How to Obtain a Permit for a INFORMATION Fireplace BULLETIN CITY OF SAN DIEGO Development Services 201 1222 FIRST AVENUE, MS 301 SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-4101 Call (619) 446-5300 for appointments and (619) 446-5000 for information July 2010
This Information Bulletin describes the minimum re- quirements for obtaining fireplace permits for residen- Documents referenced in this tial buildings For clarification of the permit process, Information Bulletin visit the Development Services Department, third floor, • California Building Code, (CBC) 1222 First Avenue. • San Diego Municipal Code, (SDMC) • Information Bulletin 103, Fee Schedule & i. When is a permit required? Worksheet for Mechanical, Plumbing/Gas, A building or combination permit is required to Electrical construct any masonry fireplace or wood burning • Information Bulletin 117, Regulations Covering prefabricated fireplace. Some gas burning decora- Permit Expiration and Extension tive fireplaces, fire pits, kilns or barbecues do not • Information Bulletin 120, How to Obtain Proj- require a building or combination permit but may ect Inspection require a plumbing or electrical permit, refer to • Information Bulletin 122, How to Prepare a information bulletin 103. Single Family Residential Site Plan and Vicinity Map II. Zoning regulations • Information Bulletin 501, Fee Schedule, Con- Fireplace enclosures may encroach into required struction Permits - Structures yards subject to the following limitations (SDMC • Inspection Record Card, DS-1798 131.0461 item (a)(4): • General Application, DS-3032 • Mandatory Measures Checklist: Residential, MF-1R Form A. The fireplace enclosure may not encroach into the required yard more than 2 feet 6 inches or 50 percent of the width of the required yard, whichever is less. The fireplace shall not be and Application Services (IAS) Combined Review. closer than 2 feet 6 inches to the property It may be necessary to include copies of these re- line; ports or specifications in the building plans.
B. The fireplace and chimney are not subject to Reports for prefabricated fireplaces may be ac- the 45-degree sloped building envelope re- quired from the responsible testing agency or quirement and may extend to the maximum from the supplier of the fireplace. These reports structure height at the required setback; must comply with the 2007 California Building Code (CBC). C. The fireplace enclosure shall have a maximum width of 10 feet measured from grade to the Custom designed fireplaces require a registered roof eave or the sill plate of the second floor, design professional’s (Architect or Engineer) whichever is lower, and a maximum width of stamp on the construction plans and associated 5 feet beyond that; and calculations and may have to be submitted for structural plan review, based on the determina- D. No more than two projecting fireplaces per tion by over the counter structural. building elevation are permitted. IV. Forms to complete III. Option for service Prefabricated fireplaces that have been tested and a. GENERAL application evaluated by an approved testing agency such as California State Law requires every permit ICC-ES, CSA or UL reports may be checked and applicant to provide specific information and approved at screening counter while the customer declarations regarding the proposed work on is present. an application before a permit may be issued.
If the construction of on interior fireplace is part B. Title 24 Energy Documentation of a room addition or remodel project, the plans All interior fireplace construction must comply can be checked at over the counter by Information with the California State Energy Commission
Printed on recycled paper. Visit our web site at www.sandiego.gov/development-services. Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.
DS-5201 (07-10) Page of 2 City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 201 July 2010
Section 3.5.2. Compliance is demonstrated by approved plans. The approved plans, the compiling the “Mandatory Measures Checklist: Inspection Record Card and the permit are Residential” (MF-1R). This checklist must be important records and should be retained after incorporated into the building plan. construction is completed.
V. Plan requirements A building permit shall become void if the work Plans must be clear, legible and drawn to authorized by the permit has not begun within scale. The following is a list of minimum plan 180 calendar days of the date of permit issuance. requirements: Once the construction work has commenced, the Building Permit shall become void if the work A. Site Plan authorized by the Building Permit is suspended This plan shows the layout of the lot as well or abandoned for a continuous period of 180 as all existing and proposed structures. For calendar days. more information refer to Bulletin 122, “How to Prepare a Single Family Residential Site Plan A Building Permit for single family residences, and Vicinity Map.” duplexes, additions, alterations and commercial tenant improvement shall expire if the work cov- B. Foundation Plan ered under the building permit is not competed A foundation construction detail may be within 24 months. Building permits for all other incorporated into an approved report. In all cases new buildings shall expire after 48 months. The a foundation plan is required. permit shall expire by limitation and become void after the given utilization period has elapsed. C. Floor Plan For additional information regarding permit Provide a dimensioned floor plan of the room expiration and extension, refer to Bulletin 117, where the fireplace will be installed. If a door “Regulations Covering Permit Expiration and or window opening is being removed, provide Extension.” dimensions of all remaining doors and windows. VIII. Fees D. Other Plans Fees will be collected for custom designed fire- Custom designed fireplaces may require plans places submitted to the City for plan review not listed. These include but are not limited to, permit. exterior elevations, section views and connection details. An analysis for all necessary views and Single family residences are issued combination details will be made at the time of submittal for permits which include electrical, plumbing/gas, plan review. and mechanical along with the building permit.
VI. Approvals Fees will be determined by the type of fireplace A plan check for structural, zoning and mechani- permitted, as described in Section II, of this cal code compliance is required for the installa- information bulletin. For more information, refer tion of fireplaces. Multifamily and Commercial to Information Bulletin 501, Fee Schedule for Buildings may require an electrical plan check. Construction Permits - Structures.
VII. Permit issuance ix. Inspection After all required approvals have been obtained, During construction inspections are required permits may be issued. Three sets of plans for such items as foundation, framing, electrical, are necessary upon permit issuance. Two sets plumbing, fireplace installation and interior and must be stamped and signed for all required exterior wall covering. approvals. The inspector will sign the Inspection Record One set is retained by Development Services as Card for each inspection approved. The phone a permanent record. The other set is returned number and information required to schedule to the applicant and is to be made available to an inspection is prominently displayed on the the building inspector during inspections. The Inspection Record Card. For more information third, unstamped, set of plans is forwarded to the regarding inspections refer to Information County Assessor’s Office. Bulletin 120, “How to Obtain Project Inspections,” or phone (858) 492-5070. When the permit is issued, an Inspection Record Card Form (DS-1798) is included with the