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1 CITY COUNCIL TRAINING SERIES
WORKSHOP 2 ON THE DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENT
PROCESS: (BUILDING AND FIRE CODES-TRIENNIAL CODE
ADOPTION PROCESS)
City Council
September 20 , 2022
Community & Economic Development
Department and Fire Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 1. Purpose and Intent of Building Standards
2. State Building and Housing Laws, Fire Districts
3. CCR Title 24 - State Building Standards Code
4. Local Code Amendments
5. Fire Code Amendments
6. Building Code Amendments
7. 2022 Triennial Code Update (effective 1/1/2023)
8. Plan Review, Permitting and Inspection Process
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
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3 PURPOSE AND INTENT
• To provide minimum construction standards that
help ensure health, safety, sustainability, resiliency
and accessibility in the City’s built environment
• In turn, these standards protect life, investment,
economy, and the well being of our communities
• The triennial code update is required by law to keep
up with the latest industry trends, engineering,
means and methods of construction, fire protection,
new materials, etc.
Why are building standards necessary?
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4 BACKGROUND
What laws apply in California?
Building
Standards Law
(H&SC 18941)
California
Housing Law
(H&SC 17958)
Fire Protection
Districts
(H&SC 13869)
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5 BACKGROUND
• Building Standards Commission updates
and adopts state codes based on national
“model” codes
• CA Code of Regulations, Title 24 – the
“California Building Standards Code” has
13 parts including Building, Fire codes, and
various others
• Enforced through local and state agencies
(HCD, OSHPD, SFM, etc.)
California Building Standards Code
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6 BACKGROUND
Climatic Geological Topographical
Administrative local amendments exempt from these requirements • Local agencies may amend the technical
building standards if specific conditions exist
• Must make express findings through Resolution
• Must be more restrictive than state codes
• Three justifications for local amendments:
Local Amendments are permissible per state law:
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7 BACKGROUND
• Building & Safety: administrative
amendments
• Emergency Housing: technical amendments
• REACH Code: to be proposed in 2022
triennial code cycle forthcoming
• Fire Prevention: administrative and technical
code amendments
• All local amendments reside in RMC Title 16,
Buildings and Construction
City of Riverside Local Amendments:
RiversideCA.gov
8 •Authority through State Fire Marshal
(SFM) Office
•SFM amends national “model” fire
code for CA specific conditions,
and State regulated facilities, in turn:
•Local Fire Authority (City of
Riverside) amends state code for
specific local conditions
BACKGROUND
California Fire Code
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9 • Chapter 16.32, RMC Title 16
• Notable local technical amendments
currently in place:
• RMC 16.32.260 Section 307.4.2 added
Recreational Fires.
• Recreational fires shall not be conducted
within 25 feet of a structure or combustible
material. Conditions that could cause a fire
to spread with 25 feet of a structure shall be
eliminated prior to ignition.
BACKGROUND
Riverside Fire Code
RiversideCA.gov
10 • Newly proposed 2022 technical
amendments:
• Section 104.8 Approved
materials and equipment
• Section 104.8.2 Technical
assistance
• Section 503.1.2 – Added -
Additional access
BACKGROUND
Riverside Fire Code
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11 FIRE CODE AMENDMENTS
• Wildland Urban Interface
• Significant Increase in standards
-F S R -C C R T i t l e 1 4
Title 16 – Chapter 16.32 Fire Prevention
RiversideCA.gov
12 BUILDING CODE AMENDMENTS
• Building & Safety Amendments: Chapters 16.04 – 16.34
• Various administrative amendments for:
a. Permit processing, expirations
b. Plan check process and inspections
• Technical Amendments to Chapter 16.34 - Emergency Housing a. Life safety – unit size and occupancy
b. Fire Separation distances between units
c. Building materials – flame spread ratings
• New Chapter – 16.13 Energy Code technical amendment
• REACH Code that amends energy code “above and beyond” minimum requirements
Title 16 Buildings & Construction
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13 BUILDING CODE AMENDMENTS
New Chapter – 16.13 Energy Code technical amendment:
REACH Code – Electrification of new low-rise buildings proposed • In support of Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan and its cross-cutting thread of sustainability and resiliency – Decarbonization initiative through the Office of Sustainability
• Applies to all newly constructed buildings three stories or less; including all Residential, Commercial and Industrial uses with some exceptions • Does not apply to existing buildings, additions, remodels or tenant improvement projects
• Public Outreach/Workshops are underway through Fall 2022 Title 16 Buildings & Construction
RiversideCA.gov
14 TRIENNIAL CODE ADOPTION PROCESS
Sequence of code adoption events:
Publishing – Local Review
State publishes new building codes
on July 1, 2022
Staff reviews new codes - prepares
local amendments/updates
Drafts new Building, Fire Ordinances,
perform public outreach, etc.
Introduction and Public Hearing
New Building and Fire Ordinances
with Resolution of Findings
introduced to City Council in
October 2022 and Public
Hearing/Presentation in November
2022 to consider adoption
Effective Date 1/1/2023
After council consideration/adoption, new codes become
effective 30 days thereafter, but not before 1/1/2023
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15 PLAN REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESS
Permit
Application
Completeness
Check &
Pay Fees
Plan Check
Commences
Staff
Comments
Returned
Applicant Plan
Resubmission
Plan Check
Commences
Plan Prep &
Final Fees
Plan Check
Approved
Permit
Issuance
RiversideCA.gov
16 INSPECTION PROCESS
Construction
Commences
Applicant
Inspection
Request
Inspection
Performed
Staff
Correction(s)
issued
Applicant
Inspection
Request
Staff
Reinspection
Complete
and Pass all
Inspections
Inspection
Approved
Certificate of
Occupancy
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17 TRIENNIAL CODE ADOPTION PROCESS
1. Outreach
2. Introduction of Ordinance
3. Public Hearing
4. Effective Date
Timeline:
RiversideCA.gov
18 STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
___________________________________________________
Cross-Cutting Threads
Priority 3 - Economic Opportunity
Community Trust
Equity
Fiscal Responsibility
Innovation
Sustainability &
Resiliency
Goal 3.3 – Cultivate a business climate that welcomes innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment
Priority 5 – High Performing Government
Goal 5.3 – Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision making 17 18
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19 That the City Council:
1. Receive a report and provide input on the
Development Entitlement Process Workshop Series;
and
2. Receive a presentation on Workshop 2: Building and
Fire Codes-Triennial Code Adoption Process.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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