Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
Section 501 — GENERAL
2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
501.1 Scope. ¶
The provisions of this chapter shall control the alteration, addition and change of occupancy of existing buildings and structures, including historic buildings and structures, [BSC] including state-regulated structures in accordance with Section 501.1.2. Historic buildings and structures shall comply with Part 8, Title 24, C.C.R.
Exceptions: 1. [HCD 2] For relocated or moved buildings and maintenance, alteration, repair, addition or change of occupancy to existing buildings and accessory structures in mobilehome parks or special occupancy parks as provided in Section 1.8.2.1.3. See California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapters 2 and 2.2. 2. [HCD 1] Limited-density owner-built rural dwellings.
[HCD 1] In addition to the requirements in this chapter, maintenance, alteration, repair, addition or change of occupancy to existing buildings and accessory structures under the authority of the Department of Housing and Community Development, as provided in Section 1.8.2.1.1, shall comply with California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1.
501.1.1 Compliance with other methods. Alterations, additions and changes of occupancy to existing buildings and structures shall comply with the provisions of this chapter or with one of the methods provided in Section 301.3.
501.1.2 Existing state-owned structures. [BSC] The provisions of Sections 317 through 322 establish minimum standards for earth- quake evaluation and design for retrofit of existing state-owned structures, including buildings owned by the University of California, the California State University and the Judicial Council.
The provisions of Sections 317 through 322 may be adopted by a local jurisdiction for earthquake evaluation and design for retrofit of existing buildings.
501.2 Fire-resistance ratings. ¶
Where approved by the code official, in buildings where an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2 of the California Building Code has been added, and the building is now sprinklered throughout, the required fire-resistance ratings of building elements and materials shall be permitted to meet the requirements of the current building code. The building is required to meet the other applicable requirements of the California Building Code .
Plans, investigation and evaluation reports, and other data shall be submitted indicating which building elements and materials the applicant is requesting the code official to review and approve for determination of applying the current building code fire-resistance ratings. Any special construction features, including fire-resistance-rated assemblies and smoke-resistive assemblies, conditions of occupancy, means of egress conditions, fire code deficiencies, approved modifications or approved alternative materials, design and methods of construction, and equipment applying to the building that impact required fire-resistance ratings shall be identified in the evaluation reports submitted.
501.3 Health care facilities. ¶
In Group I-2 facilities, ambulatory care facilities and outpatient clinics, any altered or added portion of an existing electrical or medical gas systems shall be required to meet installation and equipment requirements in NFPA 99.
501.4 Existing Group R occupancies. ¶
501.4 Existing Group R occupancies. [SFM] See the California Residential Code for existing Group R-3 occupancies or Chapter 11 of the California Fire Code for all other existing Group R occupancies.
501.5 Carbon monoxide alarms. ¶
501.5 Carbon monoxide alarms. [HCD 1, SFM] Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17926, carbon monoxide detection shall be provided in all existing Group R buildings, as required in Section 915 of the California Building Code or Section R315 of the California Resi- dential Code, as applicable.
501.5.1 Carbon monoxide detection in alterations to an existing Group E building. Where the alteration adds any of the condi- tions identified in the California Fire Code Sections 915.1.2 through 915.1.6 to an existing Group E building, not previously required to be provided with carbon monoxide detection, new carbon monoxide detection shall be installed in accordance with Section 915 of the California Fire Code.
Exceptions: 1. The alteration replaces an existing fossil-fuel burning appliance, fireplace or forced-air furnace, or any of the conditions identified in Sections 915.1.2 through 915.1.6 are already present. 2. The Group E building was constructed before the adoption of the 2016 California Building Standards Code.
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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
- Chapter 3A — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
- Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
- Chapter 4A — REPAIRS
- Chapter 5A — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
- Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
- Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
- Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
- Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
- Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
- Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
- Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
- Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
- Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
- Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
- Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING B…
- Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIS…
- Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUIL…
- Appendix D — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix E — TEMPORARY EMERGENCY USES
- Appendix A — GUIDELINES ON FIRE RATINGS OF ARCHAIC MATERIALS A…