RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)
ADOPT the attached findings in support of the County’s changes, additions, and deletions to the statewide codes.
DIRECT the Building Inspection Division of the Conservation and Development Department, pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, to send a certified copy of Ordinance No. 2011-03, the attached findings, and this Board Order to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and to the California Buildings Standards Commission.
FIND that adoption of the ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable
BACKGROUND:
On February 8, 2011, the Board of Supervisors introduced Ordinance No. 2011-03, adopting the 2010 California Building Code (Volumes 1 and 2), the 2010 California Electrical Code, the 2010 California Plumbing Code, the 2010 California Mechanical Code, the 2010 California Residential Code and the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code, with changes, additions, and deletions. The Board waived the reading and fixed February 15, 2011 for a public hearing to adopt the attached findings in support of the County's changes, additions, and deletions to the statewide codes.
The California Building Standards Commission has adopted and published the 2007 Building Standards Code, which is comprised of the 2010 California Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Residential and Green Building Codes. These statewide codes become effective January 1, 2011. These codes are enforced in Contra Costa County by the Department of Conservation and Development Building Inspection Division.
Although these codes apply statewide, Health and Safety Code sections 17958.5 and 18941.5 authorize a local jurisdiction to modify or change these codes and establish more restrictive building standards if the local jurisdiction finds that the changes and modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions. The attached ordinance adopts the statewide codes and amends them to address local conditions.
Staff has reviewed the statewide codes and recommends their adoption with a minimum of technical changes in order to retain as much statewide uniformity as possible. The State did not adopt the new International Housing Codes, and therefore the 1997 Uniform Housing Code (UHC), with local amendments, continues as the adopted housing code for the County.
However, Ordinance No. 2011-03 does amend the statewide codes in some respects to address certain local climatic, geological or topographical conditions. These conditions are described in the attached findings. All of the recommended amendments continue existing amendments to the State Building Code and do not create any new requirements. The recommended local amendments are predominately designed to address the risk of seismic activity within the County.
The ordinance amends the statewide codes by increasing the minimum base shear in certain buildings to a level consistent with previous building codes. The ordinance eliminates the use of unreinforced plain concrete where allowed by the statewide codes. The ordinance further amends the statewide codes by requiring the installation of a smoke detector in existing flat roof buildings when a pitch roof is added on top of the existing flat roof and the solid sheathing of the flat roof is not removed.
Staff has determined that the adoption of this ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15061(b)(3). It can be seen with certainty that the adoption of the California building standards codes with local amendments will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Notice of this public hearing was published pursuant to Government Code section 6066. A summary of this ordinance was prepared by County Counsel and published at least five days before this hearing pursuant to Government Code section 25124(b). The summary of this ordinance will be published again within 15 days of adoption pursuant to Government Code section 25124.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the proposed ordinance is not approved, the County will not be able to adopt the 2010 California Building Code, the 2010 California Residential Code, the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code, the 2010 Electrical Code, the 2010 California Plumbing Code, and 2010 California Mechanical Code, as amended.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
CLOSED the public hearing; ADOPTED Ordinance No. 2011-03, adopting the 2010 California Building Code, the 2010 California Residential Code, the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code, the 2010 Electrical Code, the 2010 California Plumbing Code, and 2010 California Mechanical Code, with changes, additions and deletions;ADOPTED findings in support of the County’s changes, additions, and deletions to the statewide codes; DIRECTED the Building Inspection Division of the Conservation and Development Department, pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, to send a certified copy of Ordinance No. 2011-03, the attached findings, and this Board Order to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and to the California Buildings Standards Commission; and FOUND that adoption of the ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).