Paramount, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Section 13.09.090 ties permit approval in the City of Paramount to the California Green Building Standards Code, 24 CCR, Part 11, known as CALGreen. It applies to persons applying for a permit for new construction and building additions and alterations covered by CALGreen's scope, and where CALGreen is more stringent than the section, CALGreen controls. Section 15.04.010 separately adopts the 2025 California Building Standards Code, including the California Green Building Standards Code, as the Building Code of the City of Paramount, with Ordinance 1208 dated 11/18/2025.

As a condition of permit approval, a project with five or more multifamily dwelling units on a building site must provide readily accessible areas serving all buildings for storage and collection of blue, green and three-plus container materials, or provide adequate recycling space under CALGreen Sections 4.408.1, 4.410.2, 5.408.1 and 5.410.1. New commercial construction or additions resulting in more than 30% of the floor area carry the same obligation. Every covered project must also follow CALGreen and applicable law on construction and demolition debris, including diversion of organic waste, and the City's C&D regulations in § 13.20.780.

Section 13.20.780 sets a 50% waste diversion standard. Projects exempt from the deposit, fee and reporting requirements include single-family homes up to two units not part of a greater planned development, construction projects of $100,000.00 or less in value, projects under 1,000 square feet, work needing only a plumbing, electrical or mechanical permit, and work treating or removing hazardous or toxic materials. Under § 13.20.790 the diversion deposit is the lesser of three percent of total project cost or $10,000.00, and § 13.20.780 waives the deposit when the applicant uses the City's franchised waste hauler. Section 13.09.100 adds MWELO compost and mulch rules for new landscape area greater than 500 square feet.