Building

The City of Rohnert Park's Building Division is charged with enforcement of the California Building Standards Code. These are the State laws that regulate the construction of all buildings and structures on private property, and all City owned buildings on city-owned property. The Building Division also administers local municipal ordinances pertaining to building construction. (The Building Division does not have jurisdictional authority for mobile home parks or schools.)

The Building Division reviews and approves plans, and issues building permits. Once permits are issued, building inspectors inspect the construction projects to ensure compliance with approved plans and state and local laws. When buildings have passed all inspections and met all other requirements of City, County, and State agencies, the Building Official issues a Certificate of Occupancy.

Building permit records and copies of approved plans are kept on file as required by state law. These records are available for public access at the Building Division office. The Building Division is also a local resource for information on construction technology, green building, and general types of building code questions. Numerous handouts are available online, as well as in the offices of the Building Division at City Hall.

Building Division Phone: (707) 588-2240
Inspection Requests: (707) 588-2239
Building Division Fax: (707) 794-9242

Permits

What type of work requires a building permit?

Any building or structure that is to be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished requires a Building Permit from the Building Department. However, there are some exceptions that do not require a Building Permit. Some examples of these are:

Building

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 128 square feet (11 m2) associated with R-3 and U occupancies only.
• Fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high.
• Oil derricks
• 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 surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids.
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 925L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2:1.
• In R-3 and U occupancies, sidewalks, detached decks and platforms, and driveways, any of which are not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above adjacent grade, and not over any basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets in R-3 occupancies, counter tops in R-3 occupancies, and similar finish work that is not related to work that does require a permit.
• Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 18 inches (610 mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 925L) and are installed entirely above ground.
• Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one and two-family dwellings.
• Window awnings, supported by an exterior wall, that do not project more than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support of Group R-3 and U occupancies.
• Non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753mm) in height.

Electrical

• Repairs and maintenance: Minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
• Radio and television transmitting stations: The provisions of this code shall not apply to the electrical equipment used for radio and television transmissions, but do apply to equipment and wiring for a power supply and the installations of towers and antennas.
• Temporary testing systems: A permit shall not be required for the installation of any temporary system required for the testing or servicing of electrical equipment or apparatus.

Gas

• Portable heating appliance, unless installed to meet the requirements of the California Energy Code.
• Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.

Mechanical

• Portable heating appliance, unless installed to meet the requirements of the California Energy Code.
• Portable ventilation equipment, unless installed to meet the requirements of the California Energy Code.
• Portable cooling unit, unless installed to meet the requirements of the California Energy Code.
• Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code.
• Replacement of any part that does not alter its approval or make it unsafe.
• Portable evaporative cooler.
• Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds (5 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (746 W) or less.

Plumbing

• 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 the new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this code.
  
  Inspections
• Scheduling an Inspection
• General Information About Inspections
• When is an inspection required?
• Civil/Site Inspections
• Special Inspections
• Business License Inspection
• Scheduling an Inspection

Building Codes

Introduction

In California all jurisdictional authorities that issue building permits, excluding charter cities, are required to enforce the California Building Standards Code. The current state codes are known as the 2007 California Building Code, 2007 California Plumbing Code, 2007 Mechanical Code, 2007 Electrical Code, and 2007 California Fire Code. These codes are based upon the 2005 Edition of the NEC and 2006 Edition of the IBC and IFC, 2006 Edition of the UPC, UMC and UFC. City of Rohnert Park Municipal Code Title 15. Building Division FAQ

I want to put a shed in my backyard. Do I need a Building Permit?

If your shed is a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, and the floor area does not exceed 128 square feet, a Building Permit is not required. However, you must still comply with the setback requirements based upon your zoning. (Contact the Planning Department for Zoning questions.) Additionally, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work in a shed requires 1.) a permit and 2). the shed be on a substantial foundation (as determined by the Building Official. Contact the Building Department @ (707)588-2240, Fax (707) 794-9242, or building@rpcity.org

Wind, Seismic & Soil Design

The presentation of the following information is meant to achieve two purposes: One, provide technical data, specific to Rohnert Park, for the use of the engineering design community. Two, inform the general public, in lay terms, of the forces of nature that affect structures.

Residential Earthquake Information

Most Rohnert Park citizens are aware that our City lies within Seismic Zone 4 and that the Rogers Creek Fault is nearby. Moreover, many have seen press articles in which seismologists are quoted as saying that the Rogers Creek Fault has a 1 in 3 chance of activity within the next 30 years, with the potential of a magnitude 7event. Putting this knowledge together with the fact that Rohnert Park lies less than 2 kilometers (approximately 1.25 miles) from the fault, it is very easy to see that seismically safe construction and disaster preparedness are important considerations.

Contractor Selection

Introduction

If the work you are considering is valued at $300 or more, a valid California Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is going to be working. There are approximately 43 different types of contracting, each requiring a separate specialty contractor's license. If your project requires three or more types of work, then the work should be done by a licensed general building contractor. It is important for you to know that the California Contractors License Board may not be able to help you in regards to a contractor complaint if the contractor is not licensed.

Pool/Spa/Hot Tub Requirements

There are three regulatory aspects of swimming pool, spa and hot tub installations: Code requirements for associated plumbing and electrical work, location of the pool, spa or tub on the property and safety barrier requirements.

Code Requirements

Disaster Preparedness

Simply stated, disaster preparedness is an essential element for long-term assurance of the safety and well being of individuals and families. Thus, the primary intention of this section of the City of Rohnert Park's website is to convince you of the importance of disaster preparedness. Secondarily, we will provide you with basic disaster preparedness information.