as specified in
this code or any other effective ordinance, are for the purposes of this code, unsafe buildings. Whenever
the Building Official determines by inspection that a building or structure whether structurally damaged
or not is dangerous to human life by reason of being located in an area which is unsafe due to hazard from
landslide, settlement or slippage or any other cause, such building shall for the purposes of this chapter,
be considered an unsafe building.
All such unsafe buildings are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair,
rehabilitation, demolition or removal in accordance with the procedure specified in this chapter. As an
alternative, the Building Official may institute any other appropriate action to prevent, restrain, correct,
or abate the violation.
As used in this code, "party concerned" means the person, if any in real or apparent charge and
control of the premises involved, the record owner, the holder of any mortgage, trust deed or other lien
or encumbrance of record, the owner or holder of any lease of record, the record holder of any other estate
or interest in or to the building or structure or the land upon which it is located.
102.1.1.2 Notice of Unsafe Building
The Building Official shall examine or cause to be examined every building or structure or portion
thereof reported as dangerous or damaged and, if, in the opinion of the Building Official, such is found
to be an unsafe building as defined in this code the Building Official shall give to the party concerned
written notice stating the defects thereof. This notice may require the owner or person in charge of the
building or premises, within 48 hours, to commence either the required repairs or improvements or
demolition and removal of the building or structures of portions thereof and all such work shall be
completed within 90 days from date of notice, unless otherwise stipulated by the Building Official. If
necessary, such notice shall also require the building, structure, or portion thereof to be vacated forthwith
and not reoccupied until the required repairs and improvements are completed, inspected and approved
by the Building Official.
Proper service of such notice shall be by personal service or by registered or certified mail upon
every party concerned, In the event the Building Official, after reasonable effort, is unable to serve the
notice as specified above, proper service shall be posting on the structure a copy of the notice.
The designated period within which the owner or person in charge is required to comply with such
notice shall begin as of the date such notice is received by personal service or registered or certified mail.
If the notice is by posting, the designated period shall begin 10 days following the date of the posting.
The failure of any owner or other person to receive such notice shall not affect in any manner the
validity of any proceedings taken hereunder.
A person notified to vacate an unsafe building by the Building Official shall vacate within the time
specified in the order.
The Building Official may file with the Office of the County Recorder a declaration that the
building described has been inspected and found to be an unsafe building, as defined in this code, and that
the owner thereof has been so notified. After, all required work has been completed and all fees and/or
cost to the City paid, the Building Official shall file with the Office of the County Recorder, a properly
executed form terminating the above declaration.
102.1.1.3 Posting of Signs
The Building Official shall cause to be posted on buildings required to be vacated or remain
unoccupied a notice to read substantially as follows: "DO NOT ENTER, UNSAFE TO OCCUPY, Building
and Safety, City of Santa Clarita." Such notice shall be posted at the main entrance and shall be shall
be visible to persons approaching the building or structure from a street. Such notice shall not be removed
without written permission of the Building Official and no person shall enter the building except that for
the purpose of making the required repairs or of demolishing the building.
102.1.2 Unsafe Buildings Hearings
102.1.2.1 Right of Hearing. The party concerned or the Building Official may request a hearing
regarding the unsafe condition of the building or structure. The request by the interested party shall be
made in writing to the Board of Appeals, as defined in section 105 of this code, within 30 days of the date
of the notice of the unsafe condition. A hearing shall be requested by the Building Official prior to
demolition or repair of an unsafe building by the City except when such demolition or repair is done under
the emergency procedure set forth in this code.
All interested parties who desire to be heard may appear before the Board of Appeals to show
cause why the building or structure should not be ordered repaired, vacated and repaired or demolished.
102.1.2.2 Notice of Hearing. No less than 10 days prior to the hearing the Building Official shall
serve or cause to be served either in the manner required by law for the service of summons or by first
class mail, postage prepaid, a copy of the notice of hearing upon every party concerned.
102.1.2.3 Form and Content of Notice. The notice of hearing shall contain the following
information:
1. The street address and a legal description sufficient for identification of the premises upon
which the building or structure is located.
2.. The conditions because of which the Building Official believed that the building or
structure is an unsafe building.
3. The date, hour and place of the hearing.
102.1.2.4 Posting of the Notice. The Building Official shall post one copy of the hearing in a
conspicuous place on the unsafe building involved, not less than 10 days prior to the hearing.
102,12.5 Hearing by the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall hold a hearing and
consider all competent evidence offered by any person pertaining to the matters set forth in the report of
the Building Official.
The Board of Appeals shall make written findings of fact as to whether or not the building or
structure is an unsafe building as defined in this code.
102.1.2.6 Order. If the Board of Appeals fords that the building or structure is an unsafe building;
it shall make an order based upon its finding that:
1. The building or structure is an unsafe building and directing that repairs be made and
specifying such repairs, or
2. The building or structure is an unsafe building, directing that it be vacated and specified
repairs be made, or
3. The building or structure is an unsafe building and shall be vacated and demolished.
The order shall state the time within which the work required must be commenced, which shall
be not less than 10 nor later than 30 days after the service of the order. The order shall state a reasonable
time within which the work shall be completed. The Board of Appeals for good cause may extend the time
for completion in writing.
The order shall be served upon the same parties and in the same manner as required by section
102.12.2 for the notice of hearing. It shall also be conspicuously posted on or about the building or
structure.
102.1.3 Demolition or Repair
102.1.3.1 Work by Ci If the repairs or demolition necessary to remove the unsafe condition as
set forth in the Notice of Unsafe Building are not made within the designated period and a hearing has
not been requested by any party concerned, the Building Official shall request that a hearing be held
regarding the unsafe condition. If the finding by the Board of Appeals is not complied with within the
period designated by the Board, The Building Official may then demolish or repair such portions of the
structure, or may cause such work to be done, to the extent necessary to eliminate the hazard determined
to exist by the Board of Appeals.
102.1.3.2 Emergency Procedures. Whenever any portion of a structure constitutes an immediate
hazard to life or property, and in the opinion of the Building Official the conditions are such that repairs,
or demolition must be undertaken within less than the designated period, the Building Official may make
such alterations or repairs, or demolish such portions of the structures as are necessary to protect life or
property, or both after giving such notice to the parties concerned as the circumstances will permit or
without any notice whatever when, in the opinion of the Building Official immediate action is necessary.
102.1.3.3 Costs. The costs involved in work performed pursuant to section 102.1.3.1 or 102.1.3.2
of this code, including all administrative cost as established by the City Council, shall be a special
assessment against the property upon which the word was performed. The Building Official shall notify,
in writing, all parties concerned of the amount of such assessment resulting from such work. With five
days of the receipt of such notice any such party concerned may file with the Building Official a written
request for a hearing on the correctness of reasonableness, or both, of such assessment. All requests shall
be accompanied with the appropriate fee as established by the City Council. Any party concerned who
did not receive a notice pursuant to section 102.1.1.2 of this code and who has not had a hearing on the
necessity of the demolition or repairs, in such request for hearing also may ask that such necessity be
reviewed. The Board of Appeals thereupon shall set the matter for hearing, give such party concerned
notice thereof as provided in section 102.1.2.2 of this code, hold such hearing and determine the
reasonableness or correctness of the assessment, or both, and if requested, the necessity of the demolition
or repairs. The Board of Appeals, in writing, shall notify such party concerned of its decision. If the total
assessment determined as provided for in this section is not paid in full within 10 days after receipt of
such notice from the Building Official or the Board of Appeals, as the case may be, the Building Official
shall record in the Office of the County Recorder a statement of the total balance still due and a legal
description of the property. From the date of such recording such balance due shall be a special
assessment against the parcel.
The assessment shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary county
taxes are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case
of delinquency as provided for ordinary county taxes. All the laws applicable to the levy, collection and
enforcement of county taxes shall be applicable to such special assessment.
102.1.3.4 Interference Prohibited. A person shall not obstruct, impede, or interfere with the
Building Official or any representative of the Building Official, or with any person who owns or holds any
estate or interest in any unsafe building which has been ordered by the Board of Appeals to be repaired,
vacated and repaired, or vacated and demolished or removed, whenever the Building Official or such
owner is engaged in repairing, vacating and repairing, or demolishing any such unsafe building pursuant
to this code, or in the performance of any necessary act preliminary to or incidental to such work, or
authorized or directed pursuant hereto.
102.1.3.5 Prosecution. In case the owner shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the notice to
repair, rehabilitate, or to demolish and remove said building or structure or portion thereof, the Building
Official shall cause the owner of the building to be prosecuted as a violator of this code.
102.2 Flood and Debris Hazard Sites
102.2.1 Buildings, other structures or appurtenances (including but not limited to walls and fences
of any height) and fill are not permitted in an area determined by the Floodplain Administrator to be
subject to flood hazard by reason of inundation, overflow, other special flood and debris hazards or erosion
except as discussed in this Section.
The placement of the building, other structures or fill on the building site shall be such that water
or debris flow will not be a hazard to the building or adjacent property, and not be in violation of the
provisions of Ordinance 88-32 of the City of Santa Clarita. This prohibition shall not apply when
provisions are made to eliminate such hazard (on or off site), as demonstrated with quantitative
engineering analyses prepared by a registered civil engineer to the satisfaction of the Building and
Engineering Services Department by providing adequate drainage facilities, providing protective walls,
providing suitably -protected fill, raising the floor level of the building, using a combination of these
methods, or other means.
102.2.2 A person shall not perform building or grading work within the boundaries of an
established floodplain if such work increases the flood hazard to adjacent properties by either raising the
capital flood water surface elevation in an amount greater than 0.00 feet, deflecting or concentrating
flows, or increasing deposition, scour or erosion, unless such work can be demonstrated with quantitative
analyses prepared by a registered civil engineer to the satisfaction of the Floodplain Administrator that
all increases in the flood hazard including cumulative adverse impacts due to adjacent potential
developments will be avoided or permanently mitigated.
102.2.3 Buildings permitted on properties containing identified flood hazard areas require
elevation certificates which are to be completed by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor.
No framing or construction above the finished floor elevation specified on the elevation certificate will be
allowed until the elevation certificate is submitted to, and approved by, the Floodplain Administrator.
102.2.4 Buildings permitted in identified flood hazard areas require recorded covenants against
the property informing the current and any future owners of the special building restrictions and required
permits governing any and all improvements, facilities or structures on the property.
102.2.5 Building and Safety shall examine each building or grading permit application to
determine if this section shall apply.
102.3 Methane Gas Hazard Sites
Permits shall not be issued for buildings or structures regulated by this Code on, adjacent to, or
within 25 feet of active, abandoned or idle oil or gas well(s) unless designed according to recommendations
contained in a report prepared by a licensed civil engineer and approved by the Building Official. In
addition, permits shall not be issued for a building or structure regulated by this Code located between
25 feet and 200 feet from active, abandoned or idle oil or gas well(s) unless designed according to the
recommendations contained in a report prepared by a licensed civil engineer and approved by the
Building Official or all active, abandoned or idle oil or gas well(s) between 25 feet and 200 feet from said
building or structure are examined by a licensed petroleum engineer to evaluate whether, in accordance
with the current rules and regulations of the Division of Oil and Gas of the State of California, such wells
are being properly operated, maintained, or abandoned. No permits shall be issued until certification of
proper operations, maintenance, or abandonment or re -abandonment, as determined by the Division of
Oil and Gas, is submitted to the Building Official. This requirement is not applicable to active, abandoned
or idle oil or gas well(s) located more than 200 feet from the proposed buildings or structures.
As used in this Section, "well' shall mean any well as defined by Section 3008, Subdivisions (a)
and (b) of the California Public Resources Code.
102.4 Geology and Engineering Reports
The Building Official may require an engineering geology or geotechnical engineering report, or both,
where in his opinion such reports are essential for the evaluation of the safety of the site. The engineering
geology or geotechnical engineering report or both shall contain a finding regarding the safety of the
building site for the proposed structure against hazard from landslide, settlement or slippage and a
finding regarding the effect that the proposed building or grading construction will have on the geologic
stability of property outside of the building site. Any engineering geology report shall be prepared by a
certified engineering geologist licensed by the State of California. Any geotechnical engineering report
shall be prepared by a civil engineer qualified to perform this work, such as a geotechnical engineer
experienced in soil mechanics. When both an engineering geology and geotechnical engineering report
are required for the evaluation of the safety of a building site, the two reports shall be coordinated before
submission to the Building Official.
102.5 Earthquake Faults
102.5.1 General. The construction of a building or structure near a known active earthquake
fault and regulated by this code shall be permitted as set forth in this section.
102.5.2 Scone. The provisions of this section shall apply only to permits for buildings or
structures on individual lots or parcels and are not intended to be supplementary to geologic
investigations required to qualify divisions of land as set forth in the Uniform Development Code of the
City of Santa Clarita.
102.5.3 Definition. For the purpose of this section, a geologist shall be a registered geologist,
licensed by the California State Board of Registration for Geologists and Geophysicists to practice geology
in California.
102.5.4 Known Active Earthquake Faults. For the purpose of this section, known active
earthquake faults are those faults which have had displacement within Holocene time (approximately the
last 11,000 years) as defined in the most current issue of Special Publication 42 of the California Division
of Mines and Geology.
102.5.5 Earthquake Fault Mans. Special studies zone maps within the City of Santa Clarita
prepared under Sections 2622 and 2623 of the California Resources Code which show traces of earthquake
faults are hereby declared to be, on the date of official issues, a part of this code, and may be referred to
elsewhere in this code. Special studies zones maps revised under the above sections of the California
Resources Code shall, on the date of their official issue, supersede previously issued maps which they
replace.
Copies of each of the above maps shall be available for examination by the public at the Building
and Engineering Services Department offices.
The Department shall maintain maps available to the public showing the location of known active
earthquake faults. In the absence of additional information, the location of known active earthquake
faults shall be as shown on special studies zones maps
102.5.6 Construction Limitations. No building or structure shall be constructed over or upon
the trace of a known active earthquake fault which is shown on maps maintained by the City Engineer.
The absence of a known active earthquake fault trace at the proposed building location shall be
determined by the Building and Engineering Services Department in the following cases:
1. When the proposed building is within 50 feet of that line designated by the City Engineer as
the assumed location of a known active earthquake fault on the aforementioned maps.
2. When the proposed building is within 50 feet of the most probable ground location of the trace
of a known active earthquake fault shown on the aforementioned maps.
In these cases when a geologist has not otherwise made such a determination, the City may
require the excavation of a trench, as a subsurface exploration for the purpose of determining the absence
of a known active earthquake fault. Such a trench will be required if a lack of distinguishable fault
examination, review of available aerial photographs, or by other means that the fault trace does not
underlie the proposed building. The trench shall be approximately perpendicular to the most probable
direction of the fault trace, at least 1 1/2 feet wide, and at least 5 feet in depth measured from natural
grade, or to a depth satisfactory to the City.
The trench must be accessible for mapping and inspection by the City, when requested,
and meet the requirements of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, Construction Safety Orders.
The trench need not extend further than the full width of the proposed structure plus five feet beyond the
traversed exterior walls. A'known active earthquake fault shall be presumed nonexistent if an exposure
is not found by the City Engineer or a geologist in the walls or floor of the trench.
The City Engineer may require a more extensive investigation by a geologist as evidence to the
absence of a known active earthquake fault prior to the issuance of a permit for Groups A, E, I, H and R-1
Occupancies and B, F, M, and S Occupancies over one story in height.
EXCEPTION: The provisions of this subsection do not apply to:
1. One-story, light -frame buildings not intended or used for human occupancy and not
exceeding 1,000 square feet in area or 12 feet in height.
2. Alterations or repairs to an existing building provided that the aggregate value of such
work within any 12 -month period does not exceed 50 percent of the value of the existing
building.
3. Swimming pools, retaining walls, fences and minor work of a similar nature.
102.5.7. Special Studies Zones. Work within the special studies zones established under
Sections 2622 and 2623 of the California Public Resources Code shall comply with state laws, policies,
criteria, rules and regulations applicable to such work. Fees established by Chapter 7.5 of Division 2 of
the California Public Resources Code shall be collected and disbursed as required by state law.
