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Consider introducing the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 6.3 of the Solano County Code to adopt the 2019 State of California Building Codes and local amendments
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1) Read the proposed ordinance by title only and waive further reading by a majority vote; and
2) Introduce the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 6.3 of the Solano County Code to adopt the 2019 California Building Standards Code and local amendments.
SUMMARY:
The California Building Standards Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), conducts an extensive review and update of all building and/or construction-related codes every three years. This triennial review culminates with the issuance of an update to the various California building codes (building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, etc.), which local jurisdictions are required to adopt. The most recent review was completed in June 2019. The new set of revisions/updates to the standard codes is known as the California Building Standards Code (2019 Edition) ("Code"), which is codified in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Health and Safety Code section 17958, requires that local jurisdictions, counties and cities, adopt these codes, with or without local revisions, on or before January 1, 2020. If local adoption action is not taken by that date, the codes, as written, are automatically adopted as published by default.
The Code, which applies to all commercial and residential structures in California, has no significant changes from the previous version except changes to the Energy Code. The Board may adopt local revisions to the Code that are equal to or more protective than those adopted by the state if it makes specific legal findings to support such changes. For the 2019 Code, the local revisions recommended by the Department remain relatively unchanged from the standard codes previously adopted by the Board, though some administrative amendments are recommended. These amendments include changes to Chapter 6.3 that are necessary to reference the 2019 Code correctly. No changes to the Fire Codes are included in the proposed ordinance.
The Board is being asked to introduce the ordinance to amend Solano County Code Chapter 6.3 to adopt the 2019 Code. By introducing this Ordinance, the Board is providing the public an opportunity for local review, discussion, local jurisdiction modifications, and the ability to receive all comments from interested parties prior to implementation of the Code. Board action to adopt the ordinance on or before November 19, 2019 will allow the Ordinance to become effective on January 1, 2020.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of preparing the public notice and the agenda item, as well as implementation costs, are part of the ongoing operational cost of the Department of Resource Management - Building and Safety Division and are included in the department's FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The California Building Standards Commission, using a three-year repeating cycle, reviews and revises the body of codes referred to as the California Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fire, Electrical, Residential, Green Building (CAL Green), Energy and the California Referenced Standards Codes to reflect the latest construction regulations. These are mandated under state law as minimum standards.
The Board is asked through the adoption of an amended ordinance to adopt the Code, which includes the adoption and use of the 2018 International Codes as well as the 2018 International Wildland Urban Interface Code. There are no changes to the building permit-related fee tables included in the Code updates; consequently, there will be no changes to how fees are calculated or to fee revenues at this time.
Changes in the Code
Energy Code: Changes to the California Energy Code include additions and amendments to the energy standards for buildings, including residential, nonresidential, high-rise residential, hotel and motel buildings. The 2019 Energy Code covers all buildings except hospitals, nursing homes, correctional centers, jails and prisons.
In the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, the California Energy Commission continues to phase in, through each triennial code cycle change, certain standards designed to improve the energy efficiency of newly constructed buildings as well as additions to and alterations of existing buildings. Homes built in 2020 and beyond will be highly efficient and include photovoltaic generation to meet the home's expected annual electric needs. The 2019 standards will use about 7 percent less energy due to energy efficiency measures versus those built under the 2016 standards. Once rooftop solar electricity generation is factored in, homes built under the 2019 standards will use 53 percent less energy than those under 2016 standards.
The Fire Protection Districts of Dixon, Vacaville, Cordelia, Suisun and Montezuma created a consensus Fire Protection District ordinance which was approved by the Board in 2015 and will be presented for amendment separately to the Board to reflect changes to the 2019 California fire code.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose to:
1. Not introduce the California Building Standards Code as requested. This option is not recommended by staff as the California Code, as written, is automatically adopted as published by default and will go into effect on January 1, 2020 as per Health and Safety Code Section 17958, regardless if the county adopts a local ordinance. If no revisions to the Code are adopted, the Solano County Code will be outdated and inaccurate.
2. Make additional, substantive, and/or more stringent amendments. Based on the Building Official's review and understanding of the proposed State changes, the Department believes no additional amendments are necessary.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel assisted in the preparation of the proposed ordinance. The local Fire Districts have been contacted and were provided a copy of the Board Report and ordinance adopting the State Code. The County Administrator and County Counsel reviewed this agenda item and concur with the recommendations.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION