Building Codes

Adopted Codes

Humboldt County Code 331-11 adopts 2019 Title 24 Building Codes and their respective successor provisions. The successor provisions are listed below.

  • 2022 California Administrative Code, Title 24, Part 1
  • 2022 California Building Code, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2 including:
    • Appendix J (Grading)
    • Appendix P (Emergency Housing)
  • 2022 California Residential Code, Title 24, Part 2.5
    • Appendix AQ (Tiny Houses)
    • Appendix AZ (Emergency Housing)
  • 2022 California Electrical Code, Title 24, Part 3
  • 2022 California Mechanical Code, Title 24, Part 4
  • 2022 California Plumbing Code, Title 24, Part 5
  • 2022 California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6
  • 2022 California Historical Building Code, Title 24, Part 8
  • 2022 California Existing Building Code, Title 24, Part 10
  • 2022 California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11
  • 2021 International Property Maintenance Code
  • 1997 Uniform Housing Code
  • 1997 Uniform Sign Code

Important Building Codes

The below building elements are often dealt with for residential type construction and are critical to life safety. To ensure your development will properly comply with current safety standards click the building elements described below to see detailed requirements for each.

  1. Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings | CRC § R310 – The purpose of emergency escape and rescue openings is to provide a safe and accessible means of egress from buildings, particularly from sleeping and living areas, in the event of an emergency such as a fire. These openings are designed to allow occupants to escape quickly and safely, and also to provide access for emergency personnel to enter the building if necessary.
  2. Smoke Alarms | CRC § R314 – The purpose of smoke alarms is to provide early warning of a fire within a building. This early detection allows occupants to evacuate safely before the fire becomes life-threatening. Smoke alarms are designed to detect the presence of smoke, which is often the first sign of a fire.
  3. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms | CRC § R315 – The purpose of carbon monoxide alarms is to provide early warning of the presence of carbon monoxide (CO), a deadly, colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. This gas is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal, and wood do not burn fully. Because it's impossible to see, taste, or smell, carbon monoxide can kill before a person is aware of its presence. Therefore, carbon monoxide alarms are crucial for alerting people to evacuate before dangerous levels of CO accumulate.
  4. Means of Egress | CRC § R311 – The purpose of means of egress in dwellings is to provide a safe and accessible path for occupants to exit a building or move to a safe location within the building during an emergency, such as a fire. The means of egress includes all parts of the exit access, the exit itself, and the exit discharge. It's a critical part of the building's safety system and is designed to ensure that all occupants can evacuate quickly and safely.
  5. Safety Glazing (Tempered Windows) | CRC § R308.4 – The purpose of safety glazing, or tempered windows, is to reduce the risk of injury in the event of the glass breaking. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass and, when it breaks, it shatters into small, relatively harmless pieces rather than large, sharp shards. This makes it a safer choice for areas where people are likely to come into contact with the glass, or where the glass could be subjected to impacts.
  6. Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) | CEC § 210.8 – The purpose of GFCIs is to protect people from electrical shock. GFCIs work by quickly cutting off power when they detect a difference in the amount of electricity passing through the device compared to the electricity returning. This can indicate that some of the electrical current is escaping the circuit, potentially through a person, which could result in a dangerous shock.
  7. Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) | CEC § 210.12 – The purpose of AFCIs is to protect electrical circuits from fires caused by dangerous electrical arcs. These arcs can occur when insulation on a wire is damaged or deteriorated, and they can generate high levels of heat that can ignite surrounding materials and start a fire. AFCIs are designed to detect these dangerous arcs and quickly cut off power to the circuit before a fire can start.
  8. Stairways | CRC § R311.7 – To provide a secure means of moving between different levels in a building, stairs must be constructed to ensure they provide a firm and even surface. This is all to prevent slips, trips, and falls, which are common causes of serious injuries.
  9. Handrails | CRC § R311.7.8 – Handrails must be sturdy and well-positioned to provide support and stability. This is all to prevent slips, trips, and falls, which are common causes of serious injuries.
  10. Guards & Window Fall Protection | CRC § R312 – To provide a secure outdoor living space and to prevent falls from elevated areas, decks must be structurally sound to support the weight of people and furniture, while guardrails must be sturdy and of an adequate height to prevent people, particularly children, from accidentally falling off the edge.
  11. Hot Water Heaters | CPC § 504 – The purpose of a proper water heater installation is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the appliance, to prevent water damage, and to protect occupants from potential hazards such as scalding or burns. Proper installation also helps to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in the case of gas water heaters.
  12. Fire Resistant Construction | CRC § R301 – The purpose of fire-resistant construction is to slow the spread of fire and smoke, providing occupants with more time to escape and limiting property damage. This type of construction uses materials and design techniques that resist ignition and prevent the spread of fire, helping to protect lives and property.