The intent of this chapter is to ensure that persons residing and working within the unincorporated area of Lassen County are not subjected to life threatening and property damaging perils because structures are not designed and constructed to standards which are adequate to withstand failure due to excessive buildup of snow during severe weather events.
(Ord. 2022-03 § 13)
Lassen County is located in a designated snow load zone "CS" as described in the 2019 California Building Code Section 1608.2 and Figure 1608.2. This designation requires that snow loads be based on site specific "Case Studies" for the areas and shall be based on extreme value statistical analysis as described in Section 1608 of the California Building Code. All snow loads shall either be determined from the case study commissioned by Lassen County or be valued at the most extreme example within the area of construction. Alternatively, an applicant may submit their own case study with a building permit application for consideration by the building official.
The Lassen County planning and building services department shall keep a record of the applicable case study for Lassen County and shall provide snow load information to the public on request.
(Ord. 2022-03 § 13)
In accordance with the California Building Code, conventional light frame construction is prohibited in all areas of Lassen County with a roof snow load of more than thirty-five pounds per square foot, and the California Residential Code requires engineering when roof snow load is more than forty-nine pounds per square foot or more.
(Ord. 2022-03 § 13)
All gable end roof overhang to be supported by two inch by six inch nominal dress sized lumber, spaced twenty-four inches on center in snow load areas which meet and exceed forty pounds per square foot, and those structures using engineered roof trusses shall be supported against lateral movement by the use of continuous ridge blocking installed between each truss.
(Ord. 2022-03 § 13)
Any person who disagrees with the snow load standards established in this chapter may petition the Lassen County building official for relief from such standards. The variance request must be accompanied by evidence based on professional engineering and scientific data that shows that the standards described by the snow load map are not necessary in the particular circumstance. The building official may grant a variance from the required snow load, upon finding that the described standard snow load is in excess of what is necessary to meet the intent of this chapter.
(Ord. 2022-03 § 13)
Any person who has requested a variance from the standards set forth in the chapter and who is not satisfied with the decision of the building official may appeal such decision to the board of supervisors by filing a notice of appeal with the county clerk. Such notice must be filed within ten days of the decision of the building official and must be accompanied by the appeal filing fee imposed by Section 3.18.020 of the Lassen County Code and evidence based on professional engineering and scientific data that shows that the standards described by the snow load map are not necessary in the particular circumstance. The board of supervisors may grant a variance from the required snow load, upon finding that the described standard snow load is in excess of what is necessary to meet the intent of this chapter.
(Ord. 2022-03 § 13)