In addition to the state regulations, the provisions of this section shall apply when
geologic investigations, mapping, aerial photographs, other acceptable date or Special Studies Zones Maps
show the location of a known active earthquake fault as described by Section 102.5.4.
103 Violations and Penalties
103.1 Compliance with Code
A person shall not erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert,
demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building or structure or perform any grading in the City of
Santa Clarita, or cause the same to be done, contrary to, or in violation of any of the provisions of this
code.
103.2 Penalties
Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Code is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not exceeding six
months, or by both such fine and imprisonment,(see section 17995 State Health and Safety Code), unless
such violation is otherwise declared to be an infraction in subsection (c) below.. Such person shall be guilty
of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the
provisions of this Code is Committed, continued, or permitted to remain.
103.3 Infractions
Violations of the provisions contained in the following list are deemed infractions:
1. Commencing work without the required permit(s),
2. Occupying a structure in violation of it's Certificate of Occupancy,
3. Illegal grading work performed without a required permit,
4. Failure to comply with a "Stop Work Order" issued by the City,
5. Removal of placards as noted in Section 104.2.11.3..
Each violation determined to be an infraction as stated above shall be punishable as established by the
City Council or as established in Section 103.2.
103.4 Notices of Building Code Violation
103.4.1 General
The Building Official may record a notice with the County Recorders Office that aproperty,
building or structure; or any part thereof, is in violation of or is being investigated for being in violation
of any provision of this code provided the provision of this section of the code are complied with. The
provisions of this section are cumulative with other portions of this code and any other enforcement
actions permitted by this code.
103.4.2 Definitions
103.4.2.1 "Notice of Violation" shall mean a "Notice of Building Code Violation". A "Notice of
Violation" is placed upon the title of a property when violation of the building codes have been verified
and documented to exist on the site.
103.4.2.2 "Preliminary Notice" shall mean a "Preliminary Notice of Building Code Violation".
Whenever a property is being investigated for potential building code violation, a "Preliminary, Notice"
maybe recorded on the title of the property to alert potential owners or investors of the existence of an
active investigation by Building and Safety during the period of time that the investigation of the
violations is ongoing or that work to mitigate the violation is underway.
103.4.2.3 "Property being investigated". Any property for which the City has reasonable
grounds to determine that a violation of the building code has occurred and for which work to mitigate
the violation is planned or has commenced.
103.4.2.4 "Proper found to contain violations". Any property for which a violation of any of
the provisions of this code has been substantiated by Building and Safety and documented in the record
of the Division.
103.4.3 Notice
Notice shall be provided in writing in accordance with the following;
1. The Notice shall be mailed registered, certified or first class mail, or may be posted at the
site if the site is occupied,
2. The Notice shall be addressed to the owner as indicated on the last equalized county role,
3. The Notice shall specify what violations are being investigated or have been observed
or verified,
4. The Notice shall indicate what mitigation action is required by the property owner and
the time frame in which to commence and complete such mitigation,
5. The Notice shall indicate that "Notices" may be recorded and when such recording may
be filed by the Building Official.
103.4.4 Recordation of Notice of Violation and Preliminary Notice
At the discretion of the Building Official, a "Preliminary Notice" indicating that violation(s) of
the Building Code is(are) being investigated may be recorded at any time after, but not less than 10 day
following, the notice specified in section103.4.3 has been mailed to the owner of the property or posted
on the property. The recordation shall indicate what the violation(s) of the code being investigated by the
City are and that the notice is a "Preliminary Notice". If the investigation conducted by the City
determines that building code violations do exists, then the Building Official may record a "Notice of
Building Code Violation" on the title of the property which will supersede any "Preliminary Notice". The
"Notice of Violation" may be record, at the discretion of the Building Official, no sooner that 30 day
following the notice specified in section 103.4.3 being mailed or posted. All costs incurred by the City, as
established by the City Council, shall be paid prior to any termination of a "Notice of Violation" or
"Preliminary Notice" which has remained on the title for over 45 days.
103.4.5 Termination of Notice
When the property owner has demonstrated to the Building Official that violations of the building
code no longer exist, and all fees to cover the cost of the investigation of the violations have been paid to
the City, as established by the City Council, the Building Official shall terminate the "Notice of Violation"
and/or "Preliminary Notice".
104 Organization and Enforcement
104.1 Building and Safety Division
There is hereby established within the City of Santa Clarita, a division in the Building and
Engineering Services Department to be known as the "Building and Safety Division" under the
administrative and operational control of the Building Official.
104.2 Powers and Duties of the Building Official
104.2.1 General
The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all of the provisions of this code,
Title 19 the Electrical Code, Title 20 the Plumbing Code, and Title 21 the Mechanical Code, and to make
inspections pursuant to the provisions of each of the codes. For such purposes the Building Official shall
have the powers of law enforcement officer,.
The Building Official shall have the power to render interpretations of these codes and to adopt
and enforce rules and supplemental regulations in order to clarify the application of their provisions.
Such interpretations, rules and regulations shall be in conformance with the intent and purpose of these
codes.
104.2.2 Deputies
In accordance with the procedure and with the approval of the appointing authority, the Building
Official may appoint such number of technical officers and inspectors and other employees as shall be
authorized from time to time. The Building Official may deputize such technical officers, inspectors or
other employees or persons as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Building and Safety
Division.
104.2.3 Right of Entry
104.2.3.1. Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of or
perform any duty imposed by this code or other applicable law, or whenever the Building Official or an
authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any
premises any condition which makes such building or premises hazardous, unsafe or dangerous for any
reason specified in this code or other similar law, the Building Official or an authorized representative
hereby is authorized to enter such property at any reasonable time and to inspect the same and perform
any duty imposed upon the Building Official by this code or other applicable law; provided that (i) if such
property is occupied, that credentials be presented to the occupant, an explanation of the reasons for the
inspection given, and a request for entry made therefor; and (ii) if such property is unoccupied, then
reasonable effort shall first be made to locate the owner or other person having charge of the property to
explain the reasons for the inspection and to request entry therefor. If such entry cannot be obtained
because the owner or other person having charge or control of the property cannot be found after due
diligence or if entry is refused, the Building Official or an authorized representative shall have some
recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspect the property,
104.2.3.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Building Official or an authorized representative
has reasonable cause to believe that the building or premises is so hazardous, unsafe or dangerous as to
require immediate inspection to safeguard the public health or safety, the right to immediate entry by any
reasonable means to inspect the building or premises, whether occupied or unoccupied and whether or
not permission to inspect has been granted, is hereby authorized; provided that if the property is
occupied, the Building Official or authorized representative shall first present credentials to the occupant
and offer an explanation of the reasons for the inspection.
104.2.3.3. "Authorized representative" shall include the officers named in section 104.2.2 and
authorized inspection personnel.
104.2.3.4. No person shall fail or refuse, after proper demand has been named upon him as provided
in this subsection, to promptly permit the Building Official or an authorized representative to make any
inspection provided for by subdivision 2 of this subsection. Any person violating this subsection shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
104.2.4 Stop Orders
Whenever any building or grading work is being done contrary to the provisions of this code, the
Building Official may order the work stopped by written notice served on any persons engaged in the
doing or causing such work to be done, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until
authorized by the Building Official to proceed with the work. Any person failing to stop work after being
served with such notice shall be guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor as noted in section 103.
104.2.5 Occupancy Violations
Whenever any building or structure is being used contrary to the provisions of this code, the
Building Official may order such use discontinued and the structure, or portion thereof, vacated by
written notice served on any person causing such use. Such person shall discontinue the use within the
time prescribed by the Building Official after receiving such notice or shall obtain a permit and complete
the needed work so that the structure, or portion thereof, complies with the requirements of this code;
however, that in the event of an unsafe building, the building shall remain vacant until such time as it
is demonstrated to the Building Official that all permits have been obtained and all unsafe conditions
removed.
104.2.6 Liability
The liability and indemnification of the Building Official and any subordinates are governed by
the provisions of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the government code.
104.2.7 Modifications and Determinations of Hardship Exemptions.
104.2.7.1 Genera Request(s) for modifications or detennination(s) of hardship exemptions shall
be made on a form prescribed by the Building Official and shall be submitted with a fee as specified by
the City Council. The details of any action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the
files of the Building and Safety Division of the City. The Building Official may require that any conditions
of approval associated with the granting of a modification be recorded on the title of the property with the
County Recorder's Office.
104.2.7.2 Modifications. When an applicant demonstrates that there are practical difficulties
involved in carrying out the provisions of this code, the Building Official may grant modifications for
individual cases when a special individual reason which make the strict letter of this code impractical,
that the modification is within the intent and purpose of this code, and that the modification does not
lessen any fire -protection requirements or any degree of structural integrity. Requests for modifications
shall be submitted to the Building Official in writing on a form approved by the Building Official and shall
state all reasons and justifications to be considered by the Building Official with respect to the
modification. The request shall be accompanied by a fee as established by the City Council.
104.2.7.3 Determination of Hardship Exemption or Equivalent Facilitation. When
authorized by Title 24, State Code of Regulations, the Building Official may grant a hardship exemption
from an accessibility requirement of the code or make a determination that equivalent facilitation is being
provided. Prior to granting a hardship exemption or determining that equivalent facilitation is provided,
the applicant shall demonstrate to the Building Official, upon writting on a form approved by the Building
Official and accompanied with a fee as established by the City Council, that an unreasonable financial
hardship exists in accordance with the provisions of the State Accessibility Standards.
104.2.8 Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction
The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the use of any material or method of
construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided any such alternate has been approved.
The Building Official may approve any such alternate, provided, it is determined that the
proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the technical provisions of this code, and that the
material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed
in this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety and sanitation.
The Building Official shall require that sufficient evidence or proof be submitted in writting to
substantiate any claim that may be made regarding its use.
A written application shall be submitted for a proposed alternate material or method of
construction together with a fee established by the City Council. The details of any action granting an
alternate material or method of construction shall be noted in the files of the Building and Safety Division
of the City.
104.2.9 Tests
Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with any of the provisions of this code or
evidence that any material or construction does not conform to the requirements of this code, the Building
Official may require testing as proof of compliance to be made at no expense to the City. -
Test methods shall be as specified by this code or by other recognized test standards. If there are
no recognized and adopted test methods for the proposed alternate, the Building Official shall determine
test procedures. A fee, determined by the Building Official, shall be determined for the development of
any testing procedure or for the review of the testing results submitted to Building and Safety.
All tests shall be made by an approved testing agency. Reports of such tests shall be retained in
the files of the Building and Safety Division of the City.
104.2.10 Cooperation of Other Officials and Officers..
The Building Official may request and shall receive the assistance and cooperation of other
officials of the City of Santa Clarita so far as is required in the discharge of the duties required by this
code or other pertinent laws or ordinances.
104.2.11 Investigation
The Building Official may investigate any construction or work regulated by this Code, and issue
such notices and orders as deemed appropriate.
104.2.12 Disaster Response
104.2.12.1 Intent. The intent of this section is to establish the standards for response to a natural
or manmade disaster as declared by the City Council or City Manager.
104.2.12.2 Definitions
1., Architect is an individual registered by the State of California to practice architecture
as defined in the State of California Business and Professions Code.
2.: Civil engineer is an individual registered by the State of California to practice civil
engineering as defined in the State of California Business and Professions Code.
3. Engineering evaluation is an evaluation of a damaged building or structure, or
suspected damaged building or structure, performed under the direction of a licensed design professional
retained by the owner of the building or structure. An engineering evaluation shall, at a minimum,
contain the address of the property of the building or structure, a description of the damaged observed,
the date the building or structure was inspected, a statement as to whether the building is habitable or
not, recommendations for repair of the buildings or structures with appropriate opinion of construction
cost for those repairs.
4. Essential Service facility shall mean those buildings or structures which have been
designated by the City Council to house facilities which are necessary for the emergency operations
subsequent to a disaster.
5. Eyen shall mean any natural or manmade occurrence which results in the declaration
of a disaster and shall include wind storms, earthquakes, floods, etc.
6.. Historic building or structure shall be any building or structure included on the
national register of historic places, the state register of historic places or points of interest, or a listed in
the General Plan as a historic structure. Historic buildings and structures shall also include those
buildings and structures within a recognized historic district wherein the specific building has historic
significance.
7. Licensed design professional is an architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer.
8. Replacement value is the dollar value, as determined by the Building Official, of
replacing the damaged structure with a new structure of the sane size, construction material and
occupancy on the same site.
9. Safety assessment is a visual, non-destructive examination of a building or structure
for the purpose of determining the condition for continued occupancy following a natural or manmade
disaster.
10. State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) is the individual appointed by the
Governor, pursuant to Section 101(b)(1) of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended,
to administer the State Historic Preservation Program.
11. Structural engineer is an individual registered by the State of California to practice
civil engineering and to use the title structural engineer as defined in the State of California Business and
Professions Code.
12. Value of repair is the dollar value, as determined by the Building Official, of making the
necessary repairs to the damaged structure.
104.2.12.3 Placards.
1. The following are verbal descriptions of the official City of Santa Clarita placards used
to designate the condition for continued occupancy of buildings or structures following an event.
(i) Inspected- Lawful to Occupy is to be posted on any building or structure wherein no
apparent structural hazard has been found at the time it was inspected. This placard is not intended to
mean that there is no damage to the building or structure.
(ii) Habitable - Repairs Necessary is to be posted on any building or structure wherein
architectural or minor structural damage has occurred but where the amount of damage is not sufficient
to cause the building or structure to be restricted in use or in occupancy.
(iii) Limited Use is to be posted on each building or structure that has received damage
to such an extent that normal use of the building or a portion of the building could be potentially unsafe.
Residential building posted limited entry shall not be used for sleeping purposes. An engineering
evaluation shall be required for all buildings posted as Limited Entry..
(iiii) Unsafe - Do Not Enter or Occupy is to be posted on each building or structure that
has been damaged such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life safety or is endangered by a
geological condition or threat from another structure so as not to be safe for occupancy. Buildings or
structures posted with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstance except as authorized in
writing by Building and Safety and it's damage assessment team. This placard is not to be determined
to be an order for demolition, however, an engineering evaluation will be required for all repair work to
buildings or structures posted as Unsafe.
2. This Municipal Code section, the name of the "Building and Engineering Services
Department" and the "Building and Safety Division", the address of City Hall, and the designated phone
number of Building and Safety shall be affixed to each placard,
3. Once a building or structure has been inspected following an event, the placard shall not
be removed, altered or covered until authorized to do so by the Building Official. Persons guilty of
violating this provision shall be guilty of an infraction.
104.2.12.4 Demolition Criteria.
1. Any building or structure determined by the Building Official to represent an imminent
hazard to public health and safety, or to pose an imminent threat to the public right of way, shall be
condemned and immediately demolished. Such condemnation and demolition shall be performed in the
interest of public health and safety without condemnation hearings otherwise required by the Municipal
Code.
2. If, after 15 days, any building or structure is determined by the building official to
represent a hazard to the health and safety of the public, or to pose a threat to the public right of way, the
Building Official shall duly notify the building owner and proceed with a condemnation hearing within
48 hours after the notice has been received if by personal delivery or 10 days after being sent by registered
mail.
3. For any building or structure wherein the owner has decided to demolish rather than
repair, the owner, or owners representative, shall follow the established procedures to secure a demolition
permit.
104.2.12.5 Demolition of Historic Buildings,
1. Within 15 days after the event, any historic building or structure determined by the
Building Official to represent an imminent hazard to the health and safety of the public, or to pose an
imminent threat to the public right of way, the Building Official shall notify the State historic
Preservation Officer that one to the following action will by taken:
1. Whenever possible, within reasonable limits as determined by the Building Official,
the building or structure shall be braced or shored in such a manner as to mitigate the hazard to public
health and safety or the hazard to the public right of way.
2. Whenever bracing or shoring is determined not to be reasonable, the Building Official
shall cause the building or structure to be condemned and immediately demolished. Such condemnation
and demolition shall be performed in the interest of public health and safety without a condemnation
hearing as otherwise required by this code. Prior to commencing demolition, the Building Official shall
photographically record the entire building or structure.
