The California Building Code, 2025 Edition, composed of two volumes, excluding sections 103 and 116, as published by the International Code Council, is adopted by reference as the building code of the city (the "building code"), for regulating the construction, erection, enlargement, repair, removal, demolition, occupancy, equipment, use, height, area and maintenance of all non-residential buildings and structures in the city, providing for the issuance of permits therefor, and each and all such regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, are referred to, adopted and made a part of this chapter as though fully set out in this chapter, excepting such portions as are added, deleted, modified or amended by this chapter. The California Building Code is referred to in this chapter as the "CBC," and one copy is on file in the office of the city clerk.
(Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025)
[1]
Former § 15.04.010, enacted by Ord. 5121, was repealed by Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025.
A. 
All materials and assemblies of materials, appliances and installation of appliances, arrangements of occupancies, and segregation of occupancies, all exits, aisles, stairs, doors and appurtenances thereto in buildings or structures in the city shall be so arranged, assembled and of such size and so protected as to be reasonably free from hazards related to fire, seismic activity, obstructed exiting, and health hazards.
B. 
The quality of all materials, method of connecting or assembling such materials, stresses allowed, and live and dead loads assumed in the design and construction of all buildings or structures in the city, shall be in accord with nationally recognized standards of quality and with generally recognized and well-established methods of structural design and construction.
(Ord. 5089 § 4, 2019)
The following permits and tax receipts shall be issued by the Building Safety Division, and the fees therefor shall be collected by the finance department:
A. 
Building permits;
B. 
Electrical permits;
C. 
Plumbing permits;
D. 
Mechanical permits;
E. 
Housing permits;
F. 
Compliance permits;
G. 
Demolition permits;
H. 
Relocation permits;
I. 
Fire Permits;
J. 
Vapor recovery permits;
K. 
Dwelling unit construction license tax;
L. 
Strong motion instrumentation tax;
M. 
Mobile home permits;
N. 
Mobile home park annual operating permits;
O. 
Sewer connection permits;
P. 
Fire alarm permits;
Q. 
Permit history survey; and
R. 
Any other permits or receipts as assigned to the Building Safety Division.
(Ord. 5121 § 5, 2022)
A. 
Item 1 of Section 105.2 of the CBC is amended to read as follows:
1. 
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.2m2) and when erected as accessory to an R-3 occupancy on the same property. The structure shall be at least six feet from any other building on the property, maintain setbacks from property lines as outlined in the zoning code, and not exceed lot coverage limitations as specified by the zoning code.
B. 
A new item 14 is added to Section 105.2 of the CBC to read as follows:
14. 
Satellite dishes three feet in diameter or less when utilizing only low voltage wiring.
C. 
A new Section 105.2.4 is added to the CBC to read as follows:
105.2.4 Compliance with code. Exemption from the permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.
(Ord. 5089 § 4, 2019)
A. 
Section 105.5 of the CBC is amended to read as follows:
105.5 Expiration. Every building permit issued for new housing construction shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within one year of the date of permit issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of one year after the time the work is commenced. The maximum life of any permit is two years. If a final inspection is not obtained within the two-year time period the permit will become invalid and a new permit will be required. The building official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than one hundred eighty days each and determines there has not been a significant change in the building code since the date the permit was issued. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated. If code violations exist relating to the building or work authorized by the permit, the building official may establish a permit expiration date of less than one year. All electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or fire permits associated with a building permit shall expire concurrently with the building permit, and may be extended concurrently with the building permit. All stand-alone electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire permits shall expire if substantial work authorized by the permit has not been completed and validated by an inspection within one hundred eighty calendar days of the date of permit issuance, unless associated with a building permit.
B. 
A new Section 105.5.1 is added to the CBC to read as follows:
105.5.1 Expiration of Plan Review. Applications for which no permit is issued within one year following the date of application shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the building official. In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall resubmit plans and pay a new plan review fee.
(Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025)
[1]
Former § 15.04.050, enacted by Ord. 5121, was repealed by Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025.
Section 109.6 of the CBC is amended to read as follows:
Fee Refunds. The building official may authorize refunding of a fee paid or portion of a fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
The building official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
The building official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any examination time has been expended.
The building official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the original permittee not later than one hundred eighty days after the date of fee payment.
(Ord. 5121 § 7, 2022)
A. 
