Updated : 04/22/2024

Overview

San Jose amended some of the California Building Standard Code; specifically, the City amended the 2013 Editions of the California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, and the California Historical Building Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code chs. 24.03, 24.09, 24.06, 24.05, 24.04 and 24.11.

Helpful resources for San Jose, California include the following.

• Jurisdiction's Information Page(s):
  • Building Division
• PLRB, Ordinance and Law Coverage Discussion for California

Residential Building Code

California adopted a statewide mandatory residential code that will control; however, local governments are free to make laws more strict (with some limitations).See PLRB, California Building Codes for more information on state level codes.

San Jose adopted the 2012 IRC, locally. Note that adoptions usually come with amendments. So, it is important to review those amendments in addition to the unamended model code.

You can find a copy of the model code here.

You can find information about amendments to the model code here.

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2022 California Residential Code (2021 IRC)(San Jose, CA 24.09.110.5 - Portions of the California Residential Code Appendices are approved, adopted, or incorporated by reference.)

...A. The following portion of the California Residential Code or CRC 2022 edition appendices are approved, adopted, or incorporated by reference. 1. Reserved....

Drip Edge

Drip Edge: Yes

Ice Barrier

Comments

San Jose adopted the 2013 California Residential Code together with Appendices “E [Manufactured Housing Used as Dwelling (excluding Sections AE101 through AE 307)]”, “G [Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs]”, “H [Patio Covers]”,  and “K [Sound Transmission]”. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code §§ 24.09.100 and 24.09.110. The City did not adopt Sections 1.8.4, 1.8.5, 1.8.7, 1.8.8, 1.8.9 and “Chapter 1 Division II” of the 2013 California Residential Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code § 24.09.110.

San Jose amended the 2013 Cal Res Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code ch. 24.09 – Residential Code.

San Jose amended Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria and did not require ice barriers. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code § 24.09.225. The City further amended Section R301.2.1.1 Design criteria of the adopted California Residential Code to read as follows: 

Section R301.2.1.1 Design criteria. In regions where the basic wind speed shown on Figure R301.2(4)(A) equals or exceeds one hundred ten miles per hour (49 m/s), the design of buildings for wind loads shall be in accordance with one of the following methods.

1. International Code Council (ICC) Standard for Residential Construction in High Wind Regions (ICC-600); or
2. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE-7); or
3. American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing-Prescriptive Method for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (AISI S230).
4. California Building Code.

San Jose, Cal., Muni Code § 24.09.230.

 

 

Commercial Building Code

San Jose adopted the 2012 IBC, statewide with limitations. Note that adoptions usually come with amendments. So, it is important to review those amendments in addition to the unamended model code.

You can find a copy of the code here.You can find information about amendments to the model code here.

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2022 California Bldg. Code, Part 2 (2021 IBC)(San Jose, CA Municipal Code)

...Adoption not found...

Comments

San Jose adopted the 2013 California Building Code together with Appendices C [Agricultural Buildings] and J [Grading]. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code §§ 24.03.100 and 24.03.110. The City did not adopt Sections 1.8.4, 1.8.5, 1.8.7, 1.8.8, 1.8.9 and 2505 of the California Building Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code § 24.03.110.

San Jose amended the 2013 California Building Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code ch 24.03 – Building Code

Existing Buildings

San Jose amended Chapter 34 Existing Structures of the California Building Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code ch. 24.03 pt. 9 – Existing Structures (CBC Chapter 34)

San Jose adopted the 2013 California Existing Building Code. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code § 24.07.100.

San Jose also adopted and amended the 2012 IEBC. San Jose, Cal., Muni Code §§ 24.08.100 and 24.08.110.