Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Special Orders of the Day
SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 20-2002U AND ORDINANCE NO. 20-2001, AMENDING THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, AS AMENDED, INCORPORATING THE 2019 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, RESIDENTIAL, GREEN BUILDING, AND EXISTING BUILDING CODES (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
California State law requires that the City of Carson’s Building Codes contain, at a minimum, the standards that are published in the California Building Standards Codes. Cities and Counties may adopt standards that are more, but not less, stringent than State code. The codes are updated by the State every several years and must be adopted by cities and counties, typically with local amendments. A summary of changes between the current and the proposed codes have been provided as Exhibit Nos. 3 and 4.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. OPEN the Public Hearing, TAKE public testimony, and CLOSE the Public Hearing.
2. WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Urgency Ordinance No. 20-2002U, “AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, MAKING AMENDMENTS TO THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE - TITLES 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, AND 33 OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, AS AMENDED, INCORPORATING THE 2019 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, RESIDENTIAL, GREEN BUILDING, AND EXISTING BUILDING CODES, RESPECTIVELY.”
3. WAIVE further reading and INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 20-2001, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, MAKING AMENDMENTS TO THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE - TITLES 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, AND 33 OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, AS AMENDED, INCORPORATING THE 2019 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, RESIDENTIAL, GREEN BUILDING, AND EXISTING BUILDING CODES, RESPECTIVELY.”
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III. ALTERNATIVES
If no action is taken, the California Building Standards Code would become the operative code in the City of Carson; all previous local and county amendments would be void.
IV. BACKGROUND
The California Building Standards Commission has established January 1, 2020, as the effective date for the 2019 edition of the California Building Standards Code, the State Code. This code is based on the 2018 editions of the International Building, Existing Building, and Residential Codes, the 2017 National Electrical Code, the 2017 editions of the Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, and the 2018 edition of the International Green Building Standards Code.
The City of Carson has traditionally met this requirement by adopting the Los Angeles County Codes (with the exception of the Los Angeles County Green Code), which is based on State Code. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted ordinances amending the California Building Standards Code on November 26, 2019 and is now available for adoption by reference. The County Code includes local amendments to minimize differences in code language and interpretation within the region, thereby assisting the local construction industry by unifying and streamlining the permitting process.
Historically the City of Carson has adopted the Los Angeles County Code but opted not to adopt the Los Angeles County Green Code, thus defaulting to the California Green Building Standards Code (aka CALGreen) in this area. By now adopting the Los Angeles County Green Code, the City of Carson would enact more stringent requirements than those proposed by the State, thus emphasizing the City of Carson’s commitment to improving the environment and its residents’ health and safety while encouraging more sustainable buildings and practices.
By adopting the Los Angeles County Code, the City of Carson will comply with State requirements, while retaining jurisdictional code amendments that reflect local conditions. Consequently, by Council approval of this item, previous applicable City amendments to these building codes would be continued.
Both an Urgency Ordinance and Ordinance are agendized. The Urgency Ordinance ensures the codes go into effect immediately.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Urgency Ordinance No. 20-2002U (pgs. 4-8)
2. Ordinance No. 20-2001 (pgs. 9-13)
3. Summary of Changes to the California Green Building Standards Code (pgs. 14-20)
4. Summary of changes to the Building Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Residential Code, and Existing Building Code (pgs. 21-27)
Prepared by: Michael Dorta, District Engineer