2. If, after the specified time frame noted in subsection (1) and less than 30 days after the
event, a historic building or structure is determined by the Building Official to represent a hazard to the
health and safety of the public or to pose a threat to the public right of way, the Building Official shall
duly notify the building owner of the City's intent to proceed with a condemnation hearing within 2
business days of the notice in accordance with the Section 102 of this code. The Building Official shall also
notify the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in accordance with the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966, as amended, of its intent to hold a condemnation hearing.
3. For any historic building or structure wherein the Building Official and the owner have
agreed to demolish the building or structure within 30 days after the event, the Building Official shall
submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in accordance with the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, a request to demolish. Said request shall include all substantiating
data.
4. If after 30 days from the event, the Building Official and the owner of a historic building
or structure agree that the building or structure should be demolished, such action will be subject to the
review process established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.
104.2.12.6 Repair and Reconstruction Criteria.
Buildings and structures of all occupancies which have been damaged as a result of a disaster,
except as otherwise noted, shall be repaired in accordance with the following criteria:
1. When the estimated value of repair does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the replacement
cost of the structure, the damaged portion(s) shall be restored to their pre -event condition.
Exception: When the damaged elements include suspended ceiling systems, the ceiling
system shall be repaired and all bracing required by the current code shall be installed.
2. When the estimated value of repair is greater than ten percent (10%) but less than fifty
percent (50%) of the replacement value of the structure, the damaged elements, as well as all critical ties,
supported elements and supporting elements associated with the damaged elements, shall be repaired
and/or brought into conformance with the structural requirements of the current code.
3. When the estimated value of repair is fifty percent (50%) or more of the replacement value
of the structure, the entire structure shall be brought into conformance with the structural requirements
of the current code.
4. In group R, Division 3 occupancies, the repair value of damaged chimneys shall be
excluded from the computation of percentage of replacement value. Damaged chimneys shall be repaired
in accordance with Subsection 104.2.12.7 of the section
104.2.12.7 Renair Criteria for Chimn
All damaged chimneys must be repaired or reconstructed to comply with the requirements of
Section 3102 of the current code. Damaged portions of chimneys shall be removed in accordance with the
following criteria:
1. When the damaged portion of the chimney is located between the roof line and the top of
the chimney, the damaged portion shall be removed to the roof line provided the roof and ceiling
anchorage are in sound condition. The reconstructed portion of the chimney shall be braced to the roof
structure.
2. For a single story structure, in which the damaged portion of the chimney is below the roof
line or the damaged portion extends from the roof line to below the roof line, the chimney shall be removed
to the top of the fireplace,
3. For a multi -story structure, the damaged portion of the chimney shall be removed from
the top to a floor line where sound anchorage is found.
4. In any structure where the firebox has been damaged, the entire chimney and firebox
shall be removed to the foundation. If the foundation is in sound condition, the firebox and chimney may
be reconstructed using the existing foundation. If the foundation has been damaged, the foundation shall
be removed and replaced.
5. Alternatives to the above criteria may be presented to the Building Official for review by
a design professional provided plans and substantiating calculations are prepared.
104.2.13 Emergency Powers.
The Building Official, with the approval of the City Manager of the City of Santa Clarita, is
authorized to make and enforce such guidelines and policies for the safeguarding of life, limb, health or
property as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the purpose of this code. A copy of said
regulations and policies shall be filed with the Office of the City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita and
shall be effective immediately thereafter.
104.2.14 Standard Reference Documents.
The codes, standards and publications adopted and set forth in this code, including other codes,
standards and publications referred to therein are, by title and date of publication, hereby adopted as
standard reference documents of this code.
When this code does not specifically cover any subject relating to building design and construction,
recognized fire -prevention engineering practices shall be employed. The National Fire Codes and the Fire
Protection Handbook of the National Fire Protection Association may be used as authoritative guides in
determining recognized fire -prevention engineering practices.
When new information on structural design is published which would make the existing technical
provisions of this codeless conservative in its application, the Building Official may implement the more
restrictive regulations based upon the published reports provided the amendments to the provisions,
along with the back-up documentation, are made available by the Building Official to the public for
review.
105 Board of Appeals
105.1 General
In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building
Official relative to the application and interpretation of this code, and to act as the Housing Appeals
Board, there shall be and is hereby created a Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall consist of the
members of, the Planning Commission of the City of Santa Clarita. The decision of the Planning
Commission with respect to any matter or interpretation or suitability of alternate materials and types
of construction shall be made by a majority vote of the Commission and shall be final and conclusive
105.2 Limitations of Authority
The Board shall have no authority relative to interpretation of the administrative provisions of
this code nor shall the board be empowered to waive requirements of this code.
105.3 Filing of Appeals
All appeals shall be made in writing and shall state specifically the order, decision or
determination made by the Building Official which is being appealed and wherein the Building Official
erred in making the order, decision or determination. The appeal shall be accompanied with a fee as
established by the City Council. If, after reviewing the information submitted, the Building Official
determines that the appeal does not merit a change in the order, decision, or determination, then the
appellant shall be notified of the date and time of the hearing before the Appeals Board.
106 Permits
106.1 Permits Required
No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, repair, improve, connect or demolish
any building, structure, or fire -protection system regulated by Chapter 9 , or perform any grading or cause
the same to be done, without first obtaining a separate permit for each such building, structure, automatic
fire -extinguishing system or grading from the Building Official.
106.2 Work Exempted
A building permit will not be required for the following structures unless the structure is
regulated by the Uniform Development Code of the City, however this shall not be deemed to grant
authorization of any work done in violation of the technical provision of this code or any other law or
ordinance of the City of Santa Clarita, or of the State of California.
1. One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses and
similar uses, provided that the projected roof area does not exceed 120- square feet, the
floor is not more that 30 inches above the adjoining grade, the height is not more than 14
feet and it is not constructed on a hillside slope steeper than 2.5:1.
2. Wire fences not over 12 feet in height, wood fences not over 8 feet in height, and other
fences not over 42 inches in height and not constructed within a flood plain.
3. Platforms, walks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any
basement or story below.
4. Canopies or awnings attached to a Group R, Division 3, or Group M occupancy and
extending not more than 54 inches from the exterior wall of the building, and not within
12 inches of a property line.
5. Retaining walls not more than 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing
to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge, constructed on a hillside,
constructed within a floodplain or impounding flammable liquids.
6, A tree house provided that:
a. It does not exceed 64 square feet in area nor 8 feet in heightfrom the floor
to the roof,
b. The ceiling height as established by the door height or plate line does not exceed
6 feet.
c. Is not constructed within an oak tree.
7, Prefabricated swimming pools, which do not require filtering or heating equipment,
accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above
the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons.
8. Playground equipment.
9. Painting, papering and similar work.
10. Drywall or storage cabinets within M-1 garages associated with R-3 occupancies, when
not required to be part of a fire rated separation.
11. Closet organizers.
12. Flagpoles not erected on any building and not more than 15 feet in height.
13. Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high.
14. Sheds, office or storage buildings, and other structures incidental to work authorized by
a valid grading or building permit. Such structures must be removed upon expiration of
the permit or completion of the work covered by the permit..
15. The following work when conducted in association with an operating oil field:
a. Oil Derricks,
b. Installation and relocation of process vessels and tanks,
c. Construction, installation and relocation of process piping and pipe
supports,
d. Construction, installation and relocation of ladders, stairs, and catwalks,
e. Installation of foundations for process vessels, pipe supports, generators,
tanks, pumps, and uninhabited buildings located more than 20 feet from
a property line,
f. Construction, installation, and relocation of uninhabited buildings,
g. Road maintenance,
h, Grading of new and existing well pads, provided the grading does not
effect an adjoining property,
is Grading and construction for erosion control, provided it does not effect
an adjoining property,
j. Debris basin maintenance,
(Note: The waiver of a building permit shall not be deemed as a waiver from the oil field
operator from obtaining the required clearances from other public agencies)
16. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stages sets and scenery not vertically
supported by a building roof or floor structure except for slabs on grade.
1T. Iaght standards which do not exceed 30 feet in height on commercially owned property.
(Note: An electrical permit is still required.)
18. Radio and television antennae towers which do not exceed 45 feet in height and ground
supported dish antennas not exceeding 15 feet in height above finished grade in any
position.
19. Gantry cranes and similar equipment.
20. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons
and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed two to one.
21. The replacement of panes of glass within existing frames or supports.
Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for
the above exempted items.
106.3 Application for Permits
106.3.1 Application
Prior to the issuance of a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing
on a form furnished by the City for that purpose. Every application shall:
1. Identify and describe the proposed work covered by the permit for which application is
made;
2, Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done, by legal description, street
address, or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed
building or work;
3. Indicate the use or occupancy for which the proposed work is intended;
4. Indicate the applicants name and address and the owners name and address if different
from the applicant;
5. Provide other information required by section 19825 of the California Health and Safety
Code.
6. Be accompanied by the plans, diagrams, computations and specifications and other data
as required in Section 106.3.2.
7. State the valuation of the proposed work.
8. Be signed by the applicant.
9. Give such other data and information as be required by the Building Official.
106.3.2 Submittal documents
Plans, specifications, engineering calculations, diagrams, soils investigation reports, special
inspection and structural observation programs and other data shall constitute the submittal documents
and shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for a permit. When such plans are not
prepared by a design professional, the Building Official may require an applicant submitting such plans
or other data to demonstrate that state law, Article 3, Chapter 7, Division 3 of the Business and
Professions Code, does not require that the plans be prepared by a licensed design professional. The
Building Official may require plans, computations and specifications to be prepared and designed by an
engineer or architect licensed by the State of California to practice as such even if not required by state
law.
EXCEPTION: The Building Official may waive the submission of plans, calculations, construction
inspection requirements, etc., provided it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such
that reviewing ofplans is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code.
All Plans and calculations required to be prepared by a licensed professional, pursuant to Article
3, Chapter 7, Division 3, shall bear the approved stamp and signature of the person authorized to use the
title of civil engineer, structural engineer, or architect.
106.3.3 Information on Plans and Specifications
Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper or cloth of a size
established by the Building Official, and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature of the work
proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and all relevant laws,
ordinances, rules and regulations. The fust sheet of each plans shall give the street address of the work,
the name and address of the owner and the name and address of the person who prepared them. Plans
shall include a plot plan showing the location of the proposed building and of every existing building on
the property. In lieu of detailed specifications, the Building Official may approve references on the plans
to a specific section or part of this code or other ordinances or laws.
Plans for buildings more than two stories in height of other than Group R, Division 3 and Group
M Occupancies shall indicate how required structural and fire -resistive integrity will be maintained
where a penetration will be made for electrical, mechanical, plumbing and communications conduit, pipes,
and similar systems.
When proposed construction will affect site drainage, existing and proposed drainage patterns
shall be shown on the plot plan.
106.3.4 Design Professional of Record
106.3.4.1 General When it is required that documents he prepared by an architect or engineer, the
Building Official may require the owner to engage and designate on the building permit application an
architect or engineer who shall act as the architect or engineer or record. If the circumstances require,
the owner may designate a substitute architect or engineer of record who shall perform all of the duties
required of the original architect or engineer of record. The Building Official shall be notified in writing
by the owner if the architect or engineer of record is changed or is unable to continue to perform the
duties.
The design professional of record shall be responsible for reviewing and coordinating all submittal
documents prepared by others, including deferred submittal items, for compatibility with the design of
the building.
106.3.4.2 Deferred Submittals. For the purposed of this section, deferred Submittals are defined
as those portions of the design which are note submitted at the time of the application and which are to
be submitted to the building official within a specified period.
Deferral of any submittal items shall have prior approval of the Building Official. The design
professional of record shall list the deferred Submittals on the plans and shall submit the deferred
submittal documents for review by the Building Official.
Submittal documents for deferred submittal items shall be submitted to the design professional
of record who shall review them and forward them to the Building Official with a notation indicating that
the deferred submittal documents have been reviewed and that they have been found to be in general
conformance with the design of the building. The deferred Submittals items shall not be installed until
their design and submittal documents have been approved by the Building Official,
106.3.5 Inspection and observation program
When special inspection is required by section 1701, the design professional of record shall
prepare an inspection program which shall be submitted to the Building Official for approval prior to
issuance of the building permit. The inspection program shall designate the portions of the work that
require special inspection and the name or names of the individuals or firms who are to perform the
special inspections, and indicate the duties of the special inspectors.
The special inspector shall be employed by the owner, the design professional of record, or an
agent of the owner, but not the contractor or any other person responsible for the work.
When structural observation is required by Section 1702, the inspection program shall name the
individuals or firms who are to perform structural observation and describe the stages of construction at
which structural observation is to occur.
106.3.6 Standard Plans
The Building Official may approve a set of plans for a building or structure as a "standard plan,"
provided that the applicant has made proper application, submitted complete sets of plans as required
by this section, and paid the plan checking fee as established by the City Council.
Plans shall reflect laws and ordinances in effect at the time of issuance of a permit except as
provided herein below in this subsection. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit modifying the permit
set of plans to reflect changes in laws and ordinances which have become effective since the approval of
the standard plans. The standard plans shall become null and void where the work required by such
changes exceeds 5 percent of the value of the building or structure shown in the plans.
When it is desired to use an approved "standard plan" for an identical structure, two plot plans
and one duplicate plan shall be submitted and a plan checking fee equal to 70 percent of the full plan
checking fee required by Section 107.3 shall be paid at the time application is made for such identical
structure. Such duplicate plans shall be compared, stamped and kept on the project site.
In case of deviation from this standard plan, except as permitted in this subsection, complete
plans, together with a full plan checking fee, shall be submitted for the proposed work.
Standard plans shall be valid immediately upon approval and shall remain valid until the
regulations of this code or other laws and ordinances applicable to the design of the structure are amend.
106.4 Permits Issuance
106.4.1 Issuance
The application, plans and specifications, geological or soil reports and other required data filed
by an applicant for a permit shall be checked by the Building Official. Such plans may be reviewed by
other public agencies, utilities, departments of the City and other divisions of the Community
Development Department of the City for compliance with the laws and ordinances under their
jurisdiction.
The Building Official shall issue a permit to the applicant for the work described in the
application and plans filed there with, when it is determined that all of the following items comply
1. The work conforms to the requirements of this code.
2. The work described conforms to the requirements of other pertinent laws and
ordinances.
3. The required clearances from all other agencies have been obtained.
4. The fees specified by this code and the municipal code have been paid.
5. The applicant has obtained a permit pursuant to Public Resources Code Section
30600 et. seq., if such permit is required.
When a permit is issued and plan and/or specification have been required to be provided, the
Building Official shall endorse in writing or stamp upon the plans and/or specifications "APPROVED."
Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified or altered without authorizations
from the Building Official, and design professional of record when applicable, and all work regulated by
this code shall be done in accordance with the approved plans, however the approval of the plans shall
not be construed as a waiver of any requirement of this code, or any other law or ordinance, unless specific
documentation such as that require by Section 104.2.7 is provided. The issuance of a permit shall not be
deemed to certify that the site of the described work is safe.
The Building Official may issue a permit for the construction of part of a building or structure
before the entire plans and specifications for the whole building or structure have been submitted or
approved, provided adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with all
pertinent requirements of this code. The holder of such permit shall proceed at his own risk without
assurance that the permit for the entire building or structure will be granted. The Building Official may
require in writing a statement from the owner acknowledging potential risks.
106.4.2 Retention of Plans
One set of approved plans, specifications and computations shall be retained by the Building
Official until the work has been completed: and one set of approved plans and specifications shall be
returned to the applicant and shall be kept on the site of the building or work at all times during which
the work authorized is in progress.
Structural plans for all buildings shall be maintained by the City until the building or structure
has been demolished with the exception of the following:
1. Single or multiple dwellings not more than two stories and basement in height,
2. Garages and other structures appurtenant to buildings described in item 1 above,
3. Farm or ranch buildings,
4. Any one-story building where the span between bearing walls does not exceed 25 feet. The
exception in this subdivision does not, however, apply to a steel frame or concrete building
106.4.3 Validity of Permit
The issuance of a permit or approval of plans specifications and computations shall not be
construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any
other laws or regulations. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this
code or any other laws or regulations shall be valid, except insofar as the work or use which it authorized
is lawful.
