CHAPTER 1. BUILDING CODE

9-1.01 Adoption.

The 2022 California Building Code, with necessary State amendments, including Appendices C and I, published by the California Building Standards Commission, 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95833-2936, one (1) copy of which is kept in the office of the Building Official, is adopted and referred to, and by this reference expressly incorporated and made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth herein, subject to the amendments set forth in this chapter. The 2022 California Building Code shall be known, designated and referred to as the "California Building Code."

The California Building Code, as amended in this chapter, shall be known, designated and referred to as the "Building Code" for the City of Walnut Creek. (§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)

9-1.02 Deletions.

Division II of Chapter 1 of the California Building Code is hereby deleted and replaced by Chapter 0.5 of this title. (§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)

9-1.03 Amendments: Section 202.

Amend definition of "Substantial Improvement" in Section 202 to read as follows:

SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT. Any one or more or any combination of repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, alteration, addition or other improvement of a building or structure taking place during a 3-year period, the cumulative cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. For each building or structure, the 3-year period begins on the date of the first permit issued for improvement or repair of that building or structure subsequent to 10/12/2000. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

1. Any project for improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary or safety code violations identified by the building official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.

2. Any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure’s continued designation as a historic structure.

(§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)

9-1.04 Amendments: Section 901.2.

Amend Section 901.2 to read as follows:

901.2 Fire protection systems. Fire protection systems shall be installed, repaired, operated and maintained in accordance with this code and the California Fire Code. Fire protection systems shall also comply with the local amendments by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

(§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)

9-1.05 Amendments: Section 1612.2.

Amend Section 1612.2 to add a new section 1612.2.1 to read as follows:

1612.2.1 Modification of ASCE 24: Elevation requirements. The minimum elevation requirements shall be as specified in ASCE 24 or the base flood elevation plus 2 feet (610 mm), whichever is higher.

(§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)

9-1.06 Amendments: Section 1705.3 Exception 1.

Amend Section 1705.3 Exception 1 to read as follows:

1. Isolated spread concrete footings of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock where the structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, f'c, no greater than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 MPa), regardless of the compressive strength specified in the construction documents or used in the footing construction.

(§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)

9-1.07 Amendments: Table 2308.6.1.

Table 2308.6.1 (Wall Bracing Requirements) of CBC Chapter 23 (Wood) is amended as follows:

(1) The title of Table 2308.6.1 is amended to read:

WALL BRACING REQUIREMENTS a, f, g

(2) Footnotes "f" and "g" are added to Table 2308.6.1, to read:

f. Methods PBS, HPS, and SFB are not permitted in Seismic Design Categories D or E.

g. Methods GB, DWB and PCP are not permitted in Seismic Design Category E.

(§6, Ord. 2227, eff. 12/16/22)