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) 2013 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE DIVISION II ADMINISTRATION SECTION R105 PERMITS Rl05.1 Required. Any owner or 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 installa tion of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. Rl05.2 Work exempt from permit. Permits shall not be required for the following. Exemption from permit require ments of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the pro visions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Building: 1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.15 m2. 2. Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high. 3. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a sur- charge. 4. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 927 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1. 5. Sidewalks and driveways. 6. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 7. Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep. 8. Swings and other playground equipment. 9. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support. 10. Decks not exceeding 200 square feet (18.58 m 2 in area, that are not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.4. Electrical: 1. Listed cord-and-plug connected temporary decora tive lighting. 2. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles but not the outlets therefor. 3. Replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices of the required capacity in the same location. 4. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy. 5. Minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable elec trical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles. Gas: 1. Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appli ances. 2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe. 3. Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid. Mechanical: 1. Portable heating appliances. 2. Portable ventilation appliances. 3. Portable cooling units. 4. Steam, hot- or chilled-water piping within any heat ing or cooling equipment regulated by this code. 5. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe. 6. Portable evaporative coolers. 7. Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds (4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant or that are actuated by motors of 1horsepower (746 W) or less. 8. Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this code. The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures. R105.2.1Emergency repairs. Where equipment replace ments and repairs must be performed in an emergency sit uation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day to the building official. Rl05.2.2 Repairs. Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or the connection of approved porta ble electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles. Such repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress, ---PAGE BREAK--- 2013 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE DIVISION II ADMINISTRATION or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety. Rl05.2.3 Public service agencies. A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of genera tion, transmission, distribution, metering or other related equipment that is under the ownership and control of pub- licservice agencies by established right. R105.3 Application for permit. To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the department of building safety for that purpose. Such application shall: 1. Identify and describe the work to be covered by the per mit for which application is made. 2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by legal description, street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work. 3. Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed work is intended. 4. Be accompanied by construction documents and other information as required in Section R106.l. 5. State the valuation of the proposed work. 6. Be signed by the applicant or the applicant's authorized agent. 7. Give such other data and information as required by the building official. Rl05.3.l Action on application. The building official shall examine or cause to be examined applications for permits and amendments thereto within a reasonable time after filing. If the application or the construction docu ments do not conform to the requirements of pertinent laws, the building official shall reject such application in writing stating the reasons therefor. Ifthe building official is satisfied that the proposed work conforms to the require ments of this code and laws and ordinances applicable thereto, the building official shall issue a permit therefor as soon aspracticable. Rl05.3.1.1 Determination of substantially improved or substantially damaged existing buildings in flood hazard areas. For applications for reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of exist ing buildings or structures located in a flood hazard area as established by Table R301.2(1), the building official shall examine or cause to be examined the con struction documents and shall prepare a finding with regard to the value of the proposed work. For buildings that have sustained damage of any origin, the value of the proposed work shall include the cost to repair the building or structure to its predamaged condition. If the building official finds that the value of proposed work equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building or structure before the damage has occurred or the improvement is started, the finding shall be pro vided to the board of appeals for a determination of substantial improvement or substantial damage. Appli cations determined by the board of appeals to constitute substantial improvement or substantial damage shall require all existing portions of the entire building or structure to meet the requirements of Section R322. Rl05.3.2 Time limitation of application. An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned 180 days after the date of filing unless such application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued; except that the building official is authorized to grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated. Rl05.4 Validity of permit. The issuance or granting of a permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or of any other ordinance of the jurisdiction. Permits presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provi sions of this code or other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. The issuance of a permit based on construction documents and other data shall not prevent the building offi cial from requiring the correction of errors in the construction documents and other data. The building official is also autho rized to prevent occupancy or use of a structure where in vio lation of this code or of any other ordinances of this jurisdiction. R105.5 Expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by such permit is com menced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized by such pe rmit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The building official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifi able cause demonstrated. R105.6 Suspension or revocation. The building official is authorized to suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this code wherever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete informa tion, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this code. R105.7 Placement of permit . The building permit or copy thereof shall be kept on the site of the work until the comple tion of the project. R105.8 Responsibility. It shall be the duty of every person who performs work for the installation or repair of building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, for which this code is applicable, to this code. R105.9 Preliminary inspection. Before issuing a permit, the building official is authorized to examine or cause to be examined buildings, structures and sites for which an applica tion has been filed.