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CHAPTER 1 - ADMINISTRATIONSEC. 101. TITLE, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE.101.1. Title.

This article shall be known as the “

Los Angeles Building Code

” or “

Building Code

” or “

LABC

,” a portion of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC), and wherever the word “

Code

” is used in this article it shallmean the “

Los Angeles Building Code.

” The Los Angeles Building Code adopts by reference portions of theCalifornia Building Code.

101.2. Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to safeguard life, limb, health, property and public welfare byregulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location andmaintenance of all buildings and structures erected or to be erected within the city, and by regulating certain gradingoperations within the city.

101.3 Application.

Chapters 1 through 96 of the Los Angeles Building Code as published by the International CodeCouncil (hereinafter referred to as the published code), are Divisions 1 through 96, respectively, of Article 1,Chapter IX, of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. For uniformity with the

California Building Code

(CBC), only thedivision and section numbers are stated in the published code. For the complete Los Angeles Municipal Code sectionnumber, each code section number specified in Chapters 1 through 96 of the published code shall be presumed to be preceded by two digits and a decimal point (specifically “91.”). For example, this section is Section 91.101.3 of theLos Angeles Municipal Code. Wherever in this code reference is made to the appendix, the provisions in theappendix shall not apply unless specifically adopted.

NOTE:

For clarification purposes, the following sections of the CBC are repeated.

SECTION 108 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Please insert CBC Sections 108.2 through 108.2.1.3.SECTION 109 DIVISION OF THE STATE ARCHITECT. Please insert CBC Sections 109.1 through 109.1.7.SECTION 110OFFICE OF STATEWIDE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. Please insert CBC Sections 110.1 through 110.4.4SECTION 111OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL. Please insert CBC Section 111.1 through 111.2.1.1

101.4. Scope.

The provisions of this Code shall apply to the construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair,maintenance and use of any building or structure within this jurisdiction, except work located primarily in a publicway, public utility towers and poles, mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in this Code, and hydraulicflood control structures.For additions, alterations, moving and maintenance of buildings and structures, see Chapter 34. For temporary buildings and structures, see Section 3103.Where, in any specific case, different sections of this Code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement and aspecific requirement, the specific requirement shall be applicable.

2Wherever in this Code reference is made to an appendix, the provisions in the appendix shall not apply unlessspecifically adopted.The metric conversions are provided in parenthesis following the English units. Where industry has made metricconversions available, the conversions conform to current industry standards. Formulas are also provided withmetric equivalents. Metric equivalent formulas immediately follow the English formula and are denoted by “

For SI

” preceding the metric equivalent. Some formulas do not use dimensions and, thus, are not provided with a metricequivalent. Multiplying conversion factors have been provided for formulas where metric forms were unavailable.Tables are provided with multiplying conversion factors in subheadings for each tabulated units measurement.

101.5. Work Not in Scope.

The provisions of this Code shall not apply to any of the following:1. A building accessory to a dwelling and not located in Fire District No. 1 or 2, provided the building isnot more than 64 square feet in area or 8 feet in height and does not contain any heating, plumbing or electrical installation, and is located as permitted by the Los Angeles Zoning Code.2. Oil derricks.3. Towers or poles supporting public utility communication lines, antennas, or power transmission lines.4. Retaining walls which are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height, measured from the bottom of the footingto the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or sloping earth, or impounding flammable liquids.This exemption shall not apply to retaining walls of any height built on slopes steeper than 1 vertical to 5horizontal (20% slope).5. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 927 L) andthe ratio of the height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.6. Motion picture sets when not supported by any portion of any building.7. Pergolas and lath houses, both of which shall be outside of any fire district, not over 400 square feet inarea, and not supported by or attached to any portion of any building.8. Work in a public way, dams and drainage structures constructed by or under contract with the Board of Public Works, the Department of Water and Power and the County Flood Control District, unless thestructure forms a portion of the support for a building or a structure coming within the jurisdiction of theDepartment of Building and Safety.9. Portable amusement devices and structures, including merry-go-rounds, ferris wheels, rotatingconveyances, slides, similar devices, and portable accessory structures whose use is necessary for theoperation of such amusement devices and structures; any portable accessory structure included in the provisions of this subdivision shall be limited to a cover or roof over each device, but shall not include anystorage building or detached structure which is not an integral part of the device.10. Isolated buildings not larger in area than 16 square feet, including roof projections, and not more than 8feet in height, if separated by a distance of 20 feet or more.11. Nothing in this Code shall apply to any excavation, removal, fill or deposit of any earth or other materials from individual interment sites, underground crypts or burial vaults within a property which isdedicated or used for cemetery purposes, provided that such work does not affect the lateral support or increase the stresses in or pressure upon any adjacent or contiguous property not owned by the cemeteryauthority.12. The surface mining of minerals in a “G” Surface Mining District as established and provided for inSection 13.03 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, or where permitted by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

313. The depositing of rubbish or other material at any dump operated by the City of Los Angeles, or by any person pursuant to the provisions of Section 66.15 or 66.25 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.14. Nothing in this Code shall apply to grading in an isolated, self-contained area if the department findsthat by reason of such isolation and self-containment no danger to private or public property can now or thereafter result from grading operations.15. Any portable metal hangar less than 2,000 square feet in size, located on a city-owned airport, used for the parking of aircraft only, and bearing evidence of approval by the Department of Motor Vehicles of theState of California for movement on any highway. Such structure shall, as an integral part of its basicconstruction, be equipped with a hitch or coupling device for towing. It shall accommodate, without further major structural change, wheel and axle assemblies which will provide such structure with a safe means of portability. No water or sanitary facilities shall be permitted in such structure and it shall be equipped with permanent ventilation as required for Group S, Division 3 Occupancies.16. Tents and trailers used for office or shelter purposes accessory to a Christmas tree sales lot during themonth of December only, provided the aggregate area of all tents and trailers does not exceed 600 squarefeet for each sales lot. (Such tents are regulated by the Fire Department under Article 7, Chapter V of theLos Angeles Municipal Code.)17. Tents accessory to a dwelling and not exceeding 450 square feet in area.18. Signs not exceeding 20 square feet in area, placed upon the surface of the ground, no part of whichextends more than 6 feet 6 inches above the underlying ground, which have no mechanical or moving partsor to which no electricity or other source of illumination or power are attached or made a part thereof. Suchsigns shall be separated from each other a minimum distance of 15 feet.19. Boards and signs used exclusively to display official notices issued by any court or public officer in the performance of a public duty or by a private person in giving legal notice.

SEC. 102. UNSAFE BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES.

The regulations for the abatement of unsafe buildings or structures are enumerated in Chapter 89 of this Code.

SEC. 103. VIOLATIONS.103.1. General.

No person shall construct, alter, repair, demolish, remove, move, use, occupy or maintain, withinthe City, any building or structure or any portion thereof, except as provided by this Code. No person shall grade, excavate or fill any land except as provided by this Code.The permissive provisions of this Code shall not be presumed to waive any limitations imposed by other statutes or ordinances of the state or City.All of the provisions of this Code shall be limitations for safeguarding life, limb, health, property and public welfare.If two or more pertinent limitations are not identical, those limitations shall prevail which provide the greater safetyto life or limb, health, property or public welfare.

103.2. Violation of a Building or Grading Permit.

Every person who knowingly and willfully procures a buildingand/or grading permit without the consent of the owner of record of the property for which the permit is issued, or such person’s agent, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

EXCEPTION:

This subsection shall not apply to building and/or grading permits obtained pursuant to andin compliance with an order of a court of law or a governmental agency.