Fountain Valley, CA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Chapter 18.16 of the Fountain Valley Municipal Code is titled Plumbing Code and holds one section. Section 18.16.010 adopts the 2022 Edition of the California Plumbing Code, California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5. The state code incorporates the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and the city takes Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix D and Appendix I. One copy is on file in the office of the building official for public examination. The section refers to amendments set forth in the chapter, but the chapter as printed contains no further section, so the adopted text is the plumbing standard the city applies.

The permit rules for plumbing work come from the administrative chapter. Section 18.02.010 adopts Chapter 1 of the 2022 California Building Code and the 2022 California Administrative Code as the administrative, organizational and enforcement rules for every technical code in Title 18. Under § 18.02.020 the building official is appointed by the city manager, or by the city council if an independent contractor, and the official and authorized representatives can be city employees or contractors.

Section 18.04.030 amends Section 109.4 to name plumbing systems specifically: anyone who commences work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits pays a penalty equal to double the permit fees, and the Building Official can require a special investigation at a cost set by separate resolution. Section 18.04.040 allows a refund of no more than 80 percent of the permit fee when no work was done, on a written application filed within 180 days of payment. Every construction permit, including one for the installation or repair of plumbing equipment, carries the strong motion instrumentation fee under §§ 18.36.020 and 18.36.030.

Solar water heaters connect to this chapter. Section 18.27.040(b) requires solar systems that heat water in single-family residences, commercial buildings or swimming pool applications to be certified by an accredited listing agency as defined by the California Plumbing and Mechanical Code. Appeals of a plumbing decision go to the Planning Commission acting as the local appeals board under § 18.02.025.