Culver City, California building code

Culver City enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC with 2 local amendments on top (Ord. 2025-015 (building, CCMC Ch. 15.02) + Ord. 2025-016 (fire, CCMC 9.02)). The amendments are the part that gets sets corrected. The state edition is only the floor. Culver City sits in Los Angeles County.

Current edition
2025 Title 24
Prior edition
2022 Title 24

Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2022 Title 24.

Adopted code and local amendments by discipline

Adopted code editions and local amendments by discipline
DisciplineAdopted codeLocal amendment
Building2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBCCulver City local amendments, Ord. 2025-015 (building, CCMC Ch. 15.02) + Ord. 2025-016 (fire, CCMC 9.02)Local text supersedes the state code
Residential2025 CRC, T24 Pt 2.5 based on 2024 IRCn/a
Existing buildings2025 CEBC, T24 Pt 10 based on 2024 IEBCn/a
Fire2025 CFC, T24 Pt 9 based on 2024 IFCn/a
Electrical2025 CEC, T24 Pt 3 based on 2023 NECn/a
Mechanical2025 CMC, T24 Pt 4 based on 2024 UMCn/a
Plumbing2025 CPC, T24 Pt 5 based on 2024 UPCn/a
Energy2025 Energy Code, T24 Pt 6n/a
Green / sustainability2025 CALGreen, T24 Pt 11n/a
Accessibility2025 CBC Ch 11A/11B, T24 Pt 2n/a
Wildland-urban interface2025 CA-WUIC, T24 Pt 7 based on 2024 IWUICn/a
Historical buildings2025 CHBC, T24 Pt 8n/a
Administrative2025 CAC, T24 Pt 1n/a
ZoningNo state-adopted codeLocal zoning ordinance (city or county), subject to state preemptionLocal text supersedes the state code

What Culver City actually amended

Quoted from the adopted ordinance. These are the provisions that differ from the state code, which is where most correction lists come from. Excerpts, not the whole ordinance. Follow the source link for the full text.

9.02.040 · OF THE CULVER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND

9.02.040 OF THE CULVER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND PORTIONS OF THE 2022 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE AND THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR SINGLE-EXIT APARTMENT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF UP TO SIX STORIES DUE TO LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL, OR TOPOGRAPHICAL, CHANGES WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 authorize the City Council to make reasonably necessary changes or modifications to the provisions of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24, California Code of Regulations) upon finding these changes are reasonably necessary due to local administrative, climatic, geological or topographical… […]

113.4 · Access Board of Appeals

113.4 Access Board of Appeals. -15- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 A. There shall be a Disability Access Board of Appeals (“Access Board of Appeals”) to consist of five members. Each member shall be appointed and hold office in accordance with procedures established by resolution of the City Council. Three of the five members shall be members of the Building Board of Appeals and shall be co- appointed by the City Council to be a member of the Building Board of Appeals and the Access Board of Appeals. […]

1006.3.5 · Single-exit buildings with Group R-2 dwelling units with an occupied floor

1006.3.5 Single-exit buildings with Group R-2 dwelling units with an occupied floor or roof above the third story. Single-exit, Group R-2 occupancy buildings with an occupied floor or roof above the third story are hereby permitted within the City of Culver City so long as they strictly comply with all of the following in addition to the requirements of this Code, and the CBC where specified, other than CBC Section 1006.3.4 as in effect on June 30, 2025: 1. […]

1613.6.8 · Primary and secondary anchorage and diaphragm strut design

1613.6.8 Primary and secondary anchorage and diaphragm strut design. Primary and secondary anchors and diaphragm struts shall be designed in accordance with the following provisions: 1. Fasteners. All bolted fasteners used to develop connections to wood members shall be provided with square plate washers at all bolt heads and nuts. Washers shall be minimum 0.229 inch by 3 inches by 3 inches (5.82 mm by 76 mm by 76 mm) in size. Nuts shall be tightened to finger tight plus one half (1/2) wrench turn prior to covering the framing. 2.Fastening. […]

2308.6.5.2 · The wood structural panel sheathing shall extend up over the

2308.6.5.2. The wood structural panel sheathing shall extend up over the solid sawn or glued-laminated header and shall be nailed in accordance with Figure 2308.6.5.2. A built-up header consisting of at least two 2-inch by 12- inch (51 mm by 305 mm) boards, fastened in accordance with Item 24 of Table 2304.10.1 shall be permitted to be used. A spacer, if used, shall be placed on the side of the built-up beam opposite the wood structural panel -56- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 sheathing. The header shall extend between the inside faces of the first full- length outer studs of each panel. […]

