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Board adopts updated California building standards; county adds tiny‑home and other appendices
Summary
Calaveras County adopted the triennial update to local building standards to align with the statewide California building code cycle, including optional appendices for tiny homes, patio covers, alternative materials and a separate Wildland‑Urban Interface code to streamline reviews for 1–2 family dwellings.
The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to incorporate the latest California Building Standards into county code (chapter 15.04) as part of the triennial code adoption.
Doug Oliver, the county’s chief building official, told the board that roughly 77 of the statewide code changes will apply locally and that the county elected to adopt multiple optional appendices to provide clearer pathways for several products and project types. The adopted appendices include guidance for patio covers, tiny homes, and alternate construction materials such as straw bale and cob where appropriate.
Oliver said the state recently separated a Wildland‑Urban Interface code from the residential and building codes; for single‑family and two‑family dwellings the county will now review certain defensible‑space (42/90) requirements under the building department’s authority, reducing routing delays with Cal Fire for those residential reviews.
On tiny homes, staff reviewed Housing and Community Development (HCD) guidance: tiny homes fall into one of three regulatory categories — a recreational vehicle (DMV/RV rules), a manufactured/home built in a factory (Title 25), or a conventionally built dwelling that can be treated under the local code (Title 24). Staff noted HCD guidance defines relevant small dwelling thresholds (Oliver cited a 190‑square‑foot benchmark used in guidance) and warned that simply calling an RV a 'tiny home' does not automatically shift it into Title 24 engineering standards.
Oliver also described administrative flexibility the county will use for applicants near the code cycle deadline: partial or alternate applications may be accepted and held so projects submitted by December 31 can be reviewed under the existing cycle rather than forcing a complete redesign under the new cycle.
Supervisors asked about special inspections, fee implications and how added electrical and safety requirements may affect contractors. Oliver said spot checks and certified special inspectors will be used for certain engineered metal buildings; some inspection time was already built into the county’s existing fee structure and staff will monitor impacts.
The board approved the ordinance to adopt the code updates and appendices by a recorded vote of 5–0.
