Rancho Palos Verdes enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC with 4 local amendments on top. The amendments are the part that gets sets corrected. The state edition is only the floor. Rancho Palos Verdes sits in Los Angeles County.
Current edition
2025 Title 24
Prior edition
2022 Title 24
Code authority
City of Rancho Palos Verdes: Community Development, Building & Safety
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
Discipline
Adopted code
Local amendment
Building
2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC
RPV Municipal Code Title 15: building code adoption
Residential
2025 CRC, T24 Pt 2.5 based on 2024 IRC
n/a
Existing buildings
2025 CEBC, T24 Pt 10 based on 2024 IEBC
n/a
Fire
2025 CFC, T24 Pt 9 based on 2024 IFC
n/a
Electrical
2025 CEC, T24 Pt 3 based on 2023 NEC
n/a
Mechanical
2025 CMC, T24 Pt 4 based on 2024 UMC
n/a
Plumbing
2025 CPC, T24 Pt 5 based on 2024 UPC
n/a
Energy
2025 Energy Code, T24 Pt 6
n/a
Green / sustainability
2025 CALGreen, T24 Pt 11
n/a
Accessibility
2025 CBC Ch 11A/11B, T24 Pt 2
n/a
Wildland-urban interface
2025 CA-WUIC, T24 Pt 7 based on 2024 IWUIC
n/a
Historical buildings
2025 CHBC, T24 Pt 8
n/a
Administrative
2025 CAC, T24 Pt 1
n/a
Zoning
No state-adopted code
Local zoning ordinance (city or county), subject to state preemptionLocal text supersedes the state code
Coastal
No state-adopted code
Certified LCP (1983): city issues CDPs; Coastal Specific Plan district
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.
15.18.090 · Section 107.A.3. The applicant shall comply with any
15.18.090 Section 107.A.3. The applicant shall comply with any
requirements imposed by the city's geotechnical staff and shall substantially
repair the geologic condition to the satisfaction of the city geotechnical staff
prior to the issuance of a final building permit. This exception is not subject
to RPVMC 15.18.100, 111A.2 (Hazard Elimination).
2.
A hazard other than a geologic hazard, including, but not limited to, fire,
flood, or earthquake. […]
15.18.100 · Administrative Code amended — Use and occupancy
15.18.100 Administrative Code amended — Use and occupancy.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15.18.010 of this chapter, Sections 111A, 111B
and 111C are added to read:
SECTION 111A USE AND OCCUPANCY
111A.1 Safe Site.
Subject to the conditions of subsection 111A.1, a certificate of occupancy or permit
under this title may be issued in the following cases:
1. […]
15.20.040 · Exceptions
15.20.040. Exceptions.
The exercise of any of the following exceptions shall be subject to recording of a notice
that the property is subject to the restrictions and exceptions set forth in this Chapter. The
prohibitions set forth in Section 15.20.020 shall not apply to any of the following:
A-11
Ordinance No. 692
Page 12 of 23
A.
Maintenance of existing structures or facilities which do not increase the land
coverage of those facilities or add to the water usage of those facilities or result in
the permanent demolition of structures;
B. […]
15.20.050. Landslide protection measures required.
Within the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex as identified in section 15.20.020
(New construction permits not issued) of this chapter, the city shall require that
appropriate landslide abatement measures be implemented as conditions of issuance of
any permit issued pursuant to this chapter. With respect to proposed projects and uses
requiring a Landslide Exception Permit pursuant to sections 15.20.040 and 15.20.060
which must satisfy all of the criteria set forth in this section, the conditions imposed by the
city shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. […]
15.20.060 · Application
15.20.060. Application.
A.
Applicants for an exception to this chapter under section 15.20.040 (B), (H), (K),
(M), (N), (O) and (P) shall file an application for a Landslide Exception Permit with
A-16
Ordinance No. 692
Page 17 of 23
the director. The application shall be signed by the property owner, and shall
include the following:
1.
A letter, signed by the property owner, setting forth the reason for request,
as well as a full description of the project;
2. […]
15.20.100 · Exclusions
15.20.100. Exclusions.
For a parcel of land to be excluded from the landslide moratorium area, a landowner, or
their designated agent, may apply for such exclusion to the city council.
A.
Application. To obtain an exclusion from this chapter, an applicant shall file an
application for exclusion with the director and signed by the property owner. An
application shall not be deemed complete until all required geology studies have
been completed and review has been completed by the city geotechnical staff. An
application shall include the following:
1.
The reason for the request;
2.
A legal description of the property and a map of the property;
3. […]
104.8
104.8 Liability. The building official, or his or her authorized representative charged with
the enforcement of this Code and the technical codes, acting in good faith and without
malice in the discharge of his or her duties, shall not thereby be rendered personally
liable, nor shall the City be vicariously liable, for any damage that may accrue to persons
or property as a result of any act or omission or by reason of any act or omission in the
discharge of his or her duties. […]
105.5 · Expiration
105.5 Expiration.
Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions of the technical codes
shall expire by limitation and become null and void, if the building or work authorized by
such permit is not completed through final inspection within the allowed time from the
date of issuance of such permit, which time shall be as follows: up to 5,000 square feet,
18 months; 5,000 to 10,000 square feet, 24 months; over 10,000 square feet, 30 months. […]
110.1 · Approval required
110.1 Approval required.
Work shall not be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated
in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official.
Such approval shall be given only after an inspection has been made on each successive
step in the construction as indicated in subsection 110.3. […]
1805.5 · Major alterations or repairs of existing buildings or structures
1805.5 Major alterations or repairs of existing buildings or structures
(excluding demolition and replacement). This section shall apply only to the
active landslide areas of the Portuguese Bend Landslide and the Abalone
Cove Landslide, as determined by the city geologist and depicted on the
attached map (see exhibit A) and shall not apply in other areas of the city
or other portions of the landslide moratorium area Greater Portuguese Bend
Landslide Complex as represented in section 15.20.020. A certificate of
occupancy or permit under this title may be issued provided:
1. […]
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.
California Coastal Zone
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FEMA mapped flood hazard area
Landslide hazard zone
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
Rancho Palos Verdes enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC, the edition adopted statewide in California, amended locally in 4 disciplines.
Does Rancho Palos Verdes amend the California code?
Yes: building, zoning, coastal, geology.
Where do I confirm the code edition for a Rancho Palos Verdes 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.
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.
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.