The issuance of apermit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the
Building Official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications and other
data, or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code
or of any other ordinances of the City of Santa Clarita provided that notice is provided of the violations
pursuant to section 19870 of the State of California Health and Safety Code.
106.4.4 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: 1) not
commenced within 180 days from the date such permit was issued by the City, or 2)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 six -months, or 3) a period of two years and six months from the date the permit was issued
regardless of wether work has stopped. Before such work can be recommenced, anew permit shall be
first obtained, and a fee therefor shall not exceed one half the amount required for a new permit for such
work, except in the case of 3 above then the fee may be based on the amount of the work remaining to be
completed, provided no changes have been made or will be made to the original plans and specifications
for such work; and provided further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year.
In order to renew action on a permit which has been abandoned or suspended for more than one year, the
permittee shall pay an amount not exceeding that originally paid for the permit..
Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which
work may commence under that permit when the permittee is unable to commence work within the time
required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The Building Official may extend the time for
action by the permittee for a period not exceeding 180 days on written request by the permittee showing
that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken and a fee
established by the City Council has been paid. No permit shall be extended more than once.
106.4.5 Suspension or Revocation
The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this code
whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of
any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this code.
106.4.6 Combination Building Permits
General. Combination permits may be issued when it is determined that the same contractor is
licenced so as to perform all of the work proposed by a project and it is reasonable to combine the permit
into a single permit. The following are examples of combination permits:
1. A combined building permit may be issued for new one -family or two-family dwellings,
or additions there to, which will include all building, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating and air-
conditioning work but will not include grading, (which requires a permit as specified in the Uniform
Development Code), fire sprinkler installations, or sewer connections. The combined building permit shall
be subject to the requirements of this code, the Electrical Code, the Plumbing Code and the Mechanical
Code, except that the fee for the combined building permit shall be as provided in Section 107 of this code.
2., A combination building permit for a swimming pool shall include grading and excavation,
the structure, the plumbing and the electrical for the pool..
3. A combination permit for a sign shall include the structural and electrical for the sign.
106.4.7 Cancellation or Surrender of Permit
If no portion of the work or construction covered by a permit issued by the Building Official under the
provisions of this Code has been commenced, the person to whom such permit has been issued may deliver
such permit to the Building Official with the request that such permit be canceled. The Building Official
shall thereupon stamp or write on the face of the permit the words` Canceled at the request of the
permittee." Thereupon such permit shall be void and of no effect.
106.4.8 Transfer
Permits are not transferable from one, person to another or from one location to another.
107 FEES
107.1 Valuation
The determination of value under any of the provision of this code shall be made by the Building
Official and shall be determined based on rational methods establish to cover the cost to the City for
providing the administrative, plan review and inspection services of the Building and Safety Division.
The Building Official shall update the valuation standards as needed.
107.2 Permit Issuance Fees
As established by the City Council,
107.3 Building Permit Fees.
As established by the City Council.
107.4 Combination Building Permits
Combination permits as defined in Section 106.4.6 shall have fee as specified by the City Council.
107.5 Use of Land Permit.
A use of land permit shall be required for all commercial and residential uses located on private
property which would not otherwise require a building permit, such as parking lots, storage yards or
playgrounds.; A fee as established by the City Council shall be collected for each use of land permit.
107.6 Plan Review Fees.
107.6.1 General When a plan or other data are required to be submitted by Section 106.3, a plan
review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting plans and specifications for review. Said plan review
fee shall be as established by the City Council.
107.6.2 Supplemental Fees. When substantial changes, not related to initial plan review
corrections, are made to the plans or when alteration to the plans are proposed after the permit is issued,
a supplemental plan review fee may be assessed as provided for by the City Council.
107.6.3 Preliminary Plan Review. When ever a preliminary plan review is requested, a fee
as established by the City Council maybe assessed. The Building Official may credit the amount paid for
the preliminary review to the plan review at the time of formal submittal to the City for plan review.
107.6 Grading Permit Fees.
As established by the City Council.
107.7 Grading Plan Review Fees.
As established by the City Council.
107.8 Expiration of Plan Review.
Applications for which no building permit or grading permit is issued within 180 days following
the date of application, as noted by the date the fees were paid, shall expire by limitation, and plans and
other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building
Official. The Building Official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding
180 days on request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have
prevented action from being taken. The Building Official may collect a fee equal to that noted in section
104.2.7 for any application for extension of plan review. No application shall be extended more than
twice. In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall resubmit plans and
pay a new plan review fee.
107.9 Investigation Fees.
107.9.1 Work without a Permit Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code
has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a
permit may be issued for such work.
107.9.2. Fee. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not
a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit
fee required by this code. The minimum investigation fee shall be as established by the City Council. The
payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions
of this code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
107.10 Refund
In the event that any person shall have obtained a permit and not portion of the work or
construction covered by such permit shall have been commenced and such permit shall have been canceled
without any work been done and a request for cancellation having been approved by the Building Official,
the applicant/permittee may request a refund from the building Official for a maximum of 80 percent of
the permit fees paid, not including issuance fees or plan review fees.
The applicant for the refund shall present all necessary documentation to the Building Official
to prove that they are entitle to receive the refund of the amounts paid for the permit. No refund shall
be made for a permit which was obtained by falsification or misrepresentation and has been or could be
revoked for such cause.
107.11 Administrative Fees.
As established by the City Council.
108 INSPECTIONS
108.1 General
All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the
Building Official and all such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection
purposes until approved by the Building Official. In addition, certain types of construction shall have
continuous inspection as specified in Section 1701.5.
Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the
provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction nor for work which was not available for
inspection at the time the inspection was performed. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate
or cancel the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.
It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed
for inspection purposes and to facilitate the locating a review of the work requested for inspection.
Neither the Building Official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or
replacement of any material required to allow inspection.
A survey of the lot maybe required by the Building Official to verify that the structure is located
in accordance with the approved plans.
A site inspection may be required prior to plan check of building plans for lots or parcels in areas
having slopes of five horizontal to one vertical (5:1) or steeper when the Building Official finds that a
visual inspection of the site is necessary to establish drainage requirements for the protection of property,
existing buildings or the proposed construction. The fee for such inspection shall be as established by the
City Council. Such a preinspection shall not be required for a building pad graded under the provisions
of the Uniform Development Code.
108.2 Inspection Record Card
Work requiring a building permit shall not be commenced until the permit holder or the permit
holder's agent shall have posted or otherwise made available an inspection record card so as to allow the
Building Official to conveniently make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This
card shall continue to be posted or otherwise made available by the permit holder until a final approval
of the building or structure has been granted by the Building Official..
108.3 Inspection Requests
It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by a permit to notify the Building
Official that such work is ready for inspection. The Building Official may require that every request for
inspection be filed at least one working day before such inspection is desired. Such request may be in
writing or by telephone at the option of the Building Official.
It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspections required by this code to clearly
indicate what work the inspection request is being made for and to provide access to and means for the
inspection of such work.
108.4 Approvals Required.
No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each
successive inspection without first obtaining the written approval of the Building Official. The Building
Official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate that portion of
the construction which is satisfactory as completed or shall notify the permit holder or the permit holder's
agent wherein the same fails to comply with this code. Any portions which do not comply shall be
corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the Building Official.
There shall be a final inspection and approval on all buildings or structures when completed and
ready for occupancy.,
It shall be unlawful for persons to cover over or hide any work until inspected and approved by
the Building Official. It shall also be unlawful to not fully disclose the extent of the work performed which
is required to be inspected by the Building Official.
Whenever the Building Official identifies code violations during inspections of the site, the
corrections shall be made within 10 days after inspection and notification or within such other reasonable
time as is permitted by the Building Official.
108.5 Required Inspections.
108.5.1 General. It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by a permit to
notify the Building Official that such work is ready for inspection. The Building Official may require that
every request for inspection be filed at least one working day before such inspection is desired. Such
request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the Building Official.
It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspection required by this code to ensure that
the work has been completed at the time the inspection is requested and to provide access to and means
for the inspection of the work.
Reinforcing steel or structural framework of any part of any building or structure shall not be
covered or concealed without first obtaining the approval of the Building Official.
The Building Official, upon notification from the permit holder or the agent of the owner shall
make the inspections set forth in the following section:
108.5.2 Foundation inspection. To be made after trenches are excavated and forms erected,
any required reinforcing steel is in place and when all materials for the foundation are delivered on the
job. Where concrete from a central mixing plant (commonly termed "transit mix") is to be used, materials
need not be on the job.
108.5.3 Concrete slab or under -floor inspection. To be made after all in -slab or under -floor
building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place
but before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.
108.5.4 Frame inspection. To be made after the roof sheathing has been nailed, all framing,
fire blocking and bracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete.
108.5.5 Insulation To be made after all insulation and caulking which will be covered by lath
or wallboard have been installed.
108.5.6 Lath inspection and/or wallboard, To be made after all lathe in and/or wallboard,
interior and exterior lath is in place, but before any plastering is applied or before wallboard joints and
fasteners are taped and finished.
108.5.7 Final inspection. To be made after all finish grading and the building is complete and
ready for occupancy, and the site has been cleaned of all debris.
108.6 Special Inspection
For special inspections see Chapter 17.
108.7 Other Inspections.
In addition to the called inspections specified above, the Building Official may make or require
other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this code and
other laws which are enforced by Building and Safety or coordinated with other agencies.
108.8 Reinspection
If the work for which the inspection has been requested is not complete or if access is not provided
to allow the inspection of the work, the Building Official may require that a supplemental inspection fee
as established by the City Council be paid prior to the City performing any additional inspections on the
project.
When the construction or materials are found to be in violation of this Code, the person, firm,
corporation or governmental agency owning, using or operating the same shall be notified in writing and
shall make the necessary repairs or changes required to place such construction or material in compliance
with this Code and to have such work completed within a period of 10 days after such notice, or within
such other reasonable period specified by the Building Official in said notice and shall pay such fees as
are required by this Code.
Whenever an inspection has been requested for work which is either incomplete or is not ready
to passed the required test, Building and Safety may assess a reinspection fee as established by the City
Council.
This provision is not to be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected
for failure to comply with the requirements of this Code, but as controlling the practice of calling for
inspections before the job is ready for inspection or reinspection.
Reinspection fees may be assessed when the approved plans are not readily available to the
inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which the inspection is requested, or for deviating
from plans requiring the approval of the Building Official.
To obtain reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form
furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee as established by the City Council
In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of work will be
performed until the required fees have been paid.
108.9 Inspections During Declared Emergencies
The Building Official may authorize the performance of inspections required under this section
to be performed by registered design professionals or by registered deputy inspectors, for repair work
during a declared emergency. The persons performing the inspections shall submit a report, to the
satisfaction of the Building Official, demonstrating that the work they inspected conformed to the
requirements of the code. The report will be similar to those required by section 306 of this code.
109 Certificate of Occupancy
109.1 Use and Occupancy
No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy
classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the Building Official has
issued a Certificate of Occupancy therefor as provided herein.
ExceptionGroup R, Division 3 and Group M Occupancies.
Issuance of a certificate of Occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the
provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the City of Santa Clarita or be deemed as the final
inspection approval of any permit. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the
provisions of this code of other ordinances of the City shall not be valid.
109.2 Change in Use
Changes in the character or use of a building shall not be made except as specified in Section 3405
of this code..
109.3 Certificate Issued
After the Building Official inspects the building or structure, and finds no violations of the
provisions of this code or other laws which are enforced by the City, the Building Official shall issue a
Certificate of Occupancy which shall contain the following information:
1. The building permit number, and
2. The address of the building, and
3. The name and address of the owner, and
4. A description of that portion of the building for which the certificate is issued, and
5. A statement that the described portion of the building has been inspected for compliance
with the requirements of the Santa Clarita Building Code for the group and division of
occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified, and
6. The name of the Building Official, and
7. The date the certificate was issued, and
8. The edition of the code under which the work was permitted.
109.4 Temporary Certificate
If the Building Official finds that no substantial hazard will result from the occupancy of any
building or portion thereof before the same is completed, a temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be
issued for the use of a portion or portions of a building or structure prior to the completion of the entire
building or structure.
109.5 Posting
The Certificate of Occupancy shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises and shall not
be removed except by the Building Official
109.6 Revocation
The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a Certificate of Occupancy issued under
the provisions of this code whenever the certificate is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect
information supplied, or when it is determined that the building or structure or portion thereof is in
violation of any ordinance or regulation or any provisions of this code.
CHAPTER 18.04
BUILDING PERMIT LIMITATIONS
Section:
18.04.010 Building Permit Limitations.
18.04.010. Building Permit Limitations. No building permit shall be issued for any
of the following-
A.
ollowingA. Single-family residential units when such development is in conjunction
with three or more units;
B. Multiple -family residences including apartments and condominiums
involving more than six residential units;
C. Multiple -family residences including apartments and condominiums
involving two or more buildings, irrespective of the number of units;
D. New commercial, institutional and industrial structures exceeding a floor
area of 15,000 square feet;
E. New parking structures of one or more levels above grade;
F. Additions to existing structures exceeding a floor area of 15,000 square
feet; and
G. Tenant improvements which result in a change in land use or result in or
perpetuate an unmet parking need;
unless the Planning Commission determines either.
1. That the project will not have a potential for a significant effect on the
environment; or
2. That the significant environment effect of the project would either -
a. Be mitigated in a manner approved in a certified environmental
impact report, or
b. Are overridden by findings in accordance with Sections 15091 -
15093 of the State CEQA Guidelines. (Ord. 91-22,4123/91.)
bldgcode.bU
ELECTRICAL CODE
Chapter 19.01
ADOPTION OF ELECTRICAL CODE
19.01.010. Adoption of Electrical Code. There is hereby adopted by reference that certain Electrical
Code known and designated as the "National Electrical Code, 1993 Edition" prepared by the National Fire
Protection Association including all appendices and including those sections of the California Electrical
Code requiring enforcement by the local Building Department. Such code shall be and become the
Electrical Code for the City, regulating and controlling the design, construction,installation, quality of
materials, location, operation and maintenance of electrical systems, equipment and appliances.
At least one copy of the National Electrical Code, 1993 edition, has been deposited in the office of the City
Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.,
Chapter 19.02
AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN SECTIONS
19.02.010. Amendments to Certain Code Sections. The following sections of
the National Electrical Code, as adopted in Section 19.01.010 hereof, are hereby added or
amedned as follows:
A. Artical 100 amended -- Definitions. Artical 100 of the Nationa
Electrical Code is amended to add the follwing definitions and delcarations:
For the purpose of this Code, certain terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall
be construed as set out in this Section. Words used in the singular include the plural and the
plural the singular.
Apartment House is any building or portion thereof, which is designed, built, rented,
leased, let or hired out to be occupied, or which is occupied as the home or residence of three or
more families living independently of each other and doing their own cooking in the said
building, and shall include flats and apartments.
Approved means acceptable to the Building Official.
Building is any structure built for the support or shelter of persons, animals, chatterls or
property of any kind.
Dwelling is any building or any portion thereof which is not an "Apartment House" or a
"Hotel" as defined in this Code, which contains one or more "Apartments" or "Guest Rooms,"
used, intended or designed to be built, used, rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied, or
which are occupied for living purposes.
Dwelling Unit is one or more habitable rooms which are occupied or which are intended
or designed to be occupied by one family with facilities for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
Electric or electrical wiring means the installation or the alteration of any material,
fixture, device, appliance or equipment in or on any building, structure or premises, used or
designed or intended to used to generate, transmit, transform or utilize electric energy.
Grade (adjacent Ground Elevation) is the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface
of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the are between the building and the property line or,
when the property line is more than five feet from the building, between the building and a line
five feet from the building.
Hotel is any building containing six or more rooms intended or designed to be used, or which
are used, rented or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by
guests.
Person is an individual human being, a firm, partnership or corporation, his or their heirs,
executors, administrators, assigns, officers or agents; the City of Santa Clarita, and any local
agency as defined in Section 53090 of the Government Code, or officer thereof.
Service. For purposes of interpreting the National Electrical Code (NEC), each service
drops or lateral to a building shall be considered one service. For purposes of determining the
fees to be paid, each service and piece of service equipment shall be subject to the fees set forth
in section 19.03.107.
