1998 California Building Code

The 2001 California Building Code has been in effect since November 1, 2002, and is based on the 1997 Uniform Building Code. As a result, the structural requirements, fire and life safety requirements and the health safety requirements have not changed. California state amendments published in the 2001 California Building Code include new requirements applicable to occupancies regulated by California state agencies as well as revisions to the state accessibility requirements and State Fire Marshal sprinkler amendments enforced at the local level. Additional State Fire Marshal amendments are enforced by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department as well as Fire Plancheck New Construction. City staff are in the process of updating or eliminating Building Newsletters shown as withheld pending revisions under either the 1998 or the 1994 code and it is expected that they will be posted in the near future. For further information please contact the Senior Research Engineer at (619) 446-5092.

• Newsletters Pending Revisions
• Newsletters Deleted
• Building Newsletters 1-1 to 3-11
• Building Newsletters 4-1 to 7-7
• Building Newsletters 8-1 to 14-2
• Building Newsletters 15-1 to 17-10
• Building Newsletters 18-1 to 25-1
• Building Newsletters 31-1 to 100-1

Newsletters Pending Revision

3-3 - Conversion of Commercial or Industrial Buildings to Joint Live/Work Quarters.

4-1 - Pedestrian Walkways and Connecting Links

7-1 - Penetrations of Fire-Resistive Wall and Ceiling Membranes

7-3 - Sills for Fire-Rated Door Assemblies

7-5 - Nonmetallic Wiring

16-1 - Structural Requirements for Existing Buildings

16-2 - Retaining Wall Design

23-5 - Allowable Shear for Wood Stud Walls

23-6 - Allowable Shear for Wood Stud Walls With Wood Structural Panels on Both Sides

29-1 - Toilet Facilities

100-1 - Factory-Built Housing

100-2 - Temporary Sanitary Facilities on Construction Sites

100-3 - Installation of Refrigeration Equipment and Fees

Newsletters Deleted

3-7 - Fire Alarm and Extinguisher Requirements for R-1 Occupancies

5-1 - Construction Requirements for Contiguous Dwelling Units

18-7 - Caissons for Residences on Filled Ground

23-1 - Allowable Nailing for Plywood, Particleboard Horizontal Diaphragms and Shear Walls

Building Newsletters 1-1 to 3-11

1-1 - Revisions to Approved Plans (PDF: 62K)
Revised: July 1999

1-2 - Plan Checking Policy - Preparation of Plans and Incomplete Plans (PDF: 73K)
Revised: July 1999

1-3 - Change of Responsible Party (PDF: 61K)
Revised: July 1999

1-4A - Submitting Requests for Alternate Methods, Designs and Materials (PDF: 39K)
Revised: May 2005

1-4B - Submitting Appeals to the Board of Appeals and Advisors (PDF: 38K)
Revised: May 2005

1-5 - "Foundation Only" Permits (PDF: 64K)
Revised: July 1999

2-1 - Definition of Grade (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

2-2 - Determination of Building Height (PDF: 109K)
Revised: July 1999

3-1 - Occupancy Classifications of Assembly Buildings (PDF: 83K)
Revised: July 1999

3-2 - Occupancy Classification for Outpatient Health Care Centers. (PDF: 59K)
Revised: July 1999

3-4 - Types of Construction for Service Stations (PDF: 55K)
Revised: July 1999

3-5 - Garage/Residential Overhang Separations (PDF: 54K)
Revised: July 1999

3-6 - Carports (PDF: 55K)
Revised: July 1999

3-8 - Minimum Ceiling Heights (PDF: 72K)
Revised: July 1999

3-9 - Water Heater Installations (PDF: 55K)
Revised: July 1999

3-10 - Return Air Ducts Through R-3/U-1 Occupancy Separations (PDF: 63K)
Revised: July 1999

3-11 - Exhaust Duct Requirements for Clothes Dryers in Residential Occupancies of Nonrated Construction (PDF: 71K)
Revised: July 1999

Building Newsletters 4-1 to 7-7

5-2 - Requirements for Two or More Buildings on the Same Property (PDF: 57K)
Revised: July 1999

5-3 - Area Separation Walls (PDF: 219K)
Revised: August 2000

5-4 - Maintaining Integrity of Area Separation Walls (PDF: 69K)
Revised: July 1999

5-5 - Meter and Enclosure Encroachment (PDF: 74K)
Revised: July 1999

5-6 - Outdoor Hazardous Materials Storage (PDF: 52K)
Revised: July 1999

5-7 - Townhouse Contiguous Dwellings Classified as Group R Division 3 (PDF: 70K)

6-1 - Wood Shakes and Shingles on Exterior Walls (PDF: 54K)
Revised: July 1999

6-2 - Fire-Resistive Construction Behind Bathtubs and Shower Stalls (PDF: 53K)
Revised: July 1999

7-2 - Fire-Resistive Construction for Staggered Wood Stud Wallls (PDF: 60K)
Revised: July 1999

7-4 - Column Jacketing (PDF: 67K)
Revised: July 1999

7-6 - Ventilation for Ranges of Hot Plates in Dwelling Units (PDF: 53K)
Revised: July 1999

7-7 - Sanitary Requirements for Shaft Enclosures in Residential Construction (PDF: 56K)
Revised: July 1999

Building Newsletters 8-1 to 14-2

8-1 - Floor and Wall Finshes In Shower and Water Closet Compartments (PDF: 83K)
Revised: July 1999

8-2 - Dropped or Furred Ceilings in Types III and V Construction (PDF: 72K)
Revised: July 1999

10-1 - Occupant Lead Factors for Occupancies Not Listed in Table No. 10-A (PDF: 53K)
Revised: July 1999

10-2 - One-Hour Fire-Resistive Corridors (PDF: 140K)
Revised: July 1999

10-3 - Tenant Hallways (PDF: 65K)
Revised: May 2003

10-4 - Opening Protection at Exterior Stairways (PDF: 59K)
Revised: July 1999

10-5 - Stairways (PDF: 195K)
Revised January 2000

10-6 - Parking in Exit Ways for Residential Buildings (PDF: 54K)
Revised: July 1999

10-7 - Security Grilles or Gates (PDF: 56K)
Revised: July 1999

10-8 - Casement Windows (PDF: 53K)
Revised: July 1999

10-9 - Exterior Stairways (PDF: 53K)
Revised: July 1999

11-1 - Provisions for Physically Disabled Persons (PDF: 74K)
Revised: July 1999

14-1 - Window Flashing (PDF: 64K)
Revised: July 1999

14-2 - Plywood Siding (PDF: 55K)
Revised: July 1999

Building Newsletters 15-1 to 17-10

15-1 - Roof Drainage (PDF: 72K)
Revised: July 1999

15-2 - Roof Slopes (PDF: 62K)
Revised: July 1999

15-3 - Hot Mopping on Nailable Decks (PDF: 56K)
Revised: July 1999

16-3 - Unit Live Load on Restautant Floors (PDF: 65K)
Revised: July 1999

17-1 - Special Inpection and Structural Observation Requirements on Plans (PDF: 104K)
Revised: July 1999

17-2 - Special Inpection and Testing for Concrete and Shotcrete (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

17-3 - Special Inspection and Requirements for Structural Welding (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

17-4 - Requirements for High-Strength Bolts (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

17-5 - Bolt/Dowel Installation Using Epoxy Adhesive Resin, Drypack or Nonshrink Grout (PDF: 72K)
Revised: July 1999

17-6 - Off-site Fabrication of Building Components (PDF: 78K)
Revised: July 1999

17-7 - Approval of Products and Testing Agencies (PDF: 70K)
Revised: July 1999

17-8 - Prefabricated Construction (PDF: 72K)
Revised: July 1999

17-9 - Requirements for Smoke Control Systems (PDF: 85K)
Revised: July 1999

17-10 - Testing and Inspection Requirements for Proof of Compliance (PDF: 75K)
Revised: July 1999

Building Newsletters 18-1 to 25-1

18-1 - Soil Classification and Allowable Bearing Value (PDF: 72K)
Revised: July 1999

18-2 - Construction on Expansive Soil (PDF: 73K)
Revised: July 1999

18-3 - Geotechnical Reports (PDF: 65K)
Revised: July 1999

18-4 - Concrete Foundation Walls (PDF: 97K)
Revised: July 1999

18-5 - Unreinforced Masonry Foundation Walls (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

18-6 - Steppped Footing Requirements (PDF: 63K)
Revised: July 1999

23-2 - Allowable Uses for Utility Grade Lumber (PDF: 54K)
Revised: July 1999

23-3 - Horizontally Sheathed Diaphragms (PDF: 62K)
Revised: July 1999

23-4 - Clearance Under Wood Floors (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

24-1 - Safety Glazing Requirements (PDF: 88K)
Revised: July 1999

25-1 - Wire Backing for Exterior Plaster (PDF: 59K)
Revised: July 1999

Building Newsletters 31-1 to 100-1

31-1 - Patio Covers (PDF: 95K)
Revised: July 1999

31-2 - Solariums (PDF: 62K)
Revised: July 1999

31-3 - Fireplace and Chimney Requirements (PDF: 77K)
Revised: July 1999

32-1 - Encroachments (PDF: 68K)
Revised: July 1999

32-2 - Awnings, Entrance, Canopies and Shade Structures (PDF: 83K)
Revised: July 1999

34-1 - Additions to Nonconforming Buildings (PDF: 59K)
Revised: July 1999

34-2 - Commercial Uses in Existing Residential Buildings (PDF: 79K)
Revised: July 1999

34-3 Repair of Existing Fire-Damaged Buildings (PDF: 22K)

84-1 - Swimming Pool Requirements (PDF: 80K)
Revised: July 1999