City of West Hollywood, CA: Definitions.

§ 13.12.010 Adoption of Plumbing Code.

Except as hereinafter provided, Title 28, Plumbing Code, of the Los Angeles County Code (hereinafter the "Plumbing Code"), as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition (Part 5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), including Subsections 119.1.2.0 through 119.1.14.0, of Chapter 1; Chapters 2 through 17; and Appendices A, B, D, H, I, and J, is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Plumbing Code of the City of West Hollywood.

In the event of any conflict between provisions of the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Plumbing Code contained in the West Hollywood Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.

A copy of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code and the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. 02-641U § 3, 2002; Ord. 07-779U § 3, 2007; Ord. 10-862U § 3, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 3, 2013; Ord. 16-994U § 3, 2016; Ord. 19-1095 § 3, 2020; Ord. 22-1202 § 3, 2022; Ord. 25-25U, 12/15/2025; Ord. 25-26, 2/2/2026)

§ 13.12.020 Definitions.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.12.010, whenever any of the following names or terms are used in the Plumbing Code, each such name or term shall be deemed and construed to have the meaning ascribed to it in this section as follows:

"Administrative Authority," "Chief Plumbing Inspector," "Authority Having Jurisdiction," or "Plumbing Inspector"

shall mean the Building Official of the City of West Hollywood.

"Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters" or "Board of Examiners"

shall mean the Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, of the County of Los Angeles established by Section 105.3 of the Plumbing Code.

"City"

shall mean the City of West Hollywood.

"County," "County of Los Angeles," or "unincorporated territory of the County of Los Angeles"

shall mean the City of West Hollywood.

"Gas fitting contractor," "journeyman gas fitter," "journeyman plumber," or "plumbing contractor"

shall mean a person holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the County of Los Angeles as set forth in Section 105.2.2 of the Plumbing Code.

§ 13.12.030 Amendments to Plumbing Code.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.12.010 of this Code, the Plumbing Code is amended as follows:

Section 101.4 of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

101.4 Building Official. The office of Building Official exists in the Building and Safety Division of the City of West Hollywood. The Building Official shall administer the provisions of this ordinance and shall be well versed in accepted sanitary engineering practices and techniques, plumbing construction and installation methods, and the statutes of the State of California relating to such matters.

Section 101.5 of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

101.5 Use of Terms. Whenever the term "Chief Plumbing Inspector," "Plumbing Inspector," "Authority Having Jurisdiction," or "Administrative Authority" is used in this Code, other than in Section 101.4, such term shall be construed to mean the "Building Official" of the City of West Hollywood or his or her authorized representative.

Section 101.9 of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

101.9 Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals as established in Section 13.04.030 of the West Hollywood Municipal Code shall act as a Board of Appeals for appeals arising from actions of the Administrative Authority.

The fourth paragraph in Subsection 103.9 of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

103.9 Application for Permit.

When no permit is issued within 18 months following the date of the application therefor, the application shall automatically expire. Plans and specifications previously submitted may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Chief Plumbing Inspector. The Chief Plumbing Inspector may, before or after expiration of the application, grant up to two extensions, not exceeding 180 days per extension, beyond the initial 18-month limit upon written request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken and upon the payment of an extension fee as determined by the Chief Plumbing Inspector, not to exceed 25 percent of the plan check fee.

Subsection 104.1.1 of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

104.1.1 Scope. All new plumbing work, and such portions of existing systems as may be affected by new work, or any changes, shall be inspected by the Administrative Authority to insure compliance with all the requirements of this Code and to assure that the installation and construction of the plumbing system is in accordance with approved plans. Special construction and inspection may be required on work involving special hazards or conditions and on work requiring extensive, unusual or constant inspection. Special inspections, when necessary, shall be accomplished by the means set forth in Section 13.04.010 of the West Hollywood Municipal Code except that the Special Inspector shall be a qualified person approved and registered by, and reporting to, the Building Official.

Section 218.0 of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

Person. Person is an individual human being, a firm, partnership or corporation, his or their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, officers or agents; the County of Los Angeles, and any local agency as defined in Section 53090 of the Government Code, or officers thereof. Singular includes plural, male includes female.

Section 301.2.2 of the Plumbing Code is amended by adding subsections 301.2.2.1, 301.2.2.2, and 301.2.2.3 to read as follows:

301.2.2.1 In existing buildings or premises in which plumbing installations are to be altered, repaired, or renovated, deviations from the provisions of this Code are permitted, provided such deviations are found to be necessary and are first approved by the Administrative Authority.

