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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 13Pt. 2.3Ch. 11§ 18874 Building Code Violation Penalties

§ 18874 Building Code Violation Penalties

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

§ 18874 Building Code Violation Penalties

Key Takeaways

  • •If you break building rules on purpose, you can get fined up to $400 or go to jail for up to 30 days.
  • •If you have a permit and break the rules, you might lose your permit to work.
  • •You might also have to pay $500 for each rule you break, or for each day you keep breaking it.

Example

A builder skips safety rules and builds a weak staircase in a house.

The builder can get fined $400 or go to jail for 30 days. If they have a permit, they might lose it. They could also pay $500 for each day the staircase stays unsafe.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18874 Building Code Violation Penalties

(a)  Any person who willfully violates this part, building standards published in the California Building Standards Code relating thereto, or any other regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this part is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars ($400) or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 30 days, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (b)  Any permitholder who willfully violates this part, building standards published in the California Building Standards Code relating thereto, or any other regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this part shall be subject to suspension or revocation of his or her permit to operate. (c)  Any person who willfully violates this part, any building standard published in the California Building Standards Code relating thereto, or any other regulation adopted by the department pursuant to this part, shall be liable for a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation or for each day of a continuing violation. The enforcement agency shall institute or maintain an action in the appropriate court to collect any civil penalty arising under this section. (Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 434, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 2002. Operative January 1, 2004, by Sec. 44 of Ch. 434, as amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1038.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

imprisonmentregulationenforcementviolationfinepensionmisdemeanorpenalty

Related Statutes

  • § 18700 Building Code Violation Penalties
  • § 13112 Violation Penalties And Enforcement
  • § 18021 Mobilehome Safety Violation Penalties
  • § 25214.22 Regulated Metal Packaging Compliance
  • § 25993 Enforcement And Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 18874.
View Official Source