Health & Saf. Code, § 17922

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the building standards adopted and submitted by the department for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5, and the other rules and regulations that are contained in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, as adopted, amended, or repealed from time to time pursuant to this chapter shall be adopted by reference, except that the building standards and rules and regulations shall include any additions or deletions made by the department. The building standards and rules and regulations shall impose substantially the same requirements as are contained in the most recent editions of the following international or uniform industry codes as adopted by the organizations specified:

(1) The Uniform Housing Code of the International Conference of Building Officials, except its definition of “substandard building.”

(2) The International Building Code of the International Code Council.

(3) The International Residential Code of the International Code Council.

(4) The Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.

(5) The Uniform Mechanical Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.

(6) The National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association.

(7) The International Existing Building Code of the International Code Council.

(b) In adopting building standards for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 for publication in the California Building Standards Code and in adopting other regulations, the department shall consider local conditions and any amendments to the international or uniform codes referred to in this section. Except as provided in Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 18901), in the absence of adoption by regulation, the most recent editions of the international or uniform codes referred to in this section shall be considered to be adopted one year after the date of publication of the applicable international or uniform codes.

(c) Except as provided in Section 17959.5, local use zone requirements, local fire zones, building setback, side and rear yard requirements, and property line requirements are hereby specifically and entirely reserved to the local jurisdictions notwithstanding any requirements found or set forth in this part.

(d) Regulations other than building standards which are adopted, amended, or repealed by the department, and building standards adopted and submitted by the department for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5, governing alteration and repair of existing buildings and moving of apartment houses and dwellings shall permit the replacement, retention, and extension of original materials and the continued use of original methods of construction as long as the hotel, lodginghouse, motel, apartment house, or dwelling, or portions thereof, or building and structure accessory thereto, complies with the provisions published in the California Building Standards Code and the other rules and regulations of the department or alternative local standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13143.2 or Section 17958.5 and does not become or continue to be a substandard building. Building additions or alterations which increase the area, volume, or size of an existing building, and foundations for apartment houses and dwellings moved, shall comply with the requirements for new buildings or structures specified in this part, or in building standards published in the California Building Standards Code, or in the other rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this part. However, the additions and alterations shall not cause the building to exceed area or height limitations applicable to new construction.

(e) Regulations other than building standards which are adopted by the department and building standards adopted and submitted by the department for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 governing alteration and repair of existing buildings shall permit the use of alternate materials, appliances, installations, devices, arrangements, or methods of construction if the material, appliance, installation, device, arrangement, or method is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this part, the building standards published in the California Building Standards Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this part in performance, safety, and for the protection of life and health. Regulations governing abatement of substandard buildings shall permit those conditions prescribed by Section 17920.3 which do not endanger the life, limb, health, property, safety, or welfare of the public or the occupant thereof.

(f) A local enforcement agency may not prohibit the use of materials, appliances, installations, devices, arrangements, or methods of construction specifically permitted by the department to be used in the alteration or repair of existing buildings, but those materials, appliances, installations, devices, arrangements, or methods of construction may be specifically prohibited by local ordinance as provided pursuant to Section 17958.5.

(g) A local ordinance may not permit any action or proceeding to abate violations of regulations governing maintenance of existing buildings, unless the building is a substandard building or the violation is a misdemeanor.