Chapter 5.4 Amendments to the 2022 Building, Residential and Electrical Codes

5.4.10 Amendments to the 2022 California Building Code

The following amendments to the California Building Code shall apply in the City:

A.    Administration. Division II of Chapter 1, entitled "Scope and Administration," is applicable in the City. Where a conflict occurs between this Chapter and Chapters 5.2 and 5.3, the more restrictive or more specific shall govern.

B.    Revision. Insert "La Habra Heights" into the text as the name of jurisdiction in Section 101.1.

C.    Section 101.4.8 is added to read:

101.4.8 Grading Code. The provisions of La Habra Heights Municipal Code Section 7.17.20 relating to the Grading Code and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) shall be considered part of the requirements of this code. This section adopts the Grading Code adopted in 2017 by Los Angeles County by reference.

D.    Section 105.2 is revised by amending 9 to read and adding 14 under “Building” as follows:

9. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 18 inches (457.2 mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,927.059L) and are installed entirely above ground.

14. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet (18.58 m2) in area, that are not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.2.

E.    Section 105.3.2, which addresses application expiration, is revised by adding a sentence as follows:

In no case shall more than one extension be granted for a project when another edition of the state codes has gone into effect during the application or which exceeds the extensions allowed by the City of La Habra Heights Fee Ordinance.

F.    Section 105.5, which addresses permit expiration, is revised to read as follows:

[A] 105.5 Expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The building official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated. A fee shall be collected for such extensions for an amount equal to 25% of the permit fee. A lesser amount may be established by the Building Official based on the stage of construction. In no case shall an extension be granted which would extend the construction time from start of work to completion beyond the limits described in Section 5.2.50 or which exceeds the extensions allowed by the City Fee Ordinance.

G.    Section 107.3. Add a paragraph as follows:

An expedited review and permit issuance process shall be provided for Solar PV systems up to 15kw and for EV Charging Stations. Simplified forms for submittal will be made available on the City of La Habra Heights website. Any future legislation for other types of energy efficient systems which require an ordinance specifying expedited processing are hereby added to this provision that the statutory services will be provided.

H.    Section 109.2 is amended to read as follows:

On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the fees established by the City of La Habra Heights Fee Ordinance. In the event a fee for a specific issue is not covered by the City’s Fee Ordinance, the most current Fee Ordinance or Resolution by Los Angeles County may be applied.

I.    Section 109.6 is deleted in its entirety and replaced to read as follows:

109.6 Refunds. The Building Official may authorize refunding of a fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.

The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent (80%) of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this Code upon written application filed by the permittee not later than 12 months after the date of fee payment.

The Building Official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent (80%) of the plan check fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan check fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any examination time has been expended.

The Building Official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the permittee not later than 12 months after the date of fee payment.

J.    Board of Appeals. Section 113.3 is amended to provide as follows:

Board of Appeals when used in the Building Standards Codes shall mean the City Council. The Board of Appeals is hereby established for each of the Building Standards Codes. Depending on the subject of the appeal, specialized expertise may be solicited for the purpose of providing input to the Appeals Board.

K.    Wildland Urban Interface. Section 701A.1 is amended to provide as follows:

701A.1 Scope. This chapter applies to building materials, systems and/or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of new buildings located within a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area as defined in Section 702A. All areas in the City of La Habra Heights are established as falling within the Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area.

L.    Class A Roofing and Skylights Protection Required. Section 1505.1 is amended as follows:

1505.1 General. Roof assemblies shall be divided into the classes defined below. Class A roof assemblies shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E 108 or UL 790. In addition, fire-retardant-treated wood roof coverings shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D 2898. The minimum roof coverings installed on buildings shall comply with Table 1505.1 based on the type of construction of the building.

Exception: Skylights and sloped glazing that comply with Chapter 24 or Section 2610 and 708A.2.1 shall not be subject to the requirements listed in this Section 1505.1.

M.    Table 1505.1 is revised to provide:

TABLE 1505.1a
MINIMUM ROOF COVERING CLASSIFICATIONS

TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

IA

IB

IIA

IIB

IIIA

IIIB

IV

VA

VB

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2.

a. Unless otherwise required in accordance with Chapter 7A.

N.    Nonclassified Roofing Exception. Section 1505.5 is deleted.

O.    Special Purpose Roofs. Section 1505.7 is deleted.

P.    Section 1807.1.6 is revised by adding language to read as follows:

1807.1.6 Prescriptive design of concrete and masonry foundation walls. Concrete and masonry foundation walls that are laterally supported at the top and bottom shall be permitted to be designed and constructed in accordance with this section. Prescriptive design of foundation walls shall not be used for structures assigned to Seismic Design Category D, E or F.

