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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 107Pt. 7Ch. 1Art. 4§ 129880 Hospital Construction Exemption Rules

§ 129880 Hospital Construction Exemption Rules

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 129880 Hospital Construction Exemption Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •Small hospital building projects costing $50,000 or less can skip the usual plan review if a licensed designer signs off on the plans.
  • •You can't split a big project into tiny ones just to avoid the rules—this trick won't work.
  • •Really big projects (over $20 million) need a meeting with the department before starting.
  • •The department can make more detailed rules about these exemptions and reviews later.

Example

A hospital wants to build a small $40,000 ramp for wheelchair access.

If an architect signs the plans, the hospital might not need the usual long review process. But if they try to split a $100,000 project into two $50,000 ones to avoid the rules, the department will stop them.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 129880 Hospital Construction Exemption Rules

(a) The department may exempt from its plan review process construction or alteration projects for hospital buildings and buildings described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725 with estimated construction costs of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or less. The criteria for exemption shall include, but not be limited to, plans that have been stamped and signed by the design professionals of record. (b)  Projects that have been split into a series of smaller projects in order to avoid the qualifying dollar limits shall not be approved. The department shall maintain its construction observation mandate to ensure public safety and California Building Standards Code compliance for approved projects. (c) A presubmittal meeting between the department and the design professionals shall be required for construction or alteration projects for hospital buildings and buildings described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 129725 with estimated construction costs of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) or more. (d) The department may adopt regulations for this section to make specific the exemption criteria and processes authorized pursuant to subdivision (a), and the complete plan review process required pursuant to subdivision (c). (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 308. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

constructioncompliancehospitalhealthregulationlicensesafetyalteration

Related Statutes

  • § 129825 Hospital Construction Inspection Requirements
  • § 129875.1 Exempt Construction Projects
  • § 129856 Fire Safety Officer Training
  • § 129875 Hospital Building Construction Standards
  • § 129890 Building Construction Approval Criteria

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 129880.
View Official Source