Updated : 04/22/2024

Overview

Ventura (City), also known as San Buenaventura, adopted some parts of the 2013 California Building Standards Code: the 2013 editions of the California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2), California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5), California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4), California Plumbing Code (Title 24 Part 5), and California Fire Code (Title 24 Part 9). Ventura, Cal., Muni Code §§ 12.115.010, 12.110.010, 12.125.010, 12.130.010, 12.120.010, and 14.010.010.

Helpful resources for Ventura (City), California include the following.

• 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.

Ventura (City) 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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Comments

Ventura (City) amended the 2013 California Residential Code. The City’s amendments did not include Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria. Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.110.020.

The City’s amendments include a statement of findings as follows:

A.  The city council finds that certain local climatic, geological, and/or topographical conditions exist as follows:

1. Climatic. The city experiences periods of high temperatures accompanied by low humidity and high winds each year. These conditions could create an environment in which the fire department may have great difficulty in controlling fires occurring in hillside brush areas as well as structures not having built-in fire protection. The city also experiences periods of intense rainfall, which create the need for special drainage precautions.
2. Geological. The city is located in an area with expansive soils and includes hillsides that are subject to mudflows and unstable conditions. Special foundation considerations and soils analyses requirements must be in place to provide a reasonable degree of structural integrity for buildings constructed in these areas. Several earthquake faults run through the city that, when active, will impose unique lateral loads on structures in the city. Special lateral structural design criteria are needed to resist these lateral loads imposed by active earthquake faults in the city.
3. Topographical. The city has hillside and flat land developments that require special drainage precautions, as well as a system of roadways and highways that generate traffic noise. Structures would be subject to water damage without special requirements addressing site drainage.

      Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.110.020 A.

The City amended the 2013 California Residential Code provisions for “Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure”:

5. Section R327.1.3.1 is amended to read as follows:

Section R327.1.3.1. Application date and where required. New buildings for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after July 1, 2008 located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone or Wildland Interface Fire Area shall comply with all sections of this chapter, including all of the following areas:

1.     All unincorporated lands designated by the State Board of Forestry and Fire                 Protection as State Responsibility Area (SRA) including:

1.1. Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones

1.2. High Fire Hazard Severity Zones

1.3. Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zones

2.     Land designated as High or Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone the Office of               State Fire Marshal pursuant to California Public Resource Code 4201—4204.

                 Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.110.020 B.5.

The City amended the Roofing Provisions of the 2013 California Residential Code:

25. Section R902.1 is amended to read as follows:

R902.1 Roof Covering Materials. Roofs shall be covered with materials as set forth in Sections R904 and R905. A minimum Class B roofing shall be installed. Roofing shall be listed and tested in accordance with UL 790 or ASTM E 108.

The "Exceptions" of this section remain as contained in the State Code.

26. Section R902.1.2 is re-titled to "Roof Coverings in Other Areas."

27. Section R902.1.3 is amended to read as follows:

R902.1.3 Additions to Existing Buildings. In any 12-month period, additions of less than 26% of the existing roof area may be of Class B materials that match the existing roof. Additions in high fire hazard areas must meet the current high fire hazard area roofing requirements in addition to this section.

28. Section R902.2 is amended to read as follows:

R902.2 Wood Shingles and Shakes. No wooden shakes or shingles, treated or untreated, shall be used for roof covering unless specifically allowed in Sections R902.1.1, R902.1.2, or R902.1.3 of this code.

        (Ord. No. 2013-019, § 2, 12-9-13)

        Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.110.020 [B.25, B.26, B.27, B.28]          

Commercial Building Code

Ventura (City) 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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Comments

Ventura (City) amended the 2013 California Building Code. Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.115.020.

The City’s amendments include a statement of findings as follows:

A.  The city council finds that certain local climatic, geological, and/or topographical conditions             exist as follows:

1. Climatic. The city experiences periods of high temperatures accompanied by low humidity and high winds each year. These conditions could create an environment in which the fire department may have great difficulty in controlling fires occurring in hillside brush areas as well as structures not having built-in fire protection. The city also experiences periods of intense rainfall, which create the need for special drainage precautions.
2. Geological. The city is located in an area with expansive soils and includes hillsides that are subject to mudflows and unstable conditions. Special foundation considerations and soils analyses requirements must be in place to provide a reasonable degree of structural integrity for buildings constructed in these areas. Several earthquake faults run through the city that, when active, will impose unique lateral loads on structures in the city. Special lateral structural design criteria are needed to resist these lateral loads imposed by active earthquake faults in the city.
3. Topographical. The city has hillside and flat land developments that require special drainage precautions, as well as a system of roadways and highways that generate traffic noise. Structures would be subject to water damage without special requirements addressing site drainage.

Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.115.020 A

The City amended the Roofing Provisions of the 2013 California Building Code:

21. Section 1505.1 is amended by removing the reference to Class C roof assemblies to             read as follows:

Section 1505.1. General. Roof assemblies shall be divided into the classes defined below. Class A and B roof assemblies and roof coverings required to be listed by this section shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E 108 or UL 790. Wood roof coverings shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D 2898. The minimum roof coverings installed on structures shall comply with Table 1505.1.

22. Section 1505.1.2 is amended by deleting the Exception for moderate fire hazard severity       zones.

23. Section 1505.1.3 is amended by changing the reference from Class C to Class B to read       as follows:

Section 1505.1.3 Roof coverings within all other areas. The entire roof coverings of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of existing structures, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class B.

24. Section 1505.1.5 is added to read as follows:

1505.1 Additions to Existing Buildings. In any 12 month period, additions of less than 26% of the existing roof area may be of Class B materials that match the existing roof. Additions in high fire hazard areas must meet the current high fire hazard area roofing requirements in addition to this section.

25. Table 1505.1 is amended to replace all references to Class C with Class B.

26. Section 1505.6 is amended to read as follows:

Section 1505.6 Wood Shingles and Shakes. No wooden shakes or shingles, treated or untreated, shall be used for roof covering unless specifically allowed in Sections 1505.1.3 or 1505.1.5 of this code.

         Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.115.020 [B.21, B.22, B.23, B.24, B.25, and B.26.]

Existing Buildings

Ventura (City) amended Chapter 34 [Existing Buildings and Structures] of the 2013 California Building Code by adding provisions in Section 3404.7 for the relocation of existing buildings. Ventura, Cal., Muni Code § 12.115.020 B.50.