Any plumbing system may have its existing use, maintenance, or repair continued when the Administrative Authority determines that its use, maintenance or repair is in accordance with the original design and no hazard to the public health, safety, or welfare has been created by such system.

301.2.2.2 Existing building sewers and building drains may be used in connection with new buildings or new plumbing and drainage work only when they are found on examination and test to conform in all respects to the requirements governing new work, and the proper Administrative Authority shall notify the owner to make any changes necessary to conform to this Code. No building or part thereof, shall be constructed of materials other than those approved elsewhere in this Code for use under a building.

Existing building sewers and building drains may be used in connection with plumbing alternations or repairs if such sewers or drains have been properly maintained in a good and safe condition, are working properly and were installed in accordance with the applicable laws in effect at the time of installation.

301.2.2.3 All openings into a drainage or vent system, excepting those openings to which plumbing fixtures are properly connected or which constitutes vent terminals shall be permanently plugged or capped in an approved manner, using the appropriate materials required by the Code.

Subsection 903.1(2) of the Plumbing Code is amended to read as follows:

903.1(2) ABS and PVC DMV piping installation shall be limited to residential construction, not more than two (2) stories in height.

§ 13.12.040 Seismic Gas Shutoff Valves.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.12.010 of this Code, the Plumbing Code is amended by adding Section 1216 to read as follows:

1216.0 Seismic Gas Shutoff Valves.

1216.1 Scope. A seismic gas shutoff valve shall be installed in compliance with the requirements of this section on each gas fuel line in:

1216.1.1 Any building or structure for which a building permit was first issued on or after February 15, 2001.

1216.1.2 Any building or structure which is altered or expanded under a building permit first issued on or after February 15, 2001, when such alteration or addition is valued at more than $10,000.

1216.1.3 Any building or structure that is sold to a new owner on or after February 15, 2001, where no less than 12 months have passed since the date of sale. However, when an individual condominium unit is sold in a building that has multiple gas lines, then the requirements of this section shall apply only to the line or lines serving the condominium unit that has been sold.

1216.2 Maintenance. Where the installation of a seismic gas shutoff valve is required by this section in any building or structure, that seismic gas shutoff valve shall be maintained for the life of that building or structure or shall be replaced with a valve complying with the requirements of this section.

1216.3 General Requirements. Where the installation of a seismic gas shutoff valve on a fuel line is required by this section, that valve must:

1216.3.1 Be mounted rigidly to the exterior of the building or structure containing the fuel line unless the building official determines that the seismic gas shutoff valve has been tested and listed for an alternate method of installation.

1216.3.2 Be installed downstream of the gas utility meter, except that a valve may be installed upstream of the gas utility meter at the discretion of the gas utility if the valve would otherwise meet the requirements of this section.

1216.3.3 Be listed by an approved testing laboratory and certified by the Office of the State Architect.

1216.3.4 Have a thirty-year warranty which warrants that the valve is free from defects and will continue to properly operate for thirty years from the date of installation.

1216.4 Critical Facilities. The requirements of this Section shall not apply to any building that is used by any public agency for the provision of emergency services, including fire, police, and similar public safety services.

1216.5 Definitions. For purposes of this section, certain terms shall be defined as follows:

1216.5.1 Downstream of the Gas Utility Meter shall refer to all customer owned gas piping.

1216.5.2 Seismic Gas Shutoff Valve shall mean a system consisting of a seismic sensing means and actuating means designed to automatically actuate a companion gas shutoff means installed in a gas piping system in order to shut off the gas downstream of the location of the gas shutoff means in the event of a severe seismic disturbance. The system may consist of separable components or may incorporate all functions in a single body. The terms "seismically activated gas shutoff valves" and "earthquake sensitive gas shutoff valves," are synonymous.

1216.5.3 Upstream of the Gas Utility Meter shall refer to all gas piping installed by the utility up to and including the meter and the utility's bypass tee at the connection to the customer owned piping.

§ 13.12.050 Violations and Penalties.

Penalty. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of the Plumbing Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of the Plumbing Code is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation such person shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

§ 13.12.060 Plumbing Code Fees.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.12.010, fees for plan check, inspection and all other miscellaneous services shall be based on the fee schedule as approved by resolution of the City Council.