Codes & Reference Materials | City of San Clemente, CA

California Building Code

The City is involved in a comprehensive effort to work with business owners, property owners, and residents to ensure compliance with all existing city regulations. Toward that end, the following guidelines are designed to help you in obtaining the proper approvals and permits. Not all provisions listed will be required for every project and each submittal will be reviewed based on the scope of the project or development and the area where the project is located. For more info on the building code, please click this link:

Link to: California Building Code

NOTICE:

The 2022 State Building Codes will go into effect Jan 1, 2023. Here is the City's Ordinance to adopt the 2022 California Building Code:

The full copy of the 2022 California Building Code is available for public viewing by appointment in the Building Division.

List of Building Codes

2022 Edition of the California Building Standards Code

Effective Jan 1 2023 Adopted Building Codes for San Clemente

Part 1 of Title 24

2022 California Administrative Code SCMC 15.05

Part 2 of Title 24

2022 California Building Code (Volumes 1 & 2) SCMC 15.08

Based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) as amended

by the State and San Clemente

Part 2.5 of Title 24

2022 California Residential Code SCMC 15.22

Based on the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) as amended

by the State and San Clemente

Part 3 of Title 24

2022 California Electrical Code SCMC 15.12

Based on the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as amended

by the State and San Clemente

Part 4 of Title 24

2022 California Mechanical Code SCMC 15.16

Based on the 2021 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) as amended

by the State and San Clemente

Part 5 of Title 24

2022 California Plumbing Code SCMC 15.20

Based on the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as amended

by the State and San Clemente

Part 6 of Title 24

2022 California Energy Code SCMC 15.11

Part 8 of Title 24

2022 California Historical Building Code SCMC 15.17

Part 9 of Title 24

2022 California Fire Code SCMC 8.16

Based on the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) as amended

by the State, San Clemente and OCFA

Part 10 of Title 24

2022 California Existing Building Code SCMC 15.23

Based on the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) as amended

by the State and San Clemente

Part 11 of Title 24

2022 California Green Building Standards Code SCMC 15.14

Part 12 of Title 24

2022 California Referenced Standards Code SCMC 15.18

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

CALGreen

CALGreen is the first statewide mandatory green building code in the nation. It sets minimum standards for all new buildings as part of a broad effort to significantly reduce California’s carbon emissions. CALGreen is intended to make environmentally responsible buildings part of the everyday landscape in California cities. Among the new requirements under CALGreen, every new building in California will have to reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills and install low VOC materials. Separate indoor and outdoor water meters for nonresidential buildings and moisture-sensing irrigation systems for large landscape projects will be required. CALGreen also contains requirements related to bike parking and clean vehicle parking for new nonresidential buildings.

For more information:

Building Standards Commission
Housing and Development

CALGreen Checklist

City of San Clemente Mandatory Checklists and Declarations for Plan Check and Inspection

Energy Regulations

Construction Waste Reduction & Recycling

Fire Hazard Zones

Vegetation - Vegetation is "fuel" to a wildfire and it changes over time. Fire hazard considers the potential vegetation over a 50 year time horizon.

Topography - Fire burns faster on steep slopes.

Weather - Fire burns faster and with more intensity when air temperature is high, relative humidity is low, and winds are strong.

Crown fire potential - Under extreme conditions, fires burn up into trees and tall brush.

Ember production and movement - Fire brands are blown ahead of the main fire, spreading the fire and getting into buildings and igniting.

Likelihood of an area burning - over a 30 - 50 year time period.

Government Code section 51181 requires CAL FIRE to periodically review the very high fire hazard severity zone areas and make updated recommendations as needed.

Utilizing the latest and best fire modeling methods CAL FIRE has reevaluated wild-fire hazards and identified very high fire hazard severity zones in the state.

Very high fire hazard severity zones were originally established in 1996 (AB 337 – Bates Bill) and adopted by ordinance into the San Clemente Municipal Code, Chapter 8.22 – VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES.

Local jurisdictions are required to designate the updated very high fire hazard zones within 120 days after receiving recommendations from CAL FIRE.