OMC Chapter 15-27: Petition for Exemption
Page 2 of 3
PARCEL NUMBER _________________
Petition-for-Exemption-Form-6-24-2019
PART 2 – WORKSHEET
1. Was the building originally constructed or permitted for construction before January 1, 1991, or
designed based on an adopted version of the 1985 or earlier edition of the Uniform Building Code?
Notes: _______________________________________________________________________________________
If Yes: Continue to Question 2.
If No: The building is tentatively exempt from OMC Chapter 15.27.
• Skip Questions 2 and 3.
• Complete the Owner/Agent portion of Part 3.
• Submit this petition form. Bureau of Building staff are authorized to require additional information as needed.
If approved, the Bureau of Building will confirm the exemption in writing.
2. Does the building contain five or more Dwelling Units?
Notes: _______________________________________________________________________________________
If Yes: Continue to Question 3.
If No: The building is tentatively exempt from OMC Chapter 15.27.
• Skip Question 3.
• Complete the Owner/Agent portion of Part 3.
• Submit this petition form. Bureau of Building staff are authorized to require additional information as needed.
If approved, the Bureau of Building will confirm the exemption in writing.
Question 3 requires the input of a California licensed design professional (architect, civil engineer, or structural
engineer). It is the building owner’s responsibility to engage a qualified design professional.
3. Does the building have a Wood Frame Target Story?
If No, indicate also which of these conditions is true:
The building has no Target Stories.
The building has one or more Target Stories but none is a Wood Frame Target Story.
Design Professional’s Notes: _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
If Yes: The building is subject to OMC Chapter 15.27. Do not submit this petition form.
If No: The building is tentatively exempt from OMC Chapter 15.27.
• Complete all of Part 3.
• Submit this petition form. Bureau of Building staff are authorized to require additional information as needed.
If approved, the Bureau of Building will confirm the exemption in writing.
DEFINITIONS (OMC Section 15.27.150)
Dwelling Unit. A Dwelling Unit shall include any individual residential unit in a building with R-1 or R-2 occupancy, as well
as any guest room, with or without a kitchen, in either a tourist or residential hotel or motel but shall not include a
housekeeping room. Any unit occupied as a Dwelling Unit, whether approved or not approved for such use, shall be
counted as a Dwelling Unit.
Target Story. A Target Story shall mean either (1) a basement story or underfloor area that extends above grade at any
point or (2) any story above grade, where the wall configuration of such basement, underfloor area, or story is substantially
more vulnerable to earthquake damage than the wall configuration of the story above, except that a story is not a target
story if it is the topmost story or if the difference in vulnerability is primarily due to the story above being a penthouse or an
attic with a pitched roof.
Wood Frame Target Story. A Wood Frame Target Story means a Target Story in which a significant portion of lateral or
torsional story strength or story stiffness is provided by wood frame walls.