The ordinance codified in this title is adopted as the building and safety code of the City of Santa Rosa, and may be cited as such.
(Prior code § 6.110.010; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 3227 § 1, 1995; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
The City of Santa Rosa hereby adopts by reference, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed in this Title 18, the following model codes as adopted and amended by the State of California pursuant to the Health and Safety Code and contained in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations: the California Administrative Code, Part 1 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and amended by the California Building Standards Commission; the California Building Code, Part 2 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and amended by the California Building Standards Commission, and its Appendix C, Agricultural Buildings; Appendix H, Signs; Appendix I, Patio Covers; Appendix J, Grading; and Appendix Q, Emergency Housing; the California Residential Code, Part 2.5 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and amended by the California Building Standards Commission, and its Appendix BF, Patio Covers; Appendix BO, Existing Buildings and Structures; Appendix BG, Sound Transmission; Appendix BB, Tiny Houses; Appendix BI, Light Straw-Clay Construction; Appendix BJ Strawbale Construction; Appendix CI, Swimming Pool Safety Act; and Appendix CJ, Emergency Housing; the California Electrical Code, Part 3 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association and amended by the California Building Standards Commission; the California Mechanical Code, Part 4 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and amended by the California Building Standards Commission; the California Plumbing Code, Part 5 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and amended by the California Building Standards Commission, and its IAPMO Installation Standards; Tables and Appendix A, Recommended Rules for Sizing the Water Piping System; Appendix B, Explanatory Notes on Combination Waste and Vent Systems; Appendix C, Alternate Plumbing Systems; Appendix D, Sizing Storm Water Drainage Systems; and Appendix I, Installation Standards; the California Energy Code, Part 6 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and the California Building Standards Commission; the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Part 7 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and the California Building Standards Commission; the California Historical Building Code, Part 8 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and adopted by the California Building Standards Commission; the California Existing Building Code, Part 10 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and amended by the California Building Standards Commission, and its Appendix A, Chapter A1 Seismic Strengthening Provisions for Unreinforced Masonry Bearing Wall Buildings; Chapter A3 Prescriptive Provisions for Seismic Strengthening of Cripple Walls and Sill Plate Anchorage of Light, Wood-Frame Residential Buildings; Chapter A4 Earthquake Risk Reduction in Wood-Frame Residential Buildings with Soft, Weak, or Open Front Walls; and Chapter A5 Referenced Standards; the California Green Building Standards Code, Part 11 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the California Building Standards Commission, and its Appendix Chapter A4, Residential Voluntary Measures at Tier I level for Planning and Design, Water Efficiency and Conservation, Material Conservation and Resource Efficiency, and Environmental Quality; and Appendix A5, Nonresidential Voluntary Measures at Tier I level for Planning and Design, Water Efficiency and Conservation, Material Conservation and Resource Efficiency, and Environmental Quality; and the California Referenced Standards Code, Part 12 of Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council and amended by the California Building Standards Commission. Further, the City of Santa Rosa hereby adopts by reference, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed in this Title 18, the International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council. Further, the City of Santa Rosa hereby adopts by reference, without change, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination (NPDES) Permit and Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board North Coast Region, NPDES No. CA0025054, and all amendments, revisions and reissuances thereof.
(Ord. 3227 § 1, 1995; Ord. 3231 § 1, 1995; Ord. 3429 § 1, 1999; Ord. 3430 § 2, 1999; Ord. 3585 § 1, 2002; Ord. 3584 § 2, 2002; Ord. 3778 § 2, 2006; Ord. 3816 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3851 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3852 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3957 § 1, 2010; Ord. 3958 § 1, 2010; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4016 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4079 § 1, 2016; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-021 § 1; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1; Ord. 2026-001, 1/13/2026)
Permit fees and plan check fees as provided in this chapter shall be collected for all work in the City performed by or for the City, County, State, United States of America, or any agency thereof, except where exempt under law.
(Prior code § 6.110.020; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
Permits for building, construction, alteration, repair, electrical work, plumbing work, mechanical work and all other work shall be issued only on the application of the holder of a contracting license issued by the State, licensing such person to engage in the type of work anticipated by the application for such permit, except that owners' permits may be issued as provided by law. Building permits are subject to all provisions of Chapter 17-12, which shall be administered by the Director of Building and Code Compliance.
