CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
STAFF REPORT
2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal
Hill, California 90755-3799
12/13/2022
AGENDA ITEM
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
COLLEEN T. DOAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 22-01 AMENDING TITLE 15 OF
THE SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE (SHMC) REVISING REGULATIONS FOR
BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Summary:
The City Council will consider an Ordinance Amendment to the SHMC revising regulations for Buildings and Construction. The primary purpose of the ordinance is to adopt the 2022 editions of the California Building Standards Code by reference.
Recommendations:
1. Introduce an ordinance, entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 22-01, AMENDING TITLE 15 OF THE SIGNAL HILL
MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
2. Authorize staff to submit the Buildings and Construction Code Ordinance to the California Building Standards Commission.
3. Schedule a public hearing for January 10, 2023 to adopt the Ordinance.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended actions. The City’s annual update of the master fee schedule will keep fees consistent with the level of effort required to administer the updated codes.
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Strategic Plan Objectives:
Goal No. 5: Ensure an enhanced quality of life for residents of the City.
Objective No. 5.8: Continue to work making Signal Hill more sustainable.
Background:
The International Code Council (ICC) was established in 1994 as a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The ICC develops model codes and standards used in the design, build, and compliance processes to construct safe, sustainable and resilient structures.
The International Building Code is the basis for the California Building Standards Code, or Title 24 (CBSC). The California Building Standards Commission is authorized by California Building Standards law to administer the processes related to development, adoption, approval, publication, and implementation of California's building codes.
The CBSC serves as the basis for the design and construction of buildings in California. Improved safety, sustainability, maintaining consistency, new technology and construction methods, and reliability are paramount to the development of building codes. Every three years, the State of California adopts a set of newly updated building standards codes.
On December 10, 2019, the City adopted codes which were based on the 2019 editions of the CBSC and comprise the current Signal Hill Building and Safety Code (Building Code).
Analysis:
The primary purpose of the Ordinance is to adopt the following 2022 editions of the CBSC:
· California Building Code
· California Residential Code
· California Plumbing Code
· California Mechanical Code
· California Electrical Code
· California Green Building Standards Code
· California Energy Code
· California Fire Code
· California Existing Building Code
As well as the following 2021 editions of the International Code, to provide updated resources for the Building and Safety Division:
· International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
· International Property Maintenance Code
As well as the following 1997 edition Uniform Codes, for historical code enforcement:
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· Uniform Housing Code
· The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings Local Building Code Modifications
Cities are required by the State to justify modifications to their local building codes based upon local climatic, geological or topographical conditions. The City of Signal Hill local conditions that justify modifications to the Code are as follows:
· Local administrative processes
· Petroleum production areas
· Earthquake hazards
· View policy
· Soils conditions
· Drainage
Many of the modifications to the Code are administrative in nature, or clarifications, or are based upon local climatic, geological or topographic conditions.
A brief explanation is provided of various conditions to explain the Building Code modifications. The following is a summary of the 2022 modifications.
· Definitions are added which define references in the California Building Code. · California Building Code:
o A building permit is not required for same size, replacement windows and doors installed in existing openings under certain conditions. o References to the Los Angeles County Grading Manual.
o Clarifications and conditions of the requirements for exploratory excavations. o Methane Assessment and Mitigation requirements pursuant to SHMC Chapter
16.24.080 of the Oil and Gas Code.
o Clarifications on the requirements for obtaining an electrical permit. o Clarification of the barrier requirements for residential pools. · Energy Code:
o The addition of residential Energy Storage Systems, i.e., batteries, and residential EV chargers to the expedited permit and inspection process in conformity with State laws. · Plumbing Code:
o Requirement for an expansion tank with the addition of a pressure regulator. · Electrical Code:
o Addition of a requirement that electrical permits only be issued to State licensed electrical contractors or an owner/resident of a single family or two-family dwelling employing a State licensed electrical contractor.
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Upon Council approval, the City Clerk’s office will cause to be posted a summary of the Ordinance pursuant to SHMC Section 1.08.010 at City Hall, Discovery Well Park, Reservoir Park, and the Signal Hill Library on or before December 16, 2022. A summary of the Ordinance will also be published in the Signal Tribune newspaper per Government Code §65091(a)(4) on December 16, 2022. The ordinance adoption will be a noticed public hearing and will be agendized for the January 10, 2023 City Council meeting.
Waive the Reading of All Ordinances
Wherein the titles appear on the public agenda, said titles shall be determined to have been read by title, and further reading is waived. The purpose of waiving the reading of ordinances in full and authorizing reading by title only is to help streamline the Council meeting process, to avoid unnecessary delay and to allow more time for substantive discussion of items on the agenda.
Approved:
_________________________
Joe Hoefgen
Attachment
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