JOINT LIVING AND WORKING QUARTERS FOR ARTISTS

Sacramento City Code tit. 15, ch. 15.96

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.010 Purpose.

15.96.010 Purpose. This chapter establishes mechanisms whereby persons may construct or convert buildings or portions thereof to joint living and working quarters for artists, artisans, and similarly situated individuals. (Prior code § 9.29.1300)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.020 General.

15.96.020 General. Unless provided for in this chapter, requirements of other portions of the city building code shall apply to artist live/work spaces. (Prior code § 9.29.1301)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.030 Definitions.

15.96.030 Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter the following terms have the definition shown: "Artist" means one who participates in the activity of creating art. "Arts activities and spaces" means the following: 1. "Arts activities" includes the production, open studio and receptions, exhibition, rehearsal and performance with maximum occupant load of fifty (50) people of any of the following disciplines: drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, film, video, performance art, dance, music, woodworking, custom made jewelry, textiles or apparel. 2. "Arts spaces" includes studios, workshops, galleries, museums, art storage, theaters, and other similar spaces customarily used principally for arts activities. "Live/work quarters" means residential occupancy by a family maintaining a common household or by not more than four unrelated persons, of one or more rooms or floors in a building originally designed for industrial or commercial occupancy which include one cooking space and sanitary facilities in conformance with prevailing building codes and two adequate working spaces reserved for, and regularly used by, one or more persons residing therein. (Prior code § 9.29.1302)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.040 Inspection.

15.96.040 Inspection. All artist live/work spaces shall be subject to an annual inspection by the Sacramento fire department. Appropriate fees for this inspection shall be paid to the fire department by the building owner. (Prior code § 9.29.1303)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.050 Fire sprinkler system.

15.96.050 Fire sprinkler system. An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in buildings that are used as artist live/work spaces and exceed the following areas for the designated types of construction: Type V | 5,500 sq. ft. Type III | 12,300 sq. ft. Type II N/II F.R. | 19,300 sq. ft. Type I | 34,300 sq. ft. Exception: In existing buildings a fire sprinkler system will not be required if the building is divided by area separation walls which divide the building into areas not larger than the areas designated in this section. Also, each tenant space shall be separated by one hour walls. (Prior code § 9.29.1304)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.060 Ceiling height.

15.96.060 Ceiling height. The ceiling height for a habitable space above and below any mezzanine shall be at least six feet and eight inches. This includes any projections such as light fixtures, plumbing, and fire sprinkler heads. (Prior code § 9.29.1305)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.070 Occupant load.

15.96.070 Occupant load. The occupant load for the purpose of establishing exit requirements shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet per person. If the space is three thousand (3000) square feet or more in area two exits are required. If the space is three thousand (3000) square feet or more it shall be posted for a maximum capacity of forty-nine (49) people. The location of each live/work unit in a multi-unit structure shall be marked by a plaque, diagram or other device visible to emergency personnel from the exterior of the structure containing the units. The location of the plaque, et al, shall be approved by the fire department. (Prior code § 9.29.1306)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.080 Floor load.

15.96.080 Floor load. Floor loads shall not exceed the design loads of the existing building. Floor loading shall not exceed fifty (50) lbs. per square feet or a concentrated load of two thousand (2,000) pounds. Individual stair treads shall be designed to support one hundred (100) lbs/ft2. Buildings shall have a structural analysis prepared by a licensed civil or structural engineer or by a licensed architect. (Prior code § 9.29.1307)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.090 Occupancy.

15.96.090 Occupancy. In live/work quarters, occupancy shall be limited to use by a family maintaining a common household or by not more than four unrelated persons. (Prior code § 9.29.1308)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.100 Construction.

15.96.100 Construction. Existing and proposed mezzanines in live/work quarters shall be constructed and supported in accordance with the structural requirements of the building code except that they may be attached to the structural frame of the building for support without concern for the effect on the foundations. A guardrail at least thirty-six (36) inches in height shall be provided. Guardrail for storage portions for lofts may be removable for access. Mezzanines and their supports (if not a separation wall) raised floors, raised platforms, bleachers, seating platforms, ladders, stairs, guardrails, posts, enclosures, partitions may be of wood construction and will not change the classification of the building as Type I. (Prior code § 9.29.1309)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.110 Mezzanine.

15.96.110 Mezzanine. The mezzanine area shall include any structure over thirty (30) inches above the floor and shall not exceed one-third of the floor area of the live/work room in which it is placed. If an area is classified as a mezzanine, the wall separating the room and the mezzanine shall be at least fifty (50) percent open. If walls are less than fifty (50) percent open the area above shall be classified as a story. (Prior code § 9.29.1310)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.120 Mezzanine material.

15.96.120 Mezzanine material. Finish materials used on the mezzanine shall not exceed class IIIC materials for flame spread and smoke density per Title 42 of the Uniform Building Code. (Prior code § 9.29.1311)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.130 Mezzanine stairway.