Service Equipment includes one or more fused switches, enclosed circuit breakers,
panelboards, switchboards, and/or switchgear supplied by one service and intended to constitute
the main control and means of cut-off of the electrical supply. One service may include several
pieces of service equipment. Permit fees shall be paid for each piece of service equipment.
Special Permission is the written consent of the Building Official.
Tenant Improvement (Electrical) means electrical work altering or adding to the wiring
system of an existing tenant space, whether previously occupied or not, in a building that has
previously passed final electrical inspection regardless of whether the building is a fully
developed building or only a shell.
Chapter 19.03
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDURES
19.03.100. GENERAL
Chapter 19 of the Municipal Code of the City of Santa Clarita "Electrical Code," may be cited as
such and will be referred to herein as "this Code." (NOTE: The chapter designation of the Municipal Code
(19.03.xxx) as indicated in the above section has been omitted from the other sections of this Chapter for
clarity. It is understood that a section noted as 105, in the following, is the same as section 19.03.105 of
the Municipal Code.)
101.1 Title
The regulations contained in this Chapter shall be known as the Administrative Provisions of the
Santa Clarita Electrical Code and shall be used in conjunction with the technical provisions of Title 19
and the provisions of Title 24, California Code of Regulations, mandated by the State of California to be
enforced by the local Building Department, all of which may be cited herein as "this code".
101.2 Purpose
The purpose of this Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard the public's safety and
welfare by regulating the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, use, location, operation
and maintenance of electrical systems, equipment and appliances as specifically set forth herein.
Consistent with this purpose, the provisions of this Code are intended and always have been intended to
confer a benefit on the community as a whole and are not intended to establish a duty of care toward any
particular person.
This Code shall not be construed to hold the City or any officer, employee, or agent thereof
responsible for any damage to persons or property by reason of any inspection authorized herein or by
reason of the issuance or nonissuance of any permit authorized herein, and/or for any action or omission
in connection with the application and/or enforcement of this Code. By adopting the provisions of this
Code, the City does not intend to impose on itself, its employees or agents any mandatory duties of care
toward persons and property within its jurisdiction so as to provide a basis of civil liability for damages.
This section is declaratory of existing law and is not to be construed as suggesting that such was
not the purpose and intent of previous Code adoptions.
101.3 Scope
The provisions of this Code shall apply to the construction, alteration, moving, repair and use of
any electrical wiring on any premises within the City of Santa Clarita.
The provisions of this Code shall not apply to public utilities, including clearances for service
conductors; or to electrical wiring for street lighting or traffic signals located primarily in a public way;
or to mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in this Code.
101.4 Validity
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this code is, for any reason, held to be
unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita declares that it would have passed this code, and each
section, subsection, clause or phase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more section,
subsections, sentences, clauses and phases be declared unconstitutional.
102 UNSAFE INSTALLATIONS, AU'T'HORITY TO DISCONNECT
The Building Official is hereby empowered to disconnect or to order in writing the discontinuance
of electrical service to wiring, devices or materials found to be dangerous and a hazard to life, health and
property until the installation of such wiring device or material has been made safe as directed by the
Building Official.
Any person, firm, corporation, public utility, political subdivision or governmental agency ordered
to discontinue such electrical service shall do so within 24 hours after the receipt of such written notice
and shall not reconnect such service or allow or cause the same to be reconnected until notified to do so
by the Building Official. Refusal or failure or neglect to comply with any such notice or order shall be
considered by the Building Official a violation of this Code. The Building Official may then institute any
appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate the refusal to comply with any such
notice or order.
103 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
103.1 Compliance with Code
A person shall not install, alter, reconstruct or repair any electrical wiring, devices, appliances,
apparatus, or equipment, within or on any premises in the City of Santa Clarita, or cause the same to be
done, contrary to, or in violation of any of the provisions of this code,
103.2 Penalties
Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Code is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not exceeding six
months, or by both such fine and imprisonment,(see section 17995 State Health and Safety Code), unless
such violation is otherwise declared to be an infraction by the City Council. Such person shall be guilty
of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the
provisions of this Code is committed, continued, or permitted to remain.
103.3 Infractions
See Section 18.03.103.3 of the municipal code.
103.4 Notice of Violations
See Section 18.03.103.4 of the municipal code.
104 ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT
104.1 Building and Safety Division
There is hereby established within the City of Santa Clarita, a division in the Building and
Engineering Services Department to be known as the 'Building and Safety Division" under the
administrative and operational control of the Building Official.
104.2 Powers and Duties of the Building Official
104.2.1 General
The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all of the provisions of this code,
Title 18 the Building Code, Title 20 the Plumbing Code, and Title 21 the Mechanical Code, and to make
inspections pursuant to the provisions of each of the codes. For such purposes the Building Official shall
have the powers of a law enforcement officer.
The Building Official shall have the power to render interpretations of these codes and to adopt
and enforce rules and supplemental regulations in order to clarify the application of their provisions.
Such interpretations, rules and regulations shall be in conformance with the intent and purpose of these
codes.
Whenever the term "Building Official' or "Administrative Authority" is used in any section of this
Code such term shall be construed to mean the Building Official of the City of Santa Clarita.
104.2.2 Deputies
In accordance with the procedure and with the approval of the appointing authority, the Building
Official may appoint such number of technical officers and inspectors and other employees as shall be
authorized from time to time. The Building Official may deputize such technical officers, inspectors or
other employees or persons as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Building and Safety
Division.
104.2.3 Right of Entry
104.2.3.1 Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of or
perform any duty imposed by this code or other applicable law, or whenever the Building Official or an
authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any
premises any condition which makes such building or premises hazardous, unsafe or dangerous for any
reason specified in this code or other similar law, the Building Official or an authorized representative
hereby is authorized to enter such property at any reasonable time and to inspect the same and perform
any duty imposed upon the Building Official by this code or other applicable law; provided that (i) if such
property is occupied, that credentials be presented to the occupant, an explanation of the reasons for the
inspection given, and a request for entry made therefor; and (ii) if such property is unoccupied, then
reasonable effort shall fust be made to locate the owner or other person having charge of the property to
explain the reasons for the inspection and to request entry therefor. If such entry cannot be obtained
because the owner or other person having charge or control of the property cannot be found after due
diligence or if entry is refused, the Building Official or an authorized representative shall have some
recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspect the property..
104.2.3.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Building Official or an authorized representative
has reasonable cause to believe that the building or premises is so hazardous, unsafe or dangerous as to
require immediate inspection to safeguard the public health or safety, the right to immediate entry by any
reasonable means to inspect the building or premises, whether occupied or unoccupied and whether or
not permission to inspect has been granted, is hereby authorized; provided that if the property is
occupied, the Building Official or authorized representative shall first present credentials to the occupant
and offer an explanation of the reasons for the inspection_
104.2.3.3 "Authorized representative" shall include the officers named in section 104.2.2 and
authorized inspection personnel.
104.2.3.4 No person shall fail or refuse, after proper demand has been named upon him as provided
in this subsection, to promptly permit the Building Official or an authorized representative to make any
inspection provided for by subdivision 2 of this subsection. Any person violating this subsection shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
104.2.4 Stop Orders
Whenever any building or grading work is being done contrary to the provisions of this code, the
Building Official may order the work stopped by written notice served on any persons engaged in the
doing or causing such work to be done, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until
authorized by the Building Official to proceed with the work. Any person failing to stop work after being
served with such notice shall be guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor as noted in section 103.
104.2.5 Changes in Building Occupancy
Plumbing systems which are a part of any building or structure undergoing a change in use or
occupancy, as defined in the Building Code, shall comply to all requirements of this Code which may be
applicable to the new use or occupancy.
104.2.6 Liability
The liability and indemnification of the Building Official and any subordinates are governed by
the provisions of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the government code.
104.2.7 Modifications
104.2.7.1 General. Request(s) for modifications shall be made on a form prescribed by the
Building Official and shall be submitted with a fee as specified by the City Council. The details of any
action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the Building and Safety Division
of the City. The Building Official may require that any conditions of approval associated with the
granting of a modification be recorded on the title of the property with the County Recorder's Office.
104.2.7.2 Modifications. When an applicant demonstrates that there are practical difficulties
involved in carrying out the provisions of this code, the Building Official may grant modifications for
individual cases when a special individual reason which make the strict letter of this code impractical,
that the modification is within the intent and purpose of this code, and that the modification does not
lessen any fire -protection requirements. Requests for modifications shall be submitted to the Building
Official in writing on a form approved by the Building Official and shall state all reasons and justifications
to be considered by the Building Official with respect to the modification. The request shall be
accompanied by a fee as established by the City Council.
104.2.8 Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction
Nothing in this Code is intended to prevent the use of any material, appliance, installation; device,
arrangement or method of construction not specifically prescribed, provided any such alternate has been
approved by the Building Official.
The Building Official may approve any such alternate, provided, it is determined that the
proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the technical provisions of this code, and that the
material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed
in this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety and sanitation..
Such approval shall be based upon submittal of substantiating data and including, but not limited
to, performance characteristics, measurements, calculations, diagrams, equipment and construction
factors, where applicable.
A written application shall be submitted for a proposed alternate material or method of
construction together with a fee established by the City Council. The details of any action granting an
alternate material or method of construction shall be noted in the files of the Building and Safety Division
of the City.
104.2.9 Tests
Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with any of the provisions of this code or
evidence that any material or construction does not conform to the requirements of this code, the Building
Official may require testing as proof of compliance to be made at no expense to the City.
Test methods shall be as specified by this code or by other recognized test standards. If there are
no recognized and adopted test methods for the proposed alternate, the Building Official shall determine
test procedures. A fee, determined by the Building Official, shall be determined for the development of
any testing procedure or for the review of the testing results submitted to Building and Safety.
All tests shall be made by an approved testing agency. Reports of such tests shall be retained in
the files of the Building and Safety Division of the City.
104.2.10 Cooperation of Other Officials and Officers.
The Building Official may request and shall receive the assistance and cooperation of other
officials of the City of Santa Clarita so far as is required in the discharge of the duties required by this
code or other pertinent laws or ordinances.
104.2.11 Investigation
The Building Official may investigate any construction or work regulated by this Code, and issue
such notices and orders as deemed appropriate.
104.2.12 (reserved)
104.2.13 Emergency Powers.
The Building Official, with the approval of the City Manager of the City of Santa Clarita, is
authorized to make and enforce such guidelines and policies for the safeguarding of life, limb, health or
property as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the purpose of this code. A copy of said
regulations and policies shall be filed with the Office of the City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita and .
shall be effective immediately thereafter.
104.2.14 Standard Reference Documents..
The codes, standards and publications adopted and set forth in this code, including other codes,
standards and publications referred to therein are, by title and date of publication, hereby adopted as
standard reference documents of this code.
When this code does not specifically cover any subject relating to electrical system design and
construction, recognized engineering practices shall be employed.
Appeals of determination made by the Building Official for this code shall be made in
accordance with section 18.03.105 of the Municipal Code.
106 PERMITS
106.1 Permits Required
Except as otherwise provided in Section 18.03.106.4.1 and 18.03.106.4.6 of the municipal code,
a person, whether acting as principal, servant, agent or employee, shall not do or cause the permit to be
done any electrical work regulated by this Code without first securing a permit from the Building Official
authorizing such work.
106.2.1 Work Exempted
No person shall install, alter, reconstruct or repair any electrical wiring, devices, appliances,
apparatus, or equipment, within or on any building, structure or premises without first obtaining a permit
therefor from the Building Official, except as follows.:
1. Minor repair work such as the replacement of lamps, switches, receptacle devices, sockets,
taping bare joints and the like, or the connection of portable motor and appliances to
suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed..
2. The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets.
3. The repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers, apparatus, or appliances of the
same type and rating in the same location.
4. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus, or equipment operating at less than 25
volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.
5. Low-energy power, control, and signal circuits that are not an integral part of an appliance
and in which the power is limited from a source having a rated output of not more than
30 volts and 1,000 volt-amperes.
6. Temporary holiday decorative lighting.
7. The installation of temporary wiring for testing or experimental purposes within suitable
facilities.
8. Repair or replacement of overcurrent devices.
9. Portable generators, motors, appliances, tools, power outlets, and other portable
equipment connected by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug.
10. The installation by Southern California Edison Company of radio -controlled relays on
privately owned air conditions and agricultural irrigation pumping equipment in the
company's pilot program of energy conservation through electrical load management,
entitled "Air Conditioner Cycling and Agricultural and Pumping Interruptible Programs";
provided, that:
1. The relays shall be tested and labeled by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
2. The Building Official shall approve of specifications for the installation of the relays.
3. The relays shall be installed and maintained by Southern California Edison Company
or its contractors.
4. The Southern California Edison Company shall make available for random inspection,
upon request of and by the County, designated relay installations to ensure Code
compliance.
11. Private telephone, intercom, sound and communication systems; provided, however, that
a permit shall be obtained for the power supplies required by the above systems.
12. Exemption For Utilities. The provisions of this Code shall not apply to any electrical work
performed by or for any electrical corporation, telephone corporation, telegraph
corporation, railroad corporation or street railroad corporation on or with any electrical
equipment owned or controlled and operated or use by, and for the exclusive benefit of,
such corporation in the conduct of its business as a public utility, or to any other work
which any such corporation may be entitled by law to perform without payment of any
local tax; but all provisions of this Code shall apply insofar as they may consistently with
the above be applicable to all other electrical work performed by or for any such
corporation.
The terms "electrical corporation," "telephone corporation," "telegraph corporation," "railroad
corporation," and "street railroad corporation," are herein used as said terms are respectively defined in
the Public Utility Code of the State of California; and such terms shall also be deemed to include similar
utilities which are municipally or governmentally owned and operated.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, all electrical wiring and equipment shall comply with Section 109
of this Code.
106.2.2 Governmental Agencies. The provisions of this Code shall cover, govern and control
the installation, alteration or repair of any electrical wiring, connection, fixtures, sockets, appliances,
apparatus, machinery or other electrical devices by or on behalf of the City of Santa Clarita or any
department or officer thereof or by or on behalf of any school district or any quasipublic or political
corporation or governmental agency or body, on said premises not owned by a public school district within
the City of Santa Clarita.
106.3 Application for Permit
Applications for an electrical permit shall describe the work to be performed on the form provided
and shall give the location either by street and house number, by lot, block and tract, or similar
description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed work. A separate application
shall be required for each building or structure.
The applicant for electrical permits for work exceeding $200.00 in value shall be a licensed
contractor, homeowner or authorized governmental representative.
Should any permit be issued to an applicant as stated below and the conditions of subsections
106.3.1.1, 106.3.1.2, and 106.3.1.3 be violated the permit shall be subject to immediate cancellation. This
permit cancellation is in addition to any other enforcement provisions or penalties provided for this Code.
EXCEPTION: Whendetermined that there is an urgent necessity, the Building Official
may consider an application for an electrical permit prepared by persons other than those
specified above.
The Building Official may refuse to issue a permit for temporary or permanent service
when there is no apparent legally permitted use for the service. In determining whether a
proposed use is legally permitted, the Building Official may consider not just the provisions
of the Electrical Code but all applicable statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations.
106.3.1.1 Licensed Contractor. A licensed contractor is a person who is engaged in the business
of installing or repairing electrical wiring or equipment or who does, or who holds themself out as willing
to do personally or through their employees any work or services in connection with the installation,
alteration or repair of any electrical wiring or equipment or part thereof and who possesses an
appropriate contractor's license pursuant to Chapter 9, Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code
of the State of California when such license includes within its classification limitations the activities set
forth on the application for permit and entitles the licensee to perform personally or through their
employees all such activities without personal local qualification or registration.
A permit may be issued to a firm, partnership, or corporation, any officer or member of which is
a licensed contractor, in the event that all construction or work is done under the direct personal
supervision of such officer or member.
106.3.1.2 Homeowner. A homeowner is the owner and resident of a single-family residence
including common accessory and minor poultry, animal or agricultural buildings. A permit may be issued
to such homeowner, provided that work authorized under any such permit shall be done by the person
to whom the permit is issued, or by a member of his immediate family.
106.3.1.3 Government Representative. A government representative is a person who is
employed by and who has been authorized by a governmental agency to supervise or control electrical
work on the premises of such agency.