(Ord. 2022-07 § 4)

5.4.20 Amendments to the 2022 California Residential Code

The following amendments to the California Residential Code shall apply in the City:

A.    Table R301.2(1) is revised by adding information in the table as required to comply with local data to provide:

TABLE R301.2(1)
CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DESIGN CRITERIA

GROUND SNOW LOAD

WIND DESIGN

SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORYf

SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM

WINTER DESIGN TEMPe

ICE BARRIER UNDERLAYMENT REQUIREDh

FLOOD HAZARDSg

AIR FREEZING INDEXi

MEAN ANNUAL TEMPj

Speedd (mph)

Topographic effectsk

Special wind regionl

Wind-borne debris zonem

Weatheringa

Frost line Depthb

Termitec

Zero

110

No

No

No

D2 or E

Negligible

12-24"

Very Heavy

43

No

Yes/No

0

60

MANUAL J DESIGN CRITERIAn

ELEVATION

LATITUDE

WINTER HEATING

SUMMER COOLING

ALTITUDE CORRECTION FACTOR

INDOOR DESIGN TEMPERATURE

DESIGN TEMPERATURE COOLING

HEAT TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE

738

34

37

91

 

70

75

 

COOLING TEMPURATURE DIFFERENCE

WIND VELOCITY HEATING

WIND VELOCITY COOLING

COINCIDENT WET BULB

DAILY RANGE

WINTER HUMIDITY

SUMMER HUMIDITY

 

7

 

 

69

27

 

7 (50% RH)

 

B.    Class A Roofs. Section R902.1 is amended as follows:

R902.1 Roofing covering materials. Roofs shall be covered with materials as set forth in Sections R904 and R905. At minimum, Class A roofing shall be installed in areas designated by this section. Class A roofing required by this section to be listed shall be tested in accordance with UL 790 or ASTM E 108.

Exceptions:

1. Class A roof assemblies include those with coverings of brick, masonry and exposed concrete roof deck.

2. Class A roof assemblies also include ferrous or copper shingles or sheets, metal sheets and shingles, clay or concrete roof tile, or slate installed on noncombustible decks.

C.    Swimming Pool Safety. Appendix AX is amended as follows:

1.    The first paragraph of AX100(a) is revised to read as follows:

AX100, H & S Code Section 115922

a) Except as provided in Section 115925, when a building permit is issued for the construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home, the respective swimming pool or spa shall be equipped with item #1 and at least one additional of the following seven drowning prevention features:

2.    AX100 (a) #1 is revised to read as follows:

1. An enclosure that meets the requirements of Section 115923 and isolates the swimming pool and spa from the private single-family home. Any walls of the residential structural or accessory structures used to complete the isolation enclosure must have door openings equipped with protection as required in AX115923 #4 or #5. Any such door protection device provided for this purpose may not be used to comply with second drowning prevention feature requirement.

3.    AX100 (a) #2 is revised by adding the following sentence:

The mesh fencing setback shall be not less than 20 inches from the water’s edge.

4.    AX100, Section 115923(e) is revised by adding the following text:

In order to be considered non-climbable the following minimum standards apply.

a. Horizontal members which would allow grasping and/or footholds must be separated a minimum of 45 inches.

b. The maximum opening formed by a chain link fence shall be not more than 1 ¼”.

c. There shall be a clear zone of not less than 36” between the exterior of the enclosure and any permanent structures or equipment such as pumps, filters and heaters that can be used to climb the enclosure.

All other text in Appendix AX remains unchanged. (Ord. 2022-07 § 4)

5.4.30 Amendments to the 2022 California Electrical Code

The following amendments to the California Electrical Code shall apply in the City:

A.    The following two paragraphs are added to Article 310.3(B) to provide as follows:

In general, for all installations, if wiring is to be size 6 or smaller, the wiring must be copper. Consideration for use of aluminum wire can be made by the Building Official for feeder lines only on an individual basis where adequate safety measures can be ensured.

Aluminum conductors of size 6 or smaller may be used for branch circuits only if approved after continuous inspection by an independent testing agency approved by the Building Official for proper torquing of connections at their termination point and that an anti-oxide compound/material is applied at each connection.

B.    Article 690.13(A) is amended by adding text to read as follows:

(A) Location. The PV disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either on the outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the system conductors. A single, visible-open, lockable AC disconnect shall be within 3 feet of the meter on the exterior of the building.

(Ord. 2022-07 § 4)