15.96.130 Mezzanine stairway. Stairway to the mezzanine shall meet the requirements of UBC Section 3306(c) Exception 1. Mezzanines used for living purposes less than four hundred (400) square feet may be served by a stairway or ladder with an incline of a maximum of sixty (60) degrees. The number of stairways serving the mezzanine shall meet the requirements of UBC Section 3306(a). Stairways shall be provided with a handrail in accordance with UBC Section 3306(j). (Prior code § 9.29.1312)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.140 Electrical requirements.

15.96.140 Electrical requirements. A. Live/work spaces shall comply with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and Chapter 15.32 of this title. Exception #1: A minimum of two receptacle outlets, equally spaced, may be installed in each habitable room. Exception #2: A minimum of one receptacle outlet shall be installed for every twenty (20) feet of wall space (measured at the floor line), not including dedicated receptacle outlets. Exception #3: Kitchens or areas used for kitchens shall have at least two twenty (20) amp, one hundred twenty (120) volt receptacle outlets. These outlets shall not be connected to any other outlets. B. All receptacle outlets shall be connected to twenty (20) ampere rated branch-circuits. C. Ground-fault circuit-interrupters required for all twenty (20) amp, one hundred twenty-five (125) volt rated receptacles. Exception: Living spaces when divided from work space by walls. (Prior code § 9.29.1313)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.150 Smoke detector and alarm.

15.96.150 Smoke detector and alarm. A single station smoke detector and alarm shall be installed in the center of the ceiling within the live/work room and receive its power from the electrical system within the live/work room. Wiring to the detector shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than that required for overcurrent protection. A permanent connection to an existing circuit is acceptable. The detector shall be approved by the State Fire Marshal and conform to the California State Fire Marshal Standard 12-72-2. Detectors shall be installed in accordance with the approved manufacturer's instructions. An approved battery-powered smoke detector may be substituted for existing artist live/work spaces. (Prior code § 9.29.1314)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.160 Exits, access, cooking and sanitary facilities and gas water heaters.

15.96.160 Exits, access, cooking and sanitary facilities and gas water heaters. Exits, handicapped access, cooking and sanitary facilities in live/work quarters shall comply with city ordinance, and state building regulations for apartments and guest rooms. Gas water heaters shall not be placed within sleeping rooms. (Prior code § 9.29.1315)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.170 Windows.

15.96.170 Windows. Existing buildings shall have at least one habitable room within each live/work quarter with natural light by a window or skylight with a minimum area equal to one-tenth of the floor area of the room in which it is located or ten (10) square feet which ever is greater. The windows in the habitable rooms shall face upon courts, yards, or onto similar unobstructed open area which is at least seven feet in every horizontal dimension for the floor at which the unit in question is located and at all levels of the building above. All habitable rooms in newly constructed buildings shall comply with the provisions of UBC, Section 1205 for light and ventilation. (Prior code § 9.29.1316)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.180 Building envelope.

15.96.180 Building envelope. Any changes in the building envelope are subject to compliance with requirements of Title 24 California Administrative Code for energy conservation. (Prior code § 9.29.1317)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.190 Fire alarms.

15.96.190 Fire alarms. For any code requirement not specified herein the more restrictive requirements of the building code for R1 and B2 shall apply, e.g., fire alarms shall be installed if required in the R1 occupancy of the building. Separations of occupancies shall be required as specified in Section 503(a) of the Uniform Building Code. Exception #1: Occupancy separation between R and B-2 occupancies shall not be required if the building has an approved fire sprinkler system. Exception #2: Occupancy separations between R and B-2 occupancies shall not be required if the tenant space is separated from other spaces by one hour walls. (Prior code § 9.29.1318)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.200 Alterations and construction.

15.96.200 Alterations and construction. All alterations and construction are to be done under building permit with the approval of the building inspection and planning divisions and city fire departments. (Prior code § 9.29.1319)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.210 Certificate of compliance.

15.96.210 Certificate of compliance. A certificate of compliance shall be issued upon completion and inspection approval of all work included in the base building permit for the complete building. Certificates of occupancies shall be issued upon the completion and inspection approval of all work included in each artist live/work space. (Prior code § 9.29.1320)

Sacramento City Code § 15.96.220 Corridors and stairways.

15.96.220 Corridors and stairways. Public corridors and stairways serving ten (10) or more people in buildings shall be of one hour fire resistive construction with solid wood doors not less than one and three-quarter inches thick. Existing frames need not have a fire resistive time period. When the existing frame will not accommodate the one and three-quarter inch thick door, a one and three-eighths inch thick solid bonded wood core door or equivalent insulated steel door may be permitted. Door closers are required. Gas-keting shall be required around corridor doors. Stairway enclosures shall be installed in accordance with R1 occupancy requirements of Chapter 33 of the Uniform Building Code. (Prior code § 9.29.1321)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-29991Fetched: 10/24/2026