106.3.1.4 Special Permission. When there appears to the Building Official an urgent necessity,
an electrical permit may be issued to other persons by special permission.
106.3.2 Submittal Documents
The Building Official may require the submission of plans and specifications, drawings,
descriptions and diagrams as, in the judgement of the Building Official, are appropriate to show clearly
the character, kind and extent of electrical work covered by an application for a permit.
Plans are required for the following:
1. Any installation where one or more services, switchboard, motor control centers or feeders
have a rating of 400 amperes or larger at 600 volts or less;
2. Any installation rated above 600 volts;
3. Theaters or motion picture theaters;
4. Assembly rooms or similar places having an assemblage or seating capacity exceeding 500
persons;
5. A hospital or other health care facility with surgical operating rooms falling within the
scope of Art. 517 of the National Electrical Code;
6. Installations in locations classes as hazardous locations by the provisions of Chapter 5
of the National Electrical Code, unless otherwise satisfactory to the Building and Safety
Division. When the installation is designed and/or supervised by an Electrical Engineer
who is duly registered by the State of California Board of Registration for Civil and
Professional Engineers, and/or supervised by a qualified maintenance electrician or
supervisor registered with the City of Santa Clarita as per Section 82-4(b) of this Code,
plans need not be approved unless otherwise required by Subsections (b) (1) through (5)
above.
7. Installation of lighting fixtures weighing more than 300 pounds.
8. Tenant improvement installations submitted within six months of the approval date of
shell building electrical plans.
9. Tenant improvement installations requiring review to verify compliance with the State's
Electrical Energy Conservation requirements (Title 24). This energy plan check is in
addition to the plan check required in Subsection 106.3.2 (8) above.
EXCEPTION: The above requirements do not apply to minor additions or
alterations where satisfactory to the Building and Safety Division.
Approval of a plan and/or the issuance of a permit shall not be construed to be an approval of a
violation of the provisions of this Code or of other laws. Plans or permits presuming to give authority to
violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or of other laws are not valid, except insorfar as the work
therein authorized is lawful.
106.3.3 Information Required On Plans
106.3.3.1 Every plan required by Section 106.3.2 shall be a print or other type approved by the
Building and Safety Division. The information contained on the plans shall be drawn in a professional
manner, be clearly legible and contain the information required in subsection 106.3.3.2 below. The plans
for the electrical wiring in a building shall be of a scale no smaller than one-eighth inch per foot.
Reasonable symbols satisfactory to the Division shall be used in all plans.
EXCEPTION. Ascale less than one-eighth inch per foot may be used where acceptable to
the Division.
106.3.3.2 The following is required to be shown on the plans for the wiring installations described
in Section 106.3.2:
1, A complete single line diagram;
2. The type, location and capacity of all service equipment;
3. The size of all raceways and the length of all feeder raceways;
4. The dimensions of all pull or junction boxes larger than four inches trade size;
5. The number, size and type of all conductors to be installed in wiring enclosures;
6. The location of every proposed outlet and switch in all parts of the building or structure,
including all fixed showcases, wall cases, office furnishings, and similar wiring;
R_ The location, voltage and H.P. rating of every motor and the K.W. rating of every
generator.
8. The type and code letter of every AC motor unless an alternate specification is otherwise
satisfactory to the Building Official.
9. The location and KVA or equivalent rating of each transformer, capacitor, ballast,
converter, frequency changer and similar equipment; and the location and ampere or
wattage rating of other appliances of the noninductive type;
10. Details of panelboard, switchboard and motor control center schedules, showing wattage
and amperage, the number of active branch circuits to be installed, and the number of
spare branch circuits for future use. This shall include identifying the circuits to which
the outlets are connected and listing the number and type of outlets.
11. Alighting fixture schedule;
The existing load, as calculated in accordance with Articles 210 and 220 of the NEC or by other
methods satisfactory to the Building Official shall be indicated for existing installations have alterations
or additions made thereto;
Other additional information as the Building Official may consider necessary for proper'
enforcement of this Code.
106.3.4 Design Professional of Record
Each application for electrical permit shall be accompanied by plans, specifications, diagrams, or
calculations, as required by the Building Official. When a plan checking fee or other fees are required by
this or any related ordinance or statute, such fees shall be collected at the time plans are filed. Plans may
be filed by a registered electrical engineer, licensed contractor, government representative or authorized
owner's representative. The plans shall bear the designer's signature as required by State of California
Regulations. The person who's signature appears on the plans shall be the "Design Professional of
Record
106.3.5 (reserved)
106.3.6 (reserved)
106.4 Permits Issuance
106.4.1 Issuance
The application, plans and specifications and other required data filed by an applicant for a
permit shall be checked by the Building Official. Such plans may be reviewed by other public agencies,
utilities, departments of the City and other divisions and departments of the City for compliance with the
laws and ordinances under their jurisdiction.
The Building Official shall issue a permit to the applicant for the work described in the
application and plans filed there with, when it is determined that all of the following items comply:
1. The work conforms to the requirements of this code.
2. The work described conforms to the requirements of other pertinent laws and.
ordinances.
3. The required clearances from all other agencies have been obtained.
4. The fees specified by this code and the municipal code have been paid.
5. The applicant has obtained a permit pursuant to Public Resources Code Section
30600 et. seq., if such permit is required.
When a permit is issued and plan and/or specification have been required to be provided, the
Building Official shall endorse in writing or stamp upon the plans and/or specifications "APPROVED."
Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified or altered without authorizations
from the Building Official, and design professional of record when applicable, and all work regulated by
this code shall be done in accordance with the approved plans, however the approval of the plans shall
not be construed as a waiver of any requirement of this code, or any other law or ordinance, unless specific
documentation such as that require by Section 104.2.8 is provided. The issuance of a permit shall not be
deemed to certify that the site of the described work is safe.
106.4.2 Retention of Records
The Building Official shall keep a complete record of all essential transactions in the offices of the
Building and Safety Division and plans and specifications as required by the State of California.
106.4.3 Validity
The issuance of a permit or approval of plans specifications and computations shall not be
construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any
other laws or regulations. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this
code or any other laws or regulations shall be valid, except insofar as the work or use which it authorized
is lawful.
The issuance of a permit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the
Building Official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications and other
data, or from preventing plumbing operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code
or of any other ordinances of the City of Santa Clarita provided that notice is provided of the violations
pursuant to section 19870 of the State of California Health and Safety Code.
106.4.4 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 work authorized by such permit is:
1. Not commenced within 180 days from the date such permit was issued by the City, or
2. 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 six -months, or
3. A period of two years and six months from the date the permit was issued regardless of
wether work has stopped, or
4. As specified elsewhere in this code.
Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained, and a fee therefor
shall not exceed one half the amount required for a new permit for such work; except in the case of 3 above
then the fee may be based on the amount of the work remaining to be completed, provided no changes
have been made or will be made to the original plans and specifications for such work; and provided
further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year.. In order to renew action on a
permit which has been abandoned or suspended for more than one year, the permittee shall pay an
amount not exceeding that originally paid for the permit.
Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which
work may commence under that permit when the permittee is unable to commence work within the time
required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The Building Official may extend the time for
action by the permittee for a period not exceeding 180 days on written request by the permittee showing
that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken and a fee
established by the City Council has been paid. No permit shall be extended more than once.
106.4.5 Suspension or Revocation.
The Building Official may suspend or revoke any permit issued under the provision of this Code
whenever such permit is issued in error, or is issued on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or has
been obtained by falsification or misrepresentation, or when work is being done thereunder in violation
of this or any related ordinance or regulation.
106.4.6 (reserved)
106.4.7 Cancellation or Surrender of Permit
If no portion of the work or construction covered by a permit issued by the Building Official under
the provisions of this Code has been commenced the person to whom such permit has been issued may
deliver such permit to the Building Official with the request that such permit be canceled. The Building
Official shall thereupon stamp or write on the face of such permit the words "Canceled at the request of
the permittee." Thereupon such permit shall be void and of no effect.
106.4.8 Transfer
Permits are not transferable from one person to another or from one location to another.
107 FEES
107.1 General
The Building Official shall collect such fees as are required by this Code and issue receipts
therefor, copies of which shall be maintained as record in the office of Building and Safety. All fees
collected by the Building Official shall be transferred to the proper authority provided by law to receive
such funds.
107.2 Cost of Permit
The cost of the electrical permits shall be as established by the City Council.
107.3 Plan Review Fees
Plan Review fees shall be paid when the plans are submitted for review,; No wiring shall be
installed, nor any other work for which a permit is required shall be done, until the plans have been
approved. Only after the plans have been approved may the applicant apply for an electrical permit for
such work, The cost of the electrical plan review shall be as established by the City Council.
107.4 Expiration of Plan Review.
Applications for which no electrical permit has been issued within 180 days following the date of
application, as noted by the date the fees were paid, shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data
submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official.
The Building Official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding 180 days
on request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have
prevented action from being taken. The Building Official may collect a fee equal to one half of that noted
in section 107.3 for any application for extension of plan review. No application shall be extended more
than twice.. In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall resubmit plans
and pay a new plan review fee.
107.5 (reserved)
107.6 (reserved)
107.7 (reserved)
107.8 (reserved)
107.9 (reserved)
107.10 Refund
In the event that any person shall have obtained an electrical permit and no portion of the work
covered by such permit been commenced and such permit shall have been canceled without any work been
done and a request for cancellation having been approved by the Building Official, the applicant/permittee
may request a refund from the Building Official for a maximum of SO percent of the permit fees paid, not
including issuance fees or plan review fees.
The applicant for the refund shall present all necessary documentation to the Building Official
to prove that they are entitle to receive the refund of the amounts paid for the permit. No refund shall
be made for a permit which was obtained by falsification or misrepresentation and has been or could be
revoked for such cause.
107.11 Investigation Fees.
107.11.1 Work without a Permit.
Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first
obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
107.11.2. Fee.
An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is
then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required
by this code. The minimum investigation fee shall be as established by the City Council. The payment of
such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code
nor from any penalty prescribed by law..
108 INSPECTION
108.1 General
All new electrical work, and such portions of existing systems as may be affected by new work or
any changes, shall be inspected by the Building Official to insure compliance with all the requirements
of this Code.
It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by the permit to notify the Building
Official that said work is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given not less than 24 hours
before the work is to be inspected.
The Building Official shall have the authority to remove, or to require the removal of any
obstruction which prevents proper inspection of any electrical equipment.
Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the
provisions of this Code or other laws. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the
provisions of this Code or other laws shall not be valid, except insorfar as the work therein is lawful..
108.2 Certificates of Approval
Upon the completion of the electrical wiring in or on any building or structure of any nature, or
tent, or premises, except as otherwise exempted in this Code, the person, firm or corporation installing
the same shall notify the Building Official, who shall inspect such installation prior to concelment, and
if it is found by the Building Official to be fully in compliance with the provisions of this Code; and all
other laws and ordinances applicable thereto issue, as provided for herein, the certificate of inspection
or approval notice authorizing connection of the electrical service and the energizing of the installation.
The Building Official shall issue upon request a Certificate of Approval for any work approved
by him.
108.3 Approvals Required
108.3.1 Permission to Cover Work
It shall be unlawful for any person to lath over, seal, cover or conceal any electrical wiring or other
electrical equipment, for the installation of which a permit is provided herein, until such electric wiring
or other electrical equipment shall have been inspected and approved by the Building Official,
108.3.2 Connection
It shall be unlawful to energize or cause or permit to be energized any electrical wiring coming
under the provisions of this Code, until such electrical wiring shall have been inspected and approved by
the Building Official. Provided, however, that temporary permission may be given to furnish electric
current to, or the use of electric current through any electrical wiring for a length of time not exceeding
30 days or other reasonable period, it if appears to said Building Official that such electrical wiring may
be used safely for such purpose, and that there exists an urgent necessity for such use,
108.3.3 Corrections
All defects shall be corrected within 10 days after inspection and notification or within such other
reasonable time as is permitted by the Building Official.
108.4 (reserved)
108.5 Special Inspection
Special inspections maybe required on work involving special hazards or conditions and on work
requiring extensive, unusual or constant inspection. Special inspections, when necessary, shall be
accomplished by the means set forth in Chapter 18 entitled 'Building Code," except that the Special
Inspector shall be a qualified person approved, registered by and reporting to, the Building Official.
108.6 (reserved)
108.7 Reinspection
The Building Official is hereby authorized and empowered to make at such times and as often as
in his discretion it may seem necessary, thorough reinspection of the installation in or on any building,
structure or premises of all electrical wiring, electrical devices and electrical material now installed or
that may hereafter be installed.
When the installation of any such wiring device or material is found to be in violation of this Code,
the person, firm, corporation or governmental agency owning, using or operating the same shall be
notified in writing and shall make the necessary repairs or changes required to place such wiring, device
or material in compliance with this Code and to have such work completed within a period of 10 days after
such notice, or within such other reasonable period specified by the Building Official in said notice and
shall pay such fees as are required by this Code.
Whenever an inspection has been requested for work which is either incomplete or is not
ready to passed the required test, Building and Safety may assess a reinspection fee as established by the
City Council.
This provision is not to be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected
for failure to comply with the requirements of this Code, but as controlling the practice of calling for
inspections before the job is ready for inspection or reinspection.
Reinspection fees may be assessed when the approved plans are not readily available to the
inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which the inspection is requested, or for deviating
from plans requiring the approval of the Building Official.
To obtain reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form
furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee as established by the City Council
In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of work will be
performed until the required fees have been paid.
109 Requirements for Installation Methods and Materials
109.1 Installation
All electrical installations shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Code, and shall be in
conformity with approved standards for safety to life and property. Where no specific type or class of
material, or no specific standards are prescribed by this Code, or by the National Electrical Code,
conformity with a standard designated by the Building Official shall be prima facie evidence of conformity
with an approved standard for safety to life and property.
109.2 Materials
All electrical materials, devices, appliances and equipment shall be in conformity with the
provisions of this Code, and with approved safety standards..
Listing, labeling or marking, as conforming to the standards of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.,
the American National Standards Institute, Inc., the United States Bureau of Mines, Factory Mutual
Laboratory, ERTL, or other nationally recognized organizations, when the individual organization issuing
the listing, labeling or marking is approved by the Building Official , shall be prima facie evidence of
conformity with the applicable provisions of this Code.
109.3 Used Material
Previously used construction materials shall not be reused in any work without special
permission.
Previously used industrial apparatus and processing equipment may be reinstalled provided it
complies with all applicable provisions of this Code.
109.4 Existing Installations
No provision of this Code shall be deemed to require a change in any portion of electrical systems
or any other work regulated by this Code in or on an existing building or lot when such work was installed
and is maintained in accordance with law in effect prior to the effective date of this Code, except when
such electrical systems or other work regulated by this Code is determined by the Building Official to be
in fact dangerous, unsafe, or a nuisance, and a menace to life, health or property.
109.5 Additions, Alterations, Renewals and Repairs
Additions, alterations, renewals and repairs to existing installations shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of this code.
EXCEPTION: Minor additions, alterations, renewals and repairs to existing installations
when approved by the Building Official may be installed in accordance with the law in effect prior
to the effective date of this Code.
bldg\ eleccode.jb
TITLE 20
PLUMBING CODE
CHAPTER 20.01
ADOPTION OF THE PLUMBING CODE
20.01.010. Adoption of the Plumbing Code. There is hereby adopted by reference that
certain Plumbing Code known and designated as "The Uniform Plumbing Code, 1994 Edition" prepared
by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, including all appendices except
, and including those sections of the California Plumbing Code requiring enforcement by the local Building
Department. Such Code shall be and become the Santa Clarita Plumbing Code, regulating plumbing and
drainage systems, house sewers, private sewage disposal, drainage systems, and prescribing conditions
under which such work may be carried on within the City and providing for the issuance of permits and
the collection of fees therefore.
At least one copy of the Uniform Plumbing Code, 1994 edition, with amendments has been
deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the clerk for use and
examination by the public.
