HomeMy WebLinkAbout0014_1_Building Codes Adoption - SRREPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Grant Yates, City Manager
Prepared by: Bill Belvin, Building and Code Enforcement Manager
Doug Bloom, Assistant Fire Marshall
Date:November 15, 2016
Subject:Amend Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, Title 15 - 2016 Building Codes
Recommendation
waive further reading and introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE,
AMENDING TITLE 15 OF THE LAKE ELSINORE MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND CHAPTERS
15.02, 15.20, 15.24, 15.38, 15.40 AND 15.56 AND ADDING CHAPTERS 15.06, 15.32, 15.42
AND 15.48 TO THE LAKE ELSINORE MUNICIPAL CODE ADOPTING THE 2016 CALIFORNIA
BUILDING STANDARDS
Background
Currently, LEMC Title 15 adopts by reference the various California Building Standards include
codes for building, fire, energy, housing, green building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical.
Municipalities must adopt the minimum baseline California Building Standards but may adopt
stricter standards. The adoption cycle is performed every three years with this three year cycle
scheduled to be effective January 1, 2017.
Applicants that submit for building plan check prior to January 1, 2017 will be held to the 2013
California Building Standards. Building plan check is valid for 180 days and one extension for
an additional 180 days may be granted by the Building Official. Prior to the last code adoption
cycle the City experienced significant plan check submittals right before the new code deadline.
City will honor the 2013 code standards up until December 31, 2016.
Discussion
The State has set forth a three year code adoption cycle. Staff has vetted the 2016 California
Building Standards that have been provided by the International Code Council (ICC) and added
some minor additions. Following is a brief summary of proposed code changes:
Building Code – ICC swimming pools were not adopted by California because they were
less restrictive and called for only one barrier and a four foot fence. Staff has added
requirements to stay the same from previous cycles with the five foot barrier
requirements that have been enforced in the past by the State. Five foot non-climbable
fence, pool alarms at doors that lead to pool areas, gate swings out, gates and doors are
Ordinance Regarding Adoption of 2016 California Building Standards
November 15, 2016
Page 2 of 2
self-latching and self-closing and the bottom of the fence is two inches from grade
maximum and four inches from concrete.
Energy Code – requires new home builders to add solar to the homes or upgrade the
A/C system to 18 SEER for home efficiency. The energy code also requires that new
homes be pre-wired for future electric car charging stations.
Green Building Code – allows for grey water to be filtered and diverted to flower beds
and lawns but is not allowed for fruit trees or gardens.
Plumbing Code – Same and Green Building Code above.
Electrical Code – changes to center fed panels to allow the 125% rule which was not
allowed in past code adoptions.
Mechanical Code – no significant changes.
Fire Code – no significant changes.
Fiscal Impact
Costs have been incurred for staff time to research, draft, and process the ordinance. No
increase in expenditures or revenues is anticipated as a part of this Municipal Code
Amendment. Applicants will bear the cost of processing building plan checks and building
permits.
Exhibits
A -Ordinance