(Prior code § 6.110.030; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 3272 § 2, 1996; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
The Chief Building Official is appointed and designated as the Director of Building and Code Compliance, Chief Building Official, Building Official, Code Official or Administrative Authority, as such terms are used and such positions are established in the Santa Rosa City Code, California Administrative Code, California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Energy Code, California Historical Building Code, California Fire Code, California Existing Building Code, California Green Building Standards Code, and International Property Maintenance Code. The Chief Building Official is charged with the enforcement of and given the authority to administer all provisions of such codes and City regulations and requirements adopted under the authority provided in Government Code Sections 38601(b) and 38660.
(Prior code § 6.110.040; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 2525 § 2, 1986; Ord. 3851 § 1, 2007; Ord. 3957 § 1, 2010; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
(A) 
In order to hear appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of this code there shall be created a Board of Building Regulations Appeals, consisting of seven members.
(B) 
The Board of Building Regulations Appeals shall have no authority relative to the interpretation of the administrative provisions of this code nor shall the Board be empowered to waive requirements of this code.
(C) 
It is desirable but not required that the members of the Board be active in their field and are qualified by experience and training to pass upon matters pertaining to building construction, including, but not limited to: electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. It is desirable but not required that the Board include: (1) a general contractor; (2) a structural engineer or a civil engineering specializing in structural work; (3) a civil engineer; (4) an architect; (5) an electrical engineer or electrical contractor; (6) and (7) a mechanical engineer or mechanical contractor or plumbing contractor. The Building Official shall be an ex officio member, and shall act as Secretary of the Board.
(D) 
Members of the Board of Building Regulations Appeals shall be appointed by the City Council. A member of the Board shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed by the affirmative vote of four members of the City Council. The initial term of a person appointed to the Board shall be two years. If a member of the Board is reappointed to a second term or additional consecutive terms, each such term shall be four years.
(E) 
The Board shall adopt rules of procedure for conducting of its business.
(Prior code § 6.110.050; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 3412 § 2, 1999; Ord. 3851 § 1, 2007; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
The findings and determinations of the Board of Building Regulations Appeals shall be the final decision of the City in the matter and the provisions of Chapter 1-20 shall not apply to any decision of the Board.
(Prior code § 6.110.060; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 2525 § 3, 1986; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
(A) 
Any affected person may appeal from any notice, order, or any action of the Building Official under this code by filing at the office of the Building Official a written appeal containing:
(1) 
A heading in the words: "Before the Board of Appeals of the City of Santa Rosa";
(2) 
A caption reading: "Appeal of .....," giving the names of the appellants participating in the appeal;
(3) 
A brief statement setting forth the legal interest of each of the appellants in the building or the land involved in the notice and order;
(4) 
A brief statement in ordinary and concise language of the specific order or action protested, together with any material facts claimed to support the contentions of the appellant;
(5) 
A brief statement in ordinary and concise language of the relief sought, and the reasons why it is claimed the protested order or action should be reversed, modified, or otherwise set aside;
(6) 
The signatures of all parties named as appellants, and their official mailing addresses;
(7) 
The verification (by declaration under penalty of perjury) of at least one appellant as to the truth of the matters stated in the appeal;
(8) 
Payment of fee to file an application to appeal a decision by the Chief Building Official or the Code Official to the Board of Building Regulations Appeals in the amount fixed by resolution of the City Council.
(B) 
The appeal shall be filed within 15 days from the date the notice of the decision or action of the Building Official was mailed or delivered, whichever is earlier, to the person to whom the decision or action is addressed.
(Prior code § 6.110.055; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this title, including, but not limited to, adopted model codes, as amended in this title, shall be subject to the penalty provisions of Section 1-28.010 of this code.
(Prior code § 6.110.070; Ord. 2302 § 3, 1983; Ord. 2525 § 4, 1986; Ord. 3227 § 2, 1995; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 836.5 of the California Penal Code, the City's Director of Building and Code Compliance, is hereby authorized to issue a written notice to appear for the violation of any provision of this title which he or she has the authority to enforce. Further authorization is hereby given to employees of the Building and Code Compliance Division designated in writing by the City's Director of Building and Code Compliance, to issue a written notice to appear for the violation of any provision of this title which he or she has the authority to enforce.
(Ord. 3227 § 2, 1995; Ord. 4015 § 1, 2013; Ord. 4080 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2019-022 § 1; Ord. 2022-015 § 1)