San Andreas, CA…The California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) is authorized by the California Building Standards Law (Health & Safety Code 18901 et seq.) to administer the processes related to the adoption, approval, publication and implementation of California Building Codes which are codified in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), also referred to as the California Building Standards Code. The State of California uses a three year adoption cycle to update Title 24. On July 1, 2016, the CBSC adopted the 2016 California Building Standards Code. As provided in Health and Safety Code 18938.5 the 2016 California Building Standards Code becomes effective statewide on January 1, 2017 and will be applicable to all jurisdictions in the state even if not formally adopted.

The California Building Standards Code is a compilation of three types of building criteria from three different origins: (1) building standards that have been adopted by state agencies without change from building standards contained in national model codes; (2) building standards that have been adopted and adapted from the national model code standards to meet California conditions: and (3) building standards, authorized by the California legislature, that constitute extensive additions not covered by the model codes, that have been adopted to address concerns that may be specific to California.

The California Building Standards Code, Title 24, is the established minimum regulation for the design and construction of buildings and structures in California. State law mandates that local government enforce these regulations. The Board of Supervisors may make local amendments to the technical provisions of any of the codes. However, such amendments would require the Board to make findings based upon local climatic, geologic, or topographic conditions. State law prohibits jurisdictions from adopting amendments that would reduce a requirement but allows amendments that are more stringent. Staff is not recommending any local technical amendments to the California codes.

A full copy of the California Building Standards Code can be located online at www.bsc.ca.gov/codes.aspx

The Board is scheduled to adopt this ordinance at the regularly-scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting on February 28, 2017.