Sections 113.1 of the CBC is amended to read as follows:
113.1 General. In order to hear and decide appeals of order, decisions, or determinations made by the building official relative to the application and interpretation of this code, there shall be and is hereby created an appeals board and housing appeals board. The appeals board and housing appeals board shall be appointed by the local governing body, or comprised of the local governing body, and shall hold office at its pleasure. The board shall adopt rules of procedure for conducting its business.
B. 
Section 113.3 deleted—Qualifications.
(Ord. 5089 § 4, 2019)
Section 202 of the CBC is amended to add a definition of New Construction to be placed in proper alphabetical order and to read as follows:
New Construction: "For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of the California Fire Code, California Building Code, and the California Residential Building Code, any work, addition to, remodel, repair, renovation, or alteration of any building(s) or structure(s) shall be considered "New Construction" when fifty percent or more of the exterior weight/load bearing walls are removed or demolished."
(Ord. 5121 § 8, 2022)
Section 501.2 of the CBC is amended to read as follows:
Section 501.2 Address Identification. Approved numbers and/or addresses shall be placed on all new and existing buildings and at appropriate additional locations as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or roadway fronting the property from either direction of approach. Said numbers shall contrast with their background, and shall meet the following minimum standards as to size: minimum three inches (3") high with a one-half inch (1/2") stroke for individual suites and apartments, minimum four inches (4") high with a one-half inch (1/2") stroke for residential buildings, minimum eight inches (8") high with a one-half inch (1/2") stroke for commercial, multi-residential buildings, and industrial buildings. Additional numbers shall be required where deemed necessary by the building official or fire code official, such as rear access doors, building corners, and entrances to commercial centers. The building official or fire code official may require larger address numbers based on visibility and the needs of emergency response personnel.
(Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025)
[1]
Former § 15.04.070, enacted by Ord. 5089, was repealed by Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025.
Section 3202.5 of the CBC is added to read as follows:
3202.5 Special Provisions for SP 182. No part of any structure or any appendage thereto, except signs, shall project beyond the property line of the building site, except as specific in this chapter. Structures or appendages regulated by this code shall be constructed of materials as specified in Section 705.
The projection of any structure or appendage shall be the distance measured horizontally from the property line to the outermost point of the projection.
Nothing in this code shall prohibit the construction and use of a structure between buildings and over or under a public way, provided the structure complies with all requirements of this code.
Nothing in this code shall prohibit the construction and use of a structure over a public way, provided that the structure is located in the area known as special development area No. 9, regulated by specific plan 182, and is located on Main Street between Ballantyne Street/Avocado Avenue on the east and Chambers Street on the west, and further, where the structure constructed over a public way is the second story of the structure, extends not more than twelve feet, maintains a minimum eight-foot headroom clearance over the public way, except for support elements, which may bear and reside on public property; further provided that the overhanging portion of the structure shall (1) incorporate sprinkler protection of the public way and be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9 of this code and the applicable sections of NFPA 13, and (2) incorporate engineering standards consistent with the provisions for essential services as categorized by Section 1604A.5 and Table 1604A.5 of this code; further, provided that any such structure constructed over a public way is first approved by way of conditional use permit granted by the city council of the city of El Cajon, and meets all other requirements under the El Cajon Municipal Code, including this code.
No provisions of this chapter shall be construed to permit the violation of other laws or ordinances regulating the use and occupancy of public property.
(Ord. 5121 § 8, 2022)
Appendix Q of the CBC, "Emergency Housing," including sections Q101 through Q110 and each and every subsection contained therein, is hereby included in the building code for the city and is hereby adopted by reference as if fully set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025)
[1]
Former § 15.04.105, enacted by Ord. 5139, was repealed by Ord. 5158, 10/28/2025.
Appendix I of the CBC, "Patio Cover," and each and every subsection contained therein, is hereby included in the building code for the city and is hereby adopted by reference as if fully set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 5121 § 9, 2022)
A violation of any provision of the California Building Code as adopted and amended by this chapter is deemed to be a public nuisance and may be abated in accordance with Chapter 1.16 of the El Cajon Municipal Code.
(Ord. 5089 § 4, 2019)
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove, improve, convert or demolish, equip, use, occupy, or maintain any building or structure, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the provisions of the general penalty clause as set forth in Section 1.24.010 of this code, or any other penalty adopted by the City.
(Ord. 5089 § 4, 2019)