J104.2.3 · Engineered grading requirements. In addition to the provisions of

J104.2.3 Engineered grading requirements. In addition to the provisions of Chapter 1 Division II, Section 107 and Appendix J Section J 104.2, an application for an engineered grading permit shall be accompanied by plans and specifications, and supporting data consisting of a soils engineering report and engineering geology report. The plans and specifications shall be prepared and signed by an individual licensed by the state to prepare such plans or specifications when required by the building official. Specifications shall contain information covering structures and material requirements. […]

R503.2.4 · Openings in horizontal diaphragms. Openings in horizontal

R503.2.4 Openings in horizontal diaphragms. Openings in horizontal diaphragms with a dimension perpendicular to the joist that is greater than 4 feet (1.2 m) shall be constructed in accordance with Figure R503.2.4. /// /// /// -102- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 a. Blockings shall be provided beyond headers. b. Metal ties not less than 0.058 inch [1.47 mm (16 galvanized gage)] by 1.5 inches (38 mm) wide with eight 16d common nails on each side of the header-joist intersection. The metal ties shall have a minimum yield of 33,000 psi (227 MPa). c. […]

J101.4 · Safety Precautions

J101.4 Safety Precautions 1. General a) If at any stage of work on an excavation or fill, the building official determines that the work has become or is likely to become dangerous to any person, or is likely to endanger any property, public or private, the building official must be authorized to require safety precautions to be immediately taken by the property owner as a condition to continuing such permitted work or to require cessation thereof forthwith unless and until it is made safe and to amend the plans for such work. […]

J712.7 · GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOLOGY REPORT

J712.7 GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOLOGY REPORT. All projects involving properties with a Hillside "H" Grading Designation and subject to a grading permit shall be required to prepare and submit a geotechnical report and a geology report as follows: A. Geotechnical report. A geotechnical report shall be prepared by a licensed geotechnical engineer and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Building Official (based upon third party review by a City approved civil engineer, geotechnical engineer and/or engineering geologist) that the project is properly located and designed to address site specific geotechnical conditions. Every geotechnical report shall: 1. […]

R602.10.2.3 · Minimum number of braced wall panels. Braced wall lines with a

R602.10.2.3 Minimum number of braced wall panels. Braced wall lines with a length of 16 feet (4877 mm) or less shall have a minimum of two braced wall panels of any length or one braced wall panel equal to 48 inches (1219 mm) or more. Braced wall lines greater than 16 feet (4877 mm) shall have a minimum of two braced wall panels. No braced wall panel shall be less than 48 inches in length in Seismic Design Category D0, D1, or D2. […]

Source: culver-city.legistar1.com · culver-city.legistar1.com

Overlays that can apply

Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Los Angeles County. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.

  • Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
  • FEMA mapped flood hazard area

State law that overrides local zoning here

When one of these applies, the state statute governs over a conflicting local standard. This is the most common reason a local rule someone quotes you turns out not to be enforceable against a project.

  • Gov. Code 66310 et seq.

    State ADU law preempts local zoning that would preclude a conforming ADU/JADU.

    Applies when: project includes an ADU or JADU

  • Gov. Code 65915

    State Density Bonus Law concessions/waivers override local development standards.

    Applies when: project requests a density bonus

  • Gov. Code 65852.21 / 66411.7

    SB 9 urban lot split / two-unit ministerial approval preempts conflicting local standards.

    Applies when: project is an SB 9 lot split or two-unit development

Sources

Common questions

What building code does Culver City use?

Culver City enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC, the edition adopted statewide in California, amended locally in 2 disciplines (Ord. 2025-015 (building, CCMC Ch. 15.02) + Ord. 2025-016 (fire, CCMC 9.02)).

Does Culver City amend the California code?

Yes: building, zoning. For building, the rule is: local text supersedes the state code.

Where do I confirm the code edition for a Culver City permit?

With the city building department that will review the permit. Adoption ordinances are amended on a local schedule, and a set submitted days apart can fall under different editions during a changeover.

Nearby jurisdictions in Los Angeles County

Statewide

Check a plan set against Culver City code

Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.

Your first check is free, no card required.

Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.