The California Building Standards Commission www.bsc.ca.gov completed the adoption and approval of the following building standards and all applicable codes below will become effective on January 1, 2011. Projects submitted for plan check on or after that date shall comply with the new codes.

2010 California Building Code

 

Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Building Code (Part 2 of Title 24), based on the 2009 International Building Code.

 

2010 California Residential Code (New for California!)

 

Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Residential Code (Part 2.5 of Title 24), based on the 2009 International Residential Code. All new residential buildings are required to be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler.

2010 California Electrical Code

 

Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Electrical Code (Part 3 of Title 24), based on the 2008 National Electrical Code.

 

2010 California Mechanical Code

 

Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Mechanical Code (Part 4 of Title 24), based on 2009 Uniform Mechanical Code.

 

2010 California Plumbing Code

 

Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Plumbing Code (Part 5 of Title 24), based on the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code.

 

2010 California Energy Code

 

No changes were proposed for the 2010 California Energy Code (Part 6 of Title 24) that was effective on January 1, 2010.

 

2010 California Green Building Standards Code (First State-Adopted Green Code!)

 

Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24). All new residential and non-residential buildings shall comply.

The City of Costa Mesa made several local amendments to the above listed codes:

 

• Minimum Class B roof assembly is required for all new roofs and re-roofs.
• High-rise definition is modified to 55 feet and above.
• High-rise smoke-proof enclosures are placed in the emergency power loads category.
  

 

For additional information you may contact the Building Division at 714-754-5273.

 

The City of Costa Mesa

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING RECORDS AND INSPECTION PROGRAM

 

Prepared by:
City of Costa Mesa
Development Services Department
P.O. Box 1200
Costa Mesa, California 92628
(714) 754-5273

 

BACKGROUND

 

As of January 1, 1998, all sales of residential properties containing four or more dwelling units in the City of Costa Mesa must be accompanied with a Report of Residential Building Records. This new reporting requirement is intended to reduce and prevent violations of building, housing and zoning codes by providing property owners with information regarding the permitted and illegal uses and construction, as well as substandard housing conditions. The City of Costa Mesa is also making available inspection services to property owners for identifying potentially hazardous and substandard conditions.

 

This pamphlet provides an overview of the process involved and answers the more frequently asked questions.

 

WHO IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THIS REPORT?

 

Upon entering into an "agreement of sale" (see the definitions section), the property owner must submit an application for the report to the City's Building Safety Division. Application forms can be obtained from the Building Safety Division, located at 77 Fair Drive on the 2nd Floor, or by calling 754-5273.

 

The application for the report must be filed no later than 3 days after entering into the Agreement of Sale. The filing fee is $35.00 per unit.

 

The report will be completed by the City's Building Safety Division and returned to the property owner within 30 days of submittal of the completed application and fee payment.

 

WHAT WILL THE REPORT ADDRESS?

 

The report will be based on the public records possessed and maintained by the City of Costa Mesa. These include the current zoning of the property, the number of units permitted by the zone, what building permits exist for the property, and what certificates of occupancy exist for the property. Please note, however, that the City of Costa Mesa may not have permits issued for buildings constructed prior to the City's incorporation in 1953.

 

WILL MY PROPERTY BE INSPECTED?

 

Your property will only be inspected if you request it. On the application form, your consent can be given for a property inspection. The fee for the inspection service is $115.00 for each unit. If your consent is given, the inspection fees will be added to the initial filing fee.

If consent for an inspection is not given, it shall be indicated in the report. Additionally, a copy of the application, noting that consent was not given, must be delivered by the property owner to all other parties in the "agreement of sale" within 3 days of initially filing the application. After receiving the report, the other parties then must file the "acknowledgment of receipt" with the City within 30 days of the sale.

 

WHAT WILL THE INSPECTION COVER?

 

The inspector will verify building permit records, as well as report any housing, building and/or zoning code violations. The findings from the inspection will be noted in the Report of Residential Building Records, along with any corrections of such violations as determined by possible re-inspections.

 

All inspection requests will be coordinated by the Building Safety Division. If the property owner fails to appear at the scheduled inspection time, a cancellation fee will result.

 

ARE FEES REFUNDABLE?

 

A fee refund is only possible if requested prior to staff review of the records for the report. A 20% administrative charge shall be withheld from the refund. Once a property inspection has occurred, no refund is possible.

 

ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE REPORT REQUIREMENT?

 

The reporting provisions shall not apply to the following types of property transfers:

 

• The first sale of a previously unoccupied residential building.
• Transfers of ownership required by a court order.
• Transfers due to default.
• Transfers by a fiduciary in the course of administration of a guardianship, conservatorship, or trust.
• Transfers between co-property owners.
• Transfers between spouses as a result of decree of divorce or legal separation, or from a property settlement agreement incidental to such a decree.
• Transfers by the State Controller involving the unclaimed property law.
• Transfers to a governmental entity.
• Transfers for the purpose of refinancing existing debt secured by the residential building.
• Transfers by owner into a family or living trust where the owner is a beneficiary or trustee of the trust.

 

Any owner violating these reporting provisions shall be subject to a fine.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Owner - Any person, partnership, association, corporation or fiduciary having legal or equitable title in any residential building, and the authorized agent thereof.

 

Residential Building - Any structure which contains 4 or more dwelling units as that term is defined in Title 13 of the City of Costa Mesa Municipal Code, and shall include the buildings or structures accessory to the structure which contains the dwelling units, and the real property on which the residential building is located.

 

Agreement of Sale - Any agreement or written instrument which provides for the transfer of ownership of real property including but not limited to land sale contracts, exchange agreements or lease purchase agreements.

 

Report of Residential Building Records or Report - A report issued by the City describing the zoning of the residential building, the number of dwelling units permitted by the zoning classification, and other information relevant to the use, occupancy, and construction of the residential building.

 

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING REPORT FEE SUMMARY
Application Fee:	$35.00 for each unit.
Inspection Fee:	$115.00 for each unit.

 

For additional information on this program, please call:
City of Costa Mesa Building Safety Division at
(714) 754-5273
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.