CHIMNEY REPAIR:

General

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) Electronic Permit System (e-Permit system) allows for the issuance of a permit to reconstruct an earthquake damaged masonry chimney using a new factory-built metal chimney and steel stud chase per LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2. The e-Permit system does not allow for the issuance of a permit to replace an earthquake damaged masonry firebox and/or chimney using one of the following methods:

  1. Construction of a new masonry firebox with new factory-built metal chimney and steel stud construction per LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2, Method 2, or
  2. Construction of a new masonry firebox and chimney per structural plans and calculations prepared by a civil engineer, structural engineer, or architect licensed by the State of California.

A plan check is required for items 1 and 2 above and the required permit must be issued at a LADBS Construction Services Center. Two sets of indelible plans are required for plan check.

A chimney may be repaired with the same masonry construction (reinforced or unreinforced) when the cost of repair is less than 10% of the replacement cost of the entire chimney. To meet this criteria, the damage to the chimney shall be limited to an area within the upper half of the portion of the chimney that extends above the roof-line or within the upper 2'-0" of the chimney, whichever is less. This type of work does not require plan check but does require a permit. For residential buildings located within a municipal airport noise boundary as designated by the "Community Noise Equivalent Level" (CNEL) data element, the chimney repair must comply with the standards noted below based on the noise contour boundary value that the building is located in.

LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2

Follow the construction plans and details for the "RECONSTRUCTION OF EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED MASONRY CHIMNEY USING A NEW FACTORY-BUILT METAL CHIMNEY" contained within LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2 to repair the earthquake damaged masonry chimney. Click here for a copy of LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2. Important things to note about using LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2 are:

  1. The standard plan provides prescriptive construction plans and details on the repair of earthquake damaged masonry chimneys and must be followed exactly as prescribed. Any deviation or special details for a specific project must be approved by a LADBS Construction Services Center before the permit is issued. Structural plans and calculations prepared by a civil engineer, structural engineer, or architect licensed by the State of California may be required.
  2. Unreinforced masonry chimneys must be demolished down to the throat of the nearest undamaged firebox before construction of the new factory-built metal chimney and steel stud chase can begin.
  3. Follow the appropriate "damage case" illustrated in the standard plan for reinforced chimneys to determine where to begin construction of the new factory-built metal chimney and steel stud chase.
  4. A steel stud chase is required using minimum 3-½" wide 18 gage steel studs.
  5. The factory-built chimney assembly shall be tested to Underwriter's Laboratory Standard 103 by a testing laboratory approved by the City of Los Angeles. The chimney shall be listed by the laboratory as "Residential Type and Building Heating Appliance Chimney" when used for a wood burning fireplace. Chimneys for fireplaces with a closed air-tight combustion chamber shall be designated "TYPE HT".
  6. The height of the chimney above the roof shall be limited to ten feet under this standard.
  7. The firebox, chimney, and other undamaged areas MUST be carefully visually inspected for cracks or voids, which may permit the access of flames or smoke to the surrounding wood framing, prior to any construction.
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) Requirements

Per Section 1208A.8.5 of the City of Los Angeles Building Code, residential buildings located within a municipal airport noise boundary shall comply with prescriptive standards established by the Los Angeles County Building Code Manual (LACBCM) for mitigation of interior noise levels due to the airport. There are three municipal airport noise boundaries designated by the "Community Noise Equivalent Level" (CNEL) data element with the values, "65 dB < 70 dB", "70 dB < 75 dB" and "75 dB +". For residential buildings located in a CNEL noise boundary, the chimney repair must comply with the standards summarized in the table below. Click on each "CNEL Noise Boundary" hyperlink to review the complete text of the prescriptive standards.

CNEL Noise Boundary Prescriptive Standards Established by LACBCM for Mitigation of Interior Noise Levels When a Chimney is Repaired
65 dB < 70 dB Each fireplace constructed of a masonry unit shall be fitted with a damper at the top of the chimney that is operated from the firebox and shall have glass doors across the front of the firebox.
70 dB < 75 dB
75 dB +

Inspection Requirements

NOTE: No inspection will be given if a copy of LADBS Standard Plan Bulletin SP-2 is not at the job site and made accessible to the inspector. Failure to provide the required standard plan at the job site may result in the payment of an additional inspection trip fee which must be paid at a LADBS Construction Services Center.

In most cases, four inspections are required. The first inspection is required after the forms are erected and the rebar and anchor bolts are placed but before the concrete bond beam is poured. The second inspection is required after the factory-built chimney assembly is properly connected to the concrete bond beam and the steel stud chase rough framing is complete. The third inspection is required after the lath or veneer backing is connected to the steel stud chase framing. The final inspection is required after the chimney repair is complete. For chimney repair permits issued using the LADBS e-Permit system, the inspector will provide the required inspection signature card at the first inspection. To reach your inspector to verify inspection requirements for your project, call the LADBS Customer Call Center at 311 for calls originating inside of Los Angeles County. For calls originating outside of Los Angeles County, call (213) 482-0000.

Inspection Requests

You can schedule an inspection by using our Automated Inspection Request System (AIRS) which is available anytime (except between 2am and 3am) or by contacting our Customer Call Center (CCC) during our regular business hours (7am to 5pm). Both are available at 311 for calls originating inside of Los Angeles County. For calls originating outside of Los Angeles County, call (213) 482-0000. To reach AIRS select option 1, to reach CCC select option 2. When calling for an inspection you will need to know the permit number, the site address, the date and type of inspection needed, and the name and phone number of the person to receive a confirmation call on the morning of the inspection. Inspections are available for the next business day until 3pm on the previous business day using AIRS and until 2pm on the previous business day using CCC. An AIRS Sequence Chart is helpful when scheduling an inspection request using AIRS.

For a concrete bond beam inspection, use the "300 - Footing/Foundation/Slab" AIRS inspection code. For the rough frame inspection, use the "305 - Rough Frame" AIRS inspection code. For the lath or veneer backing inspection, use the "325 - Interior/Exterior Lathing" AIRS inspection code. When the chimney repair is complete, use the "335 - Final" AIRS inspection code. When using AIRS to schedule an inspection request, it is recommended that you write down your inspection request confirmation number for future reference. This confirmation number can be obtained by pressing the "1" key in step 10 as shown on the AIRS Sequence Chart.