[1]
Prior legislation: Prior code § 8100.
A. 
The 2022 California Building Code as amended by Title 26, Los Angeles County Building Code (adopted 2022 by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors), together with their appendices, which regulate the erection, construction, enlargements, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, use, equipment, height, area, security, abatement, and maintenance of buildings or structures within the city provide for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and provide for penalties for violation thereto, are hereby adopted by reference and conflicting ordinances are hereby repealed.
B. 
All of the regulations, provisions, conditions, and terms of said codes, together with their appendices, one copy of which will be on file and accessible to the public for inspection at the community development department, are hereby referred to, adopted and made part of this chapter as if fully set forth in this chapter with exceptions, deletions, additions, and amendments thereto as set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 652-U § 3, 1995; Ord. 723-U § 1, 1999; Ord. 764-U § 1, 2002; Ord. 815 § 1, 2008; Ord. 838 § 1, 2011; Ord. 865 § 4, 2015; Ord. 903 § 1, 2020; Ord. 930 § 1, 2023)
Every person violating any provision of the 2022 California Building Code as amended by Title 26, Los Angeles Building Code, and appendices adopted by reference by BGMC § 6.04.010 or of any permit or license granted thereunder, or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor unless reduced to an infraction pursuant to Chapter 1.12 BGMC. Upon conviction thereof he or she shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed six months or by both such fine and imprisonment. The imposition of such penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue. Each day that a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 652-U § 3, 1995; Ord. 723-U § 2, 1999; Ord. 764-U § 2, 2002; Ord. 815 § 2, 2008; Ord. 838 § 2, 2011; Ord. 865 § 5, 2015; Ord. 903 § 2, 2020; Ord. 930 § 2, 2023)
Whenever any of the names or terms defined in this section are used in this code, each such name or term shall be deemed and construed to have the meaning ascribed to it in this section:
"Board of appeals"
shall mean the board of appeals established by Section 105 of the Bell Gardens building code.
"Building department"
shall mean the building department of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Building official and engineer"
shall mean the person designated to act as building official by the city council.
"City council" or "board of supervisors"
shall mean the city council of the city of Bell Gardens unless the context requires otherwise.
"County," "county of Los Angeles," or "unincorporated territory of the county of Los Angeles"
shall mean the city of Bell Gardens.
"Electrical code"
shall mean the electrical code of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Fire code"
shall mean the fire code of the city of Bell Gardens.
"General fund"
shall be the city treasury of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Health code" or "Los Angeles County Health Code"
shall mean the health code of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Health officer"
shall mean the health officer of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Mechanical code"
shall mean the mechanical code of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Plumbing code"
shall mean the plumbing code of the city of Bell Gardens.
"Special inspector"
shall mean a person holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the county of Los Angeles as set forth in Section 1701 of said Building Code, or a person otherwise determined to be qualified by the building official.
(Ord. 652-U § 3, 1995)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, fees for plan check, inspection and other miscellaneous services shall be based on the most current fee set forth by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 652-U § 3, 1995)
The Bell Gardens building code, adopted by reference in BGMC § 6.04.010, is amended by modifying subsection 2 of Section 106.3 (work exempted) of the 2013 California Building Code, as amended by 2014 County of Los Angeles Building Code (Title 26), to read as follows:
2. Fences not over 2 feet (610 mm) in height.
(Ord. 652-U § 3, 1995; Ord. 865 § 6, 2015)
Section 1802 of the 2022 California Building Code is hereby amended by adding Sections 1802.9 and 1802.10 to read as follows:
1802.9 Compressible Soils. (Hydroconsolidation). All structures shall have foundation systems constructed in accordance with the recommendation(s) found in a soils report, which shall be prepared, stamped, and signed by a California licensed soils engineer or geologist (licensed professional). All borings or test excavations shall terminate 12 feet or more below the ground surface at each boring or test excavation. A soils report shall be required for any addition which exceeds 3,000 square feet or exceeds 50% of the area of the original structure, except as provided in Section 1802.10.
Exception: Soils reports shall not be required for Group U Occupancies.
The soils report shall state that the licensed professional has reviewed the site, laboratory findings and analyses and that to the best of his/her professional knowledge and expertise, there should be no significant hydroconsolidation or subsidence, provided all of his/her recommendations are incorporated in the design and construction.
1802.10 Residential Building Foundation. All Group R-3 buildings or additions to Group R-3 buildings which exceed 500 square feet or exceed 50% of the area of the original building shall have foundation systems constructed based on the soils report and the licensed professional's recommendation as shown above or additions to Group R-3 buildings which do not exceed 500 square feet or do not exceed 50 percent of the area of the original building, their foundations and floor slabs shall comply with the following requirements:
1. Depth of foundations below the natural and finish grades shall be not less than 24 inches for all exterior wall footings and interior bearing wall foundations.
2. Exterior walls and interior bearing walls shall be supported on continuous foundations of concrete with a compressive strength of not less than 2500 psi.
3. Foundations for exterior walls and interior bearing walls shall be tied to the floor slabs by reinforcing bars having a diameter of not less than 3/8 inch and spaced at intervals not exceeding 24 inches on center. The reinforcing bars shall extend at least 40 bar diameters into the footings and the slab.
4. Foundations shall be reinforced with a minimum of 2 continuous 1/2-inch diameter deformed reinforcing bars placed within 4 inches of the top of the footing and a minimum of 2 continuous 1/2-inch diameter deformed reinforcing bars placed within 4 inches of the bottom of the footing so as to act as grade beams.
5. Concrete floor slabs on grade shall be monolithically cast with the foundation on a 4-inch fill of coarse aggregate or on a moisture barrier membrane. The slabs shall be at least 3-1/2 inches thick and shall be reinforced with deformed reinforcing bars having a diameter of not less than 3/8 inch and spaced at intervals not exceeding 18 inches each way. If floor slabs are not cast monolithically, a structural or civil engineer or architect shall provide calculations and details of the proposed connection between the slab and the footing. Structural calculations and details shall be stamped and signed by the licensed professional.
6. The soil below all concrete shall be saturated with moisture to a depth of 48 inches prior to casting the concrete. The saturation shall extend at least 10 feet beyond the perimeter foundation or footings. (NOTE: This results in saturation of 24" below bottom of footing). The owner, a State of California licensed general contractor, or a State of California licensed soils engineer or geologist, shall provide written acknowledgement that the saturation requirement is met prior to approval for placement of concrete. The owner or general contractor shall provide a notarized acknowledgement, or the licensed professional shall stamp and sign his/her acknowledgement.
7. Where raised wood floors are constructed in lieu of concrete slabs on grade, positive connections of the floor framing to the perimeter concrete footings which will tie the floor integrally with the foundations shall be made. Details of such connections must be in compliance with Section 2308 or must be prepared by a State of California licensed civil or structural engineer or architect and shall be submitted for review and approval.
(Ord. 815 § 9, 2008; Ord. 838 § 3, 2011; Ord. 865 § 7, 2015; Ord. 903 § 3, 2020; Ord. 930 § 3, 2023)