Chapter 20.02
AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN SECTIONS
20.02.010. Amendments to Certain Sections: The following sections of the Uniform
Plumbing Code, as amended, adopted by Section 20.02.010 hereof, are hereby amended to read as follows:
A. Section 1002.1 added -- Using Dry Wells for Dischargers: Section 1009.1 added to the
Uniform Plumbing Code, to read as follows:
"Section 1009.1 Water Softener Using Dry Wells for Discharge. Water softener systems
using dry wells for the discharge of effluents are prohibited.
EXCEPTION: Systems with regeneration cycles discharging quantities of total dissolved
solids that do not exceed those stipulated in the water quality objectives set by the
Regional Water Quality Control Board when approved by the Building Official."
B. Appendix W added -- Gray Water Systems for Single Family Dwellings. Appendix W
is added to the Uniform Plumbing Code to read as adopted by the Department of Water Resources for the
State of California.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
20.03.100 General
Chapter 20 of the Municipal Code of the City of Santa Clarita "Plumbing Code," may be cited as
such and will be referred to herein as "this Code." (NOTE: The chapter designation of the Municipal Code
(20.03.xxx) as indicated in the above section has been omitted from the other sections of this Chapter for
clarity. It is understood that a section noted as 105, in the following, is the same as section 20.03.105 of
the Municipal Code.)
101.1 Title
The regulations contained in this Section shall be known as the Administrative Provisions of the
Santa Clarita Plumbing Code and shall be used in conjunction with the technical provisions of Title 20
and the provisions of Title 24, California, Code of Regulations, mandated by the State of California to be
enforced by the local Building Department, all of which may be cited herein as "this code".
101.2 Purpose
The purpose of this Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard the public's safety and
welfare by regulating the design, construction, quality of material, and the installation of plumbing.
Consistent with this purpose, the provisions of this Code are intended and always have been intended to
confer a benefit on the community as a whole and are not intended to establish a duty of care toward any
particular person.
This Code shall not be construed to hold the City or an officer, employee, or agent thereof
responsible for any damage to persons or property by reason of any inspection authorized herein, and/or
for any action or omission in connection with the application and/or enforcement of this Code. By
adopting the provisions of this Code the City does not intend to impose on itself, its employees, or agents
any mandatory duties of care toward persons and property within its jurisdiction so as to provide a basis
of civil liability for damages.
This section is declaratory of existing law and is not to be construed as suggesting that such was
not the purpose and intent of previous Code adoptions.
101.3 Scope
The provisions of this Code shall apply to the construction, alteration, moving, repair and use of
any plumbing or drainage work on any premises within the City of Santa Clarita.
The provisions of this Code shall not apply to any work located primarily in a public way; to work
consisting of public utility service piping; or to work otherwise specifically exempted elsewhere in this
Code.
Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of
construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern. Where there is a conflict between
general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall be applicable.
Wherever in this code reference is made to the appendix, only the UPC appendix sections adopted
in Section 20.01.010 of the Municipal Code shall apply.
101.4 Validity
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this code is, for any reason, held to be
unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita declares that it would have passed this code, and each
section, subsection, clause or phase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more section,
subsections, sentences, clauses and phases be declared unconstitutional.
102 DANGEROUS AND INSANITARY CONSTRUCTION
Whenever it is brought to the attention of the Building Official that any construction or work
regulated by this Code is dangerous, unsafe, insanitary or a menace to life, health or property or is in
violation of this Code, the Building Official shall make an investigation and upon determining such
information to be fact, shall order any person, firm or corporation using or maintaining any such condition
or responsible for the use or maintenance thereof to discontinue the use of or maintenance thereof or to
repair, alter, change, remove or demolish same, as deemed appropriate by the Building Official for the
proper protection of life, health or property, and in the case of any gas piping or gas appliance may order
any person, firm or corporation supplying gas to such piping or appliance to discontinue supplying gas
thereto until such gas piping or gas appliance is made safe to life, health and property.
Every such order shall be in writing addressed to the owner, agent or person responsible for the
premises in which such condition exists and shall specify the date or time when such order shall be
complied with, which time shall allow a reasonable period in which such order can be complied with by
the person receiving such order but shall never exceed the maximum period of time for which such
construction can safely be used or maintained in the judgement of the Building Official. Refusal or failure
or neglect to comply with any such notice or order shall be considered a violation of this code and
punishable as noted in section 103 of this Code.
Nothing in this Chapter of the municipal code shall limit the ability of the Building Official to
utilize section of Chapter 18.03 of the municipal code to obtain compliance on a site.
103 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
103.1 Compliance with Code
A person shall not erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert,
demolish, or maintain any water piping, gas piping, or drainage system in the City of Santa Clarita, or
cause the same to be done, contrary to, or in violation of any of the provisions of this code.
103.2 Penalties
Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Code is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not exceeding six
months, or by both such fine and imprisonment,(see section 17995 State Health and Safety Code), unless
such violation is otherwise declared to be an infraction by the City Council. Such person shall be guilty
of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the
provisions of this Code is committed, continued, or permitted to remain.
103.3 Infractions
See Section 18.03.103.3 of the municipal code.
103.4 Notice of Violations
See Section 18.03.103.4 of the municipal code.
104 ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT
104.1 Building and Safety Division
There is hereby established within the City of Santa Clarita, a division in the Building and
Engineering Services Department to be known as the "Building and Safety Division" under the
administrative and operational control of the Building Official.
104.2 Powers and Duties of the Building Official
104.2.1 General
The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all of the provisions of this code,
Title 18 the Building Code, Title 19 the Electrical Code, and Title 21 the Mechanical Code, and to make
inspections pursuant to the provisions of each of the codes. For such purposes the Building Official shall
have the powers of a law enforcement officer.
The Building Official shall have the power to render interpretations of these codes and to adopt
and enforce rules and supplemental regulations in order to clarify the application of their provisions.
Such interpretations, rules and regulations shall be in conformance with the intent and purpose of these
codes.
Whenever the term "Building Official' or "Administrative Authority" is used in any section of this
Code such term shall be construed to mean the Building Official of the City of Santa Clarita.
104.2.2 Deputies
In accordance with the procedure and with the approval of the appointing authority, the Building
Official may appoint such number of technical officers and inspectors and other employees as shall be
authorized from time to time. The Building Official may deputize such technical officers, inspectors or
other employees or persons as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Building and Safety
Division.
104.2.3 Right of Entry
104.2.3.1 Whenever it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of or
perform any duty imposed by this code or other applicable law, or whenever the Building Official or an
authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any
premises any condition which makes such building or premises hazardous, unsafe or dangerous for any
reason specified in this code or other similar law, the Building Official or an authorized representative
hereby is authorized to enter such property at any reasonable time and to inspect the same and perform
any duty imposed upon the Building Official by this code or other applicable law; provided that (i) if such
property is occupied, that credentials be presented to the occupant, an explanation of the reasons for the
inspection given, and a request for entry made therefor; and (ii) if such property is unoccupied, then
reasonable effort shall fust be made to locate the owner or other person having charge of the property to
explain the reasons for the inspection and to request entry therefor. If such entry cannot be obtained
because the owner or other person having charge or control of the property cannot be found after due
diligence or if entry is refused, the Building Official or an authorized representative shall have some
recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure lawful entry and inspect the property.
104.2.3.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Building Official or an authorized representative
has reasonable cause to believe that the building or premises is so hazardous, unsafe or dangerous as to
require immediate inspection to safeguard the public health or safety, the right to immediate entry by any
reasonable means to inspect the building or premises, whether occupied or unoccupied and whether or
not permission to inspect has been granted, is hereby authorized; provided that if the property is
occupied, the Building Official or authorized representative shall first present credentials to the occupant
and offer an explanation of the reasons for the inspection.
104.2.3.3 "Authorized representative" shall include the officers named in section 104.2.2 and
authorized inspection personnel.
104.2.3.4 No person shall fail or refuse, after proper demand has been named upon them as
provided in this subsection, to promptly permit the Building Official or an authorized representative to
make any inspection provided for by subdivision 2 of this subsection. Any person violating this subsection
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
104.2.4 Stop Orders
Whenever any plumbing work is being done contrary to the provisions of this code, the Building
Official may order the work stopped by written notice served on any persons engaged in the doing or
causing such work to be done, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by
the Building Official to proceed with the work. Any person failing to stop work after being served with
such notice shall be guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor as noted in section 18.03.103 of the municipal
code.
104.2.5 Changes in Building Occupancy
Plumbing systems which are a part of any building or structure undergoing a change in use or
occupancy, as defined in the Building Code, shall comply to all requirements of this Code which may be
applicable to the new use or occupancy.
104.2.6 Liability
The liability and indemnification of the Building Official and any subordinates are governed by
the provisions of Division 3.6 ofTitle 1 of the government code.
104.2.7 Modifications
104.2.7.1 General. Request(s) for modifications shall be made on a form prescribed by the
Building Official and shall be submitted with a fee as specified by the City Council. The details of any
action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the Building and Safety Division
of the City. The Building Official may require that any conditions of approval associated with the
granting of a modification be recorded on the title of the property with the County Recorder's Office.
104.2.7.2 Modifications. When an applicant demonstrates that there are practical difficulties
involved in carrying out the provisions of this code, the Building Official may grant modifications for
individual cases when a special individual reason which make the strict letter of this code impractical,
that the modification is within the intent and purpose of this code. Requests for modifications shall be
submitted to the Building Official in writing on a form approved by the Building Official and shall state
all reasons and justifications to be considered by the Building Official with respect to the modification.
The request shall be accompanied by a fee as established by the City Council.
104.2.8 . Alternate Materials and Methods of Construction
Nothing in this Code is intended to prevent the use of any material, appliance, installation, device,
arrangement or method of construction not specifically prescribed, provided any such alternate has been
approved by the Building Official.
The Building Official may approve any such alternate, provided, it is determined that the
proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the technical provisions of this code, and that the
material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed
in this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety and sanitation.
Such approval shall be based upon submittal of substantiating data and including, but not limited
to, performance characteristics, measurements, calculations, diagrams, equipment and construction
factors, where applicable.
A written application shall be submitted for a proposed alternate material or method of
construction together with a fee established by the City Council. The details of any action granting an
alternate material or method of construction shall be noted in the files of the Building and Safety Division
of the City.
104.2.9 Tests
Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with any of the provisions of this code or
evidence that any material or construction does not conform to the requirements of this code, the Building
Official may require testing as proof of compliance to be made at no expense to the City.
Test methods shall be as specified by this code or by other recognized test standards. If there are
no recognized and adopted test methods for the proposed alternate, the Building Official shall determine
test procedures. A fee, determined by the Building Official, shall be determined for the development of
any testing procedure or for the review of the testing results submitted to Building and Safety.
All tests shall be made by an approved testing agency.. Reports of such tests shall be retained in
the files of the Building and Safety Division of the City.
104.2.10 Cooperation of Other Officials and Officers.
The Building Official may request and shall receive the assistance and cooperation of other
officials of the City of Santa Clarita so far as is required in the discharge of the duties required by this
code or other pertinent laws or ordinances.
104.2.11 Investigation
The Building Official may investigate any construction or work regulated by this Code, and issue
such notices and orders as deemed appropriate.
104.2.12 (reserved)
104.2.13 Emergency Powers.
The Building Official, with the approval of the City Manager of the City of Santa Clarita, is
authorized to make and enforce such guidelines and policies for the safeguarding of life, limb, health or
property as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the purpose of this code. A copy of said
regulations and policies shall be filed with the Office of the City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita and
shall be effective immediately thereafter.
104.2.14 Standard Reference Documents.
The codes, standards and publications adopted and set forth in this code, including other codes,
standards and publications referred to therein are, by title and date of publication, hereby adopted as
standard reference documents of this code.
When this code does not specifically cover any subject relating to plumbing or gas system design
and construction, recognized engineering practices shall be employed.
105 APPEALS
Appeals of determination made by the Building Official for this code shall be made in accordance
with section 18.03.105 of the Municipal Code.
106 PERMITS
106.1 Permits Required
Except as otherwise noted in sections 18.03.106.4.1 and 18.03.106.4.6 of the municipal code, a
person, whether acting as principal, servant, agent or employee, shall not do or cause or permit to be done
any gas piping, plumbing, drainage, house sewer or private sewage disposal work regulated by this code
without first securing a permit from Building and Safety authorizing such work.
106.1.1 House Sewers in New Developments
When a written agreement covering partial inspection and inspection fees has first been made
between the Building Official and the principals involved, house sewers constructed in new developments
may be extended from the main line sewer to the approximate point on the lot of their future connection
with the house drain or drains. Each such house sewer shall conform to the requirements of this Code
and shall terminate at a proper depth and location for future connection to the building drain or drains.
No connection shall be made between such house sewer and any building drain until a house sewer permit
as required by this code has first been obtained.
106.1.2 Other Permits
In addition to the permits required by this section 106.1 and as a prerequisite to obtaining them
any person desiring to connect to a trunk sewer, to construct a public sewer, to connect to the public sewer
at a point where no branch fitting has been provided in such sewer or to discharge industrial liquid waste
shall obtain permits from the City Engineer to do so. No permit shall be issued to connect to a public
sewer not under the jurisdiction of the City Engineer until the applicant for such connection has first
obtained written permission from the authority controlling such sewer and has filed a copy of such
permission with the Building Official.
106.1.3 Work in Public Highway
No person shall install, remove, alter or repair any house sewer or part thereof which is located
in any public way in the City without having first obtained a permit from the City Engineer or the State
Department of Transportation, (CALTRANS), whichever agency may have jurisdiction over the particular
thoroughfare affected.
106.1.4 Decorative Gas Lighting Devices and Appliances
No permit shall be issued for decorative gas lighting devices or exterior decorative gas appliances
106.2 Work Exempted
No permit shall be required in the case of any repair work as follows: The stopping of leaks in
drains, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided however that should any trap, drainpipe, soil, waste or vent pipe
be or become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material in any
part or parts, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection
made as hereinbefore provided, No permit shall be required for the clearing of stoppages or the repairing
of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures when such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or
rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
No permit, test or inspection shall be required where a plumbing system or part thereof is set up
for exhibition purposes and has no connection with a water or drainage system.
106.3 Application for Permit
106.3.1 General
Any person legally entitled to apply for and receive a permit shall make such application on forms
provided for that purpose. They shall give a description of the character of the work proposed to be done
and the location ownership, and use of the premises in connection therewith. The Building Official may
require plans, specifications or drawings and such other information as may be deemed necessary and
pertinent by the Building Official prior to the granting of a permit.
When the Building Official requires submission of, examination of and checking of plans and
specifications, drawings, descriptions and diagrams necessary to show clearly the character, kind and
extent of plumbing work covered by applications for a permit the Building Official shall review the
information for compliance with the provisions of this code.
106.3.2 Submittal Documents
The Building Official may require the submission of plans and specifications, drawings,
descriptions and diagrams as, in the judgement of the Building Official, are appropriate to show clearly
the character, kind and extent of plumbing or gas piping work covered by an application for a permit.
Plans are required for the following:
1. More than 216 waste fixture units;
2. Potable water supply piping required to be 2 inches or larger; or
3. Fuel gas piping required to be 2 inches or larger or containing medium - or high-pressure.
gas.
The Building Official may require that calculations be submitted to show that a project is under
the amounts noted above.
Approval of a plan and/or the issuance of a permit shall not be construed to be an approval of a
violation of the provisions of this Code or of other laws. Plans or permits presuming to give authority to
violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or of other laws are not valid, except in so far as the work
therein authorized is lawful.
106.3.3 Information Required On Plans
106.3.3.1 Every plan required by Section 106.3.2 shall be a print or other type approved by the
Building and Safety Division. The information contained on the plans shall be drawn in a professional.
manner, be clearly legible and contain the information required in subsection 106.3.3.2 below. The plans
for the plumbing and gas systems in a building shall be of a scale no smaller than one-eighth inch per foot.
Reasonable symbols satisfactory to the Division shall be used in all plans.
EXCEPTION: A scale less than one-eighth inch per foot may be used where acceptable to
the Division.
106.3.3.2 The following is required to be shown on the plans for the work described in Section
106.3.2:
1. The size and location of all piping to be installed,
2. Material specifications,
3. Design assumptions regarding pipe pressures,
4. Location and size of all valves,
5. Location and type of all plumbing fixtures,
6. Information on the occupancy and occupant load when appropriate,
Other additional information as the Building Official may consider necessary for proper
enforcement of this Code.
