For the purposes of the San Benito County Codes "SBCC," and unless otherwise defined later in these titles, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings and duties respectively ascribed to them by this section and shall be applicable to all titles contained in this code.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT. A division of the county's Planning and Building Department and the office of the county's Building Official and the county's building inspector.
BUILDING OFFICIAL. The officer designated by the county's Board of Supervisors to enforce the county codes.
COMMERCIAL. That which does not fall within the scope of the RESIDENTIAL definition contained later in this section. All COMMERCIAL projects shall be subject to its respective occupancy classification and usage as contained in the most current International Building Code, “IBC,” or California Building Code, “CBC,” whichever is the most restrictive.
FEES. Pursuant to Cal. Code of Regulations, Title 24, Chapter 1, Division 1, § 1.8.4.2, the county may prescribe fees to defray the cost of enforcement of rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The amount of the fees shall not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to administer or process permits, certificates, forms, or other documents, or to defray the costs of enforcement. The county master fee schedule is contained in § 5.01.000 and is applicable to all types of construction.
FIFTY PERCENT RULE. Where any additions, alterations, remodels, repairs, or construction similar in nature are more than 50% of the entire project or building, as determined by the Building Official, then the building shall be considered new. This may require additional fees, impact fees, code compliance with current codes, etc.
FIRE CHIEF. The Chief of the Hollister Fire Protection District, while the contract with the city remains in effect, or other designee named by the county.
FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE. The distance from the finished wall surface to the property line.
GEOTECHNICAL. That which is related to the engineering of earth materials.
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS. In-situ testing, laboratory testing, or engineering calculation.
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS NOT REQUIRED. Geotechnical reports are not required for:
(1) One-story, wood-frame and light-steel-frame buildings of Type II or Type V construction and 4,000 square feet (371 m2) or less in floor area, not located within earthquake fault zones or seismic hazard zones as shown in the most recently published maps from the California Geological Survey (CGS) or in seismic hazard zones as defined in the safety element of the local General Plan. Allowable foundation and lateral soil pressure values may be determined from Table 1806A.2. Agricultural buildings are exempt from up to 10,000 square feet.
(2) A previous report for a specific site may be resubmitted, provided that a reevaluation is made, and the report is found to be currently appropriate; and
(3) Agriculture structures/buildings in agriculture zoning.
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS REQUIRED. Geotechnical investigations are required for all habitable structures more than 1,200 square feet and shall be conducted in accordance with Cal. Building Code § 1803A.2 and reported in accordance with § 1803A.7. The classification and investigation of the soil shall be made under the responsible charge of a state registered geotechnical engineer. All recommendations contained in geotechnical and geohazard reports shall be subject to the approval of the enforcement agency. All reports shall be prepared and signed by a registered geotechnical engineer, a certified engineering geologist, and a registered geophysicist, where applicable.
HIGHWAYS. The whole of all public ways, roads, alleys, courts and streets, and sidewalks between the property lines forming the exterior lateral boundaries thereof, and those parts of public squares and places which form traveled parts of highways.
HOURS OF CONSTRUCTION. During the day, namely during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday—Saturday, no Sundays or national holidays. See § 19.39.010 for times.
INSPECTIONS. All work shall be complete prior to scheduling the inspection. Inspections shall be scheduled with the RMA a minimum of 24 hours prior to the requested inspection. A qualified person shall remain on-site to meet the inspector with the approved plans, specifications, and permit. Roofing and photovoltaic inspections are to have an OSHA-approved ladder secured to the building at the time of the inspection. Electrical inspections shall be conducted with qualified personnel, and the panel enclosures, junction boxes, and related electrical components shall be accessible/open at the time of the inspection.
NEW CONSTRUCTION. The construction of a residence or structure which is built on a previously undeveloped site/parcel of a previously razed structure with no remnants of the prior structure or physical connection to existing structures or outbuildings on the respective property. (See also FIFTY PERCENT RULE).
OFFICIAL TIME. Whenever certain hours are named herein, they shall mean Pacific Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time as may be in current use in the county.
PERMIT. An official document or certificate issued by the Building Official that authorizes the performance of a specified activity.
PERMIT REQUIRED. Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the Building Official and obtain the required permit. A written construction permit shall be obtained from the enforcing agency prior to the erection, construction, reconstruction, installation, moving, or alteration of any building or structure.
REMODEL. To change, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, and/or plumbing system.
Exception. If more than 50% of the existing structure or its components are remodeled, altered, repaired, enlarged, converted, or replaced the structure shall be deemed new and the entire structure shall be brought up to the current code. In the event the 50% threshold is exceeded, the scope shall be considered new construction and shall be assessed for all fees, impact fees, etc., accordingly.
RESIDENTIAL. Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with a separate means of
egress and their accessory structures may be designed and constructed in accordance with this code or the California Building Code, but not both, unless the proposed structure(s) or element(s) exceed the design limitations established in this code and the code user is specifically directed by this code to use the California Building Code. All other construction projects not meeting the above definition shall be subject to its own occupancy classification and usage and contained in the most current International Building Code "IBC" or California Building Code "CBC," whichever is the most restrictive.
SETBACK. The distance from the property line to the finished wall. At pre-pour foundation forms and footing inspection, the distance from the property line to the forms shall take this into account and the forms set further away accordingly to account for the finished wall surface. Example: a five foot setback with a stucco exterior shall have the forms set at five and one-half inches to allow for plywood backing and the thickness of the stucco.
SIDELINE. The SIDELINE of a road, roadway, or state highway is the edge of the travel way, as determined by the Building Official, such as the painted fog line, edge of pavement, curb and gutter, or similar conditions.
SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS. Those construction documents of which submittal is required by Resource Management Agency "RMA" in conjunction with all proposed site development, remodel, addition, renovation, improvement to existing structures and new residential development. Construction documents shall be drawn upon suitable material. Electronic media documents are required to be submitted where approved by the Building Official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of this code and relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, as determined by the Building Official.
SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED. Submittal documents consisting of construction documents, and other data shall be submitted in two or
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more sets with each application for a permit. The construction documents shall be prepared by a registered design professional where required by the statutes of the jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed. Where special conditions exist, the Building Official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional. The Building Official is authorized to waive the submission of construction documents and other data not required to be prepared by a registered design professional if it is found that the nature of the work applied for is such that reviewing of construction documents is not necessary to obtain compliance with this code.
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE. The area where new construction and wild undeveloped areas (Wildland) come together. The Building Official and/or the Fire Marshal shall be able to determine high hazard fire areas more restrictive than the state, and determine what materials, methods and assemblies shall be used for construction.
(1966 Code, § 5-1) (Ord. 501, (part); Ord. 1,004, § 1, 2020; Ord. 1054, § 1, 2023)