Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
1.1.3 Scope — 2025 California Mechanical Code
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-10-19 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) § 1.1.3 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replace- ment, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, main- tenance, removal, and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures throughout the State of California.
1.1.3.1 Nonstate-Regulated Buildings, Structures, and Applications. Except as modified by local ordinance pursuant to Section 1.1.8, the following standards in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 shall apply to all occupancies and applications not regulated by a state agency.
1.1.3.2 State-Regulated Buildings, Structures, and Applications. The model code, state amendments to the model code, and/or state amendments where there are no relevant model code provisions shall apply to the following buildings, structures, and applications regu- lated by state agencies as specified in Sections 1.2.0 through 1.14.0, except where modified by local ordinance pursuant to Section 1.1.8. When adopted by a state agency, the provisions of this code shall be enforced by the appropriate enforcing agency, but only to the extent of authority granted to such agency by the state legislature.
Note: See “How to Distinguish Between Model Code Language and California Amendments” in the front of the code.
(1) State-owned buildings, including buildings constructed by the Trustees of the California State University, and to the extent permitted by California laws, buildings designed and constructed by the
Regents of the University of California, and regu- lated by the Building Standards Commission. See Section 1.2.0 for additional scope provisions.
(2) Section 1.3.0 is reserved for the Board of State and Community Corrections.
(3) Section 1.4.0 is reserved for the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(4) Section 1.5.0 is reserved for the California Energy Commission.
(5) Section 1.6.0 is reserved for the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(6) Organized camps, laboratory animal quarters, public swimming pools, radiation protection, commissaries serving mobile food preparation vehi- cles, and wild animal quarantine facilities regulated by the Department of Public Health. See Section 1.7.0 for additional scope provisions.
(7) Hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, dwellings, dormitories, condominiums, shelters for homeless persons, congregate residences, employee housing, factory-built housing and other types of dwellings containing sleeping accommodations with or without common toilets or cooking facilities. See Section 1.8.2.1.1 for additional scope provisions.
(8) Accommodations for persons with disabilities in buildings containing newly constructed covered multifamily dwellings, new common use areas serving existing covered multifamily dwellings, additions to existing buildings where the addition alone meets the definition of covered multifamily dwellings and new common-use areas serving new covered multifamily dwellings which are regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. See Section 1.8.2.1.2 for additional scope provisions.
(9) Permanent buildings and permanent accessory build- ings or structures constructed within mobilehome parks and special occupancy parks regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. See Section 1.8.2.1.3 for additional scope provisions.
(10)Accommodations for persons with disabilities regu- lated by the Division of the State Architect. See Section 1.9.1 for additional scope provisions.
(11) Public elementary and secondary schools, commu- nity college buildings and state-owned or state- leased essential service buildings regulated by the Division of the State Architect. See Section 1.9.2 for additional scope provisions.
(12)Reserved for the State Historical Building Safety Board with the Division of the State Architect.
DIVISION I CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATION
(13)General acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, skilled nursing and/or intermediate care facilities, clinics licensed by the Department of Public Health and correctional treatment centers regulated by the Department of Health Care Access and Information/Office of Statewide Hospital Plan- ning and Development. See Section 1.10.0 for addi- tional scope provisions.
(14)Applications regulated by the Office of State Fire Marshal include but are not limited to the following in accordance with Section 1.11.0:
(1) Buildings or structures used or intended for use
as an:
1.1. Asylum, jail, prison.
1.2. Mental hospital, hospital, home for the elderly, children’s nursery, children’s home or institution, school or any similar occu- pancy of any capacity.
1.3. Theater, dancehall, skating rink, audito- rium, assembly hall, meeting hall, night- club, fair building or similar place of assemblage where 50 or more persons may gather together in a building, room, or structure for the purpose of amusement, entertainment, instruction, deliberation, worship, drinking or dining, awaiting transportation, or education.
1.4. Small family day care homes, large family day-care homes, residential facilities and residential facilities for the elderly, resi- dential care facilities.
1.5. State institutions or other state-owned or state-occupied buildings.
1.6. High rise structures.
1.7. Motion picture production studios.
1.8. Organized camps.
1.9. Residential structures.
(2) Tents, awnings, or other fabric enclosures used in connection with any occupancy.
(3) Fire alarm devices, equipment, and systems in connection with any occupancy.
(4) Hazardous materials, flammable, and combustible liquids.
(5) Public school automatic fire detection, alarm, and sprinkler systems.
(6) Wildland-urban interface fire areas.
(15)Section 1.12.0 is reserved for public libraries constructed and renovated using funds from the California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988 and regulated by the State Librarian.
(16)Section 1.13.0 is reserved for the Department of Water Resources.
(17)For applications listed in Section 1.9.1 regulated by the Division of the State Architect – Access Compli-
ance, outdoor environments and uses shall be clas- sified according to accessibility uses described in Chapters 11A and 11B.
(18)Section 1.14.0 is reserved for Marine Oil Terminals regulated by the California State Lands Commis- sion.
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