106.3.4 Design Professional of Record
Each application for plumbing permit shall be accompanied by plans, specifications, diagrams,
or calculations, as required by the Building Official. When a plan checking fee or other fees are required
by this or any related ordinance or statute, such fees shall be collected at the time plans are filed. Plans
may be filed by a registered Mechanical Engineer, licensed contractor, government representative or
authorized owner's representative. The plans shall bear the designer's signature as required by State of
California Regulations. The person who's signature appears on the plans shall be the "Design
Professional of Record".
106.3.5 (reserved)
106.3.6 (reserved)
106.4 Permits Issuance
106.4.1 Issuance
The application, plans and specifications and other required data filed by an applicant for a
permit shall be checked by the Building Official. Such plans may be reviewed by other public agencies,
utilities, departments of the City and other divisions and departments of the City for compliance with the
laws and ordinances under their jurisdiction.
The Building Official shall issue a permit to the applicant for the work described in the
application and plans filed there with, when it is determined that all of the following items comply:
1. The work conforms to the requirements of this code.
2. The work described conforms to the requirements of other pertinent laws and
ordinances.
3. The required clearances from all other agencies have been obtained.
4. The fees specified by this code and the municipal code have been paid.
5. The applicant has obtained a permit pursuant to Public Resources Code Section
30600 et. seq., if such permit is required.
6. The applicant has demonstrated that they are authorized, through either proper
contractors license or statement of home ownership, to obtain the requested permit.
When a permit is issued and plan and/or specification have been required to be provided, the
Building Official shall endorse in writing or stamp upon the plans and/or specifications "APPROVED."
Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified or altered without authorizations
from the Building Official, and design professional of record when applicable, and all work regulated by
this code shall be done in accordance with the approved plans, however the approval of the plans shall
not be construed as a waiver of any requirement of this code, or any other law or ordinance, unless specific
documentation such as that require by Section 104.2.8 is provided. The issuance of a permit shall not be
deemed to certify that the site of the described work is safe.
This Code shall not modify any other jurisdictional regulation governing the installation and
maintenance of public sewers or the character or pretreatment of industrial wastes discharged into public
sewers or elsewhere.
106.4.2 Retention of Records
The Building Official shall keep a complete record of all essential transactions in the offices of the
Building and Safety Division and plans and specifications as required by the State of California.
106.4.3 Validity of Permit.
The issuance of a permit or approval of plans specifications and computations shall not be
construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any
other laws or regulations. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this
code or any other laws or regulations shall be valid, except insofar as the work or use which it authorized
is lawful.
The issuance of a permit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the
Building Official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications and other
data, or from preventing plumbing operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this code
or of any other ordinances of the City of Santa Clarita provided that notice is provided of the violations
pursuant to section 19870 of the State of California Health and Safety Code.
106.4.4 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 work authorized by such permit is:
1) Not commenced within 180 days from the date such permit was issued by the City, or
2) 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 six -months, or
3) A period of two years and six months from the date the permit was issued regardless of
wether work has stopped, or
4) As specified elsewhere in this code.
Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained, and a fee therefor
shall not exceed one half the amount required for a new permit for such work, except in the case of 3 above
then the fee may be based on the amount of the work remaining to be completed, provided no changes
have been made or will be made to the original plans and specifications for such work; and provided
further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year. In order to renew action on a
permit which has been abandoned or suspended for more than one year, the permittee shall pay an
amount not exceeding that originally paid for the permit.
Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which
work may commence under that permit when the permittee is unable to commence work within the time
required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The Building Official may extend the time for
action by the permittee for a period not exceeding 180 days on written request by the permittee showing
that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken and a fee
established by the City Council has been paid. No permit shall be extended more than once.
106.4.5 Suspension or Revocation.
The Building Official may suspend or revoke any permit issued under the provision of this Code
whenever such permit is issued in error, or is issued on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or has
been obtained by falsification or misrepresentation, or when work is being done thereunder in violation
of this or any related ordinance or regulation.
106.4.6 (reserved)
106.4.7 Cancellation or Surrender of Permit
If no portion of the work or construction covered by a permit issued by the Building Official under
the provisions of this Code has been commenced, the person to whom such permit has been issued may
deliver such permit to the Building Official with the request that such permit be canceled. The Building
Official shall thereupon stamp or write on the face of the permit the words " Canceled at the request of
the permittee." Thereupon such permit shall be void and of no effect.
106.4.8 Transfer
Permits are not transferable from one person to another or from one location to another,
107 FEES
107.1 General
The Building Official shall collect such fees as are required by this Code and issue receipts
therefor, copies of which shall be maintained as record in the office of Building and Safety. All fees
collected by the Building Official shall be transferred to the proper authority provided by law to receive
such funds.
107.2 Cost of Permit
The cost of the plumbing permits shall be as established by the City Council.
107.3 Plan Review Fee
Plan Review fees shall be paid when the plans are submitted for review. No plumbing or piping
shall be installed, nor any other work for which a permit is required shall be done, until the plans have
been approved. Only after the plans have been approved may the applicant apply for a plumbing permit
for such work. The cost of the plumbing permits shall be as established by the City Council.
107.4 Expiration of Plan Review.
Applications for which no building permit or grading permit is issued within 180 days following
the date of application, as noted by the date the fees were paid, shall expire by limitation, and plans and
other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building
Official. The Building Official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding
180 days on request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have
prevented action from being taken. The Building Official may collect a fee equal to that noted in section
107.3 for any application for extension of plan review. No application shall be extended more than twice.
In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall resubmit plans and pay
a new plan review fee.
107.5 (reserved)
107.6 (reserved)
107.7 (reserved)
107.8 (reserved)
107.9 (reserved)
107.10 Refund
In the event that any person shall have obtained a permit and not portion of the work or
construction covered by such permit shall have been commenced and such permit shall have been canceled
without any work been done and a request for cancellation having been approved by the Building Official,
the applicant/permittee may request a refund from the building Official for a maximum of 80 percent of
the permit fees paid, not including issuance fees or plan review fees.
The applicant for the refund shall present all necessary documentation to the Building Official
to prove that they are entitle to receive the refund of the amounts paid for the permit. No refund shall
be made for a permit which was obtained by falsification or misrepresentation and has been or could be
revoked for such cause,
107.11 Investigation Fees.
107.11.1 Work without a Permit.
Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first
obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
107.11.2 Fee.
An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is
then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required
by this code. The minimum investigation fee shall be as established by the City Council. The payment of
such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code
nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
108 INSPECTION
108.1 General
All construction or work for which a permit is required by this Code shall be subject to inspection
and approval by the Building Official. The Building Official shall administer and enforce the provisions
of this Code in a manner consistent with the intent thereof and shall inspect all plumbing and drainage
work authorized by any permit to assure compliance with provisions of this Code or amendments thereto,
approving or condemning said work in whole or in part as conditions require. The Building Official may
inspected portions of the existing systems to insure the new work is safe.
It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by the permit to notify the Building
Official that said work is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given not less than 24 hours
before the work is to be inspected and shall not be covered prior to approval by the Building Official.
Request for inspection of maintenance and repair items, such as but not limited to, water heater
replacement, repiping or water lines, addition of gas outlets, etc, shall be made within 72 hours of their
installation and all correction made within 72 hours of the inspection or the permit shall expire by default
and a new permit, with a double permit fee, required: The Building Official may request that information
be produced to verify the installation time frame when the existence of the work leads the Building
Official to believe that the work was allowed to remain uninspected for a time period greater than that
specified in this section.
The Building Official shall have the authority to remove, or to require the removal of any
obstruction which prevent proper inspection of any plumbing or gas piping system..
Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the
provisions of this Code or other laws. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the
provisions of this Code or other laws shall not be valid, except insofar as the work therein is lawful,
108.2 Certificates of Approval
Upon the completion of the plumbing or gas piping system in or on any building or'structure of
any nature, or tent, or premises, except as otherwise exempted in this Code, the person, firm or
corporation installing the same shall notify the Building Official, who shall inspect such installation prior
to concealment, and if it is found by the Building Official to be fully in compliance with the provisions of
this Code, and all other laws and ordinances applicable thereto issue, as provided for herein, the
certificate of inspection or approval notice authorizing connection of the gas service.
The Building Official shall issue upon request a Certificate of Approval for any work approved
by Building and Safety.
108.3 Approvals Required
108.3.1 Permission to Cover Work
It shall be unlawful for any person to lath over, seal; cover or conceal any plumbing, gas, drainage,
or ventilation system for which a permit is required, until such plumbing, gas, drainage, or ventilation
system shall have been tested, inspected and approved by the Building Official.
108.3.2 Connection
It shall be unlawful to energize or cause or permit to be energized any gas piping system coming
under the provisions of this Code, until such gas piping system shall have been inspected and approved
by the Building Official.
It shall be unlawful to connect to any public sewer system until such waste piping system has been
inspected and approved by the Building Official.
It shall be unlawful to connect to any potable water supply until such water piping system has
been inspected and approved by the Building Official.
108.3.3 Corrections
The Building Official shall order changes in workmanship or materials, or both, essential to obtain
compliance with the provisions of this Code. All defects shall be corrected within 10 days after inspection
and notification or within such other reasonable time as is permitted by the Building Official.
108.4 Testing of Systems
108.4.1 General
All plumbing systems shall be tested and approved as required by this Code or the Building
Official.
108.4.2 Testing
Water piping shall be tested and approved as provided in Section 108.4.4, gas piping shall be
tested per Chapter 12 of the plumbing code.
108.4.3 Test
Tests shall be conducted in the presence of the Building Official or duly appointed Deputy,
108.4.4 Water Piping
Upon completion of a section or of the entire hot and cold water supply system, it shall be tested
and proved tight under a water pressure not less than the working pressure under which it is to be used.
The water used for tests shall be obtained from a potable source of supply. A fifty (50) pound per square
inch airpressure may be substituted for the water test. In either method of test, the piping shall
withstand the test without leaking for a period of not less that fifteen(15) minutes.
108.4.5 Exceptions
In cases where it would be impractical to provide the aforementioned water or air tests, or for
minor installations and repairs, the Building Official, at the Building Official's discretion, may make such
inspection as deemed advisable in order to be assured that the work has been performed in accordance
with the intent of this section.
108.4.6 Protectively Coated Pipe
Inspection and repair shall conform to IAPMO Installation Standard IS -13, listed in Table 14-1
or other approved standard.
108.4.7 Tightness
Joints and connections in the plumbing system shall be gas tight and watertight for the pressures
required by test.
108.4.8 Responsibility
It shall be the duty of the holder of the permit to make sure that the work will stand the test
prescribed before giving the notification for inspection.
The equipment, material and labor necessary for inspection or tests shall be furnished by the
person to whom the permit is issued or by whom inspection is requested.
108.5 Special Inspection
Special inspections may be required on work involving special hazards or conditions and on work
requiring extensive, unusual or constant inspection. Special inspections, when necessary, shall be
accomplished by the means set forth in Chapter 18 entitled 'Building Code," except that the Special
Inspector shall be a qualified person approved, registered by and reporting to, the Building Official.
108.6 (reserved)
108.7 Reinspection
The Building Official is hereby authorized and empowered to make at such times and as often as
in his discretion it may seem necessary, thorough reinspection of the installation in or on any building,
structure or premises of all plumbing or gas system now installed or that may hereafter be installed.
When the installation of any such plumbing or gas system or material is found to be in violation
of this Code, the person, firm, corporation or governmental agency owning, using or operating the same
shall be notified in writing and shall make the necessary repairs or changes required to place such
plumbing or gas system or material in compliance with this Code and to have such work completed within
a period of 10 days after such notice, or within such other reasonable period specified by the Building
Official in said notice and shall pay such fees as are required by this Code.
Whenever an inspection has been requested for work which is either incomplete or is not ready
to passed the required test, Building and Safety may assess a reinspection fee as established by the City
Council.
This provision is not to be interpreted as requiring reinspection fees the first time a job is rejected
for failure to comply with the requirements of this Code, but as controlling the practice of calling for
inspections before the job is ready for inspection or reinspection.
Reinspection fees may be assessed when the approved plans are not readily available to the
inspector, for failure to provide access on the date for which the inspection is requested, or for deviating
from plans requiring the approval of the Building Official.
To obtain reinspection, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form
furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee as established by the City Council
In instances where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of work will be
performed until the required fees have been paid.
109 Requirements for Installation Methods and Materials
109.1 Installation
All plumbing and gas systems shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Code, and shall
be in conformity with approved standards for safety to life and property. Where no specific type or class
of material, or no specific standards are prescribed by this Code, conformity with a standard designated
by the Building Official shall be prima facie evidence of conformity with an approved standard for safety
to life and property.
All openings into a drainage or vent system, excepting those openings to which plumbing fixtures
are properly connected or which constitute vent terminals, shall be permanently plugged or capped in an
approved manner, using the appropriate materials required by this code.
109.2 Materials
All plumbing or gas system materials, devices, appliances and equipment shall be in conformity
with the provisions of this Code, and with approved safety standards.
Listing, labeling or marking, as conforming to the standards of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.,
the American National Standards Institute, Inc., the United States Bureau of Mines, Factory Mutual
Laboratory, ERTL, or other nationally recognized organizations, when the individual organization issuing
the listing, labeling or marking is approved by the Building Official , shall be prima facie evidence of
conformity with the applicable provisions of this Code.
109.3 Used Material
Previously used construction materials shall not be reused in any work without special
permission.
Previously used industrial apparatus and processing equipment may be reinstalled provided it
complies with all applicable provisions of this Code.
109.4 Existing Installations
No provision of this Code shall be deemed to require a change in any portion of plumbing or gas
system or any other work regulated by this Code in or on an existing building or lot when such work was
installed and is maintained in accordance with law in effect prior to the effective date of this Code, except
when such plumbing or gas system or other work regulated by this Code is determined by the Building
Official to be in fact dangerous, unsafe, or a nuisance, and a menace to life, health or property,
The plumbing and drainage system of any premises within the City of Santa Clarita shall be
maintained in a sanitary and safe operating condition by the owner or the owner's agent.
109.5 Additions, Alterations, Renewals and Repairs
Additions, alterations, renewals and repairs to existing installations shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of this code.
EXCEPTION. Minor additions, alterations, renewals and repairs to existing installations
when approved by the Building Official maybe installed in accordance with the law in effect prior
to the effective date of this Code.
110 SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS IN GEOLOGICAL UNSTABLE AREAS
110.1 Mandatory Connection to Public Sewer System
110.1.1 All owners or persons in possession of improved real property in geologically
unstable areas are required to dispose of their sewage through a public sewer system, or
through a public septic tank effluent pumping pressure sewer system, whichever is available
to their property.
110.1.2 The City Council may determine, based upon reliable geological information, that certain
areas are geologically unstable and, upon such determination, shall designate by resolution, by reference
to street address or parcel map, each parcel of property subject to the requirements of this section.
110.2 Compliance
110.2.1 Upon notification by the Building Official that the owner is subject to the provisions of
this section, an owner or possessor of improved real property shall make application for all necessary
permits to perform the work within 30 days of notification or of the final resolution of appeals allowed by
the code.
110.2.2 Notification of the requirements of this section shall be effected in the same manner as
notification noted in Chapter 18 of the municipal code.
110.3 Enforcement and Penalties
Any owner or possessor of real property who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this
Section shall be considered in violation of this code, and subject to the penalties and remedied provided
for therein.
Any violation or threatened violation of this ordinance, or resolution, rule or regulation passed
pursuant to this ordinance, may be enjoined by civil suit, and any affirmative duty created under this
ordinance upon the owner or person in possession of real property may be enforced by civil suit. Any
property upon which such a violation exists may be abated as a public nuisance.
110.4 Reconsideration
110.4.1 If an owner or person is possession of real property wishes to have the designation of their
property under this section reconsidered, they may file a written request for reconsideration with the
Board of Appeals within 30 days of the service of the notification. The written request shall present the
evidence or information upon which the requesting party relies.
The Board may grant or deny the request, or refer it to a consultant to review the technical
information and report back to the Board with recommendations.