A tenant improvement is any alteration, renovation, and/or remodeling of an existing commercial or industrial tenant space or structure. Before any tenant improvement construction begins, a building permit must be obtained from the City of Merced. You are advised to check with the Current Planning Department for any zoning regulation.

Yes. Consider the following criteria for accessibility requirements:

1. Alterations to entrances, toilet facilities, elevators, steps, and handrails to meet the accessibility requirements may be limited to the actual work of the project. Contact a plan checker for further information.
2. Alterations to the meet the "readily achievable" requirements of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be limited to the actual work of the project. Contact a plan checker for further information.
3. Projects which consist only of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and re-roofing.
4. Electrical work not involving placement of switches and receptacles.
5. Cosmetic work that does not affect items regulated by this code such as painting, are not considered alteration projects for the purposes of meeting the accessibility requirements.

If the value of your project is less than $80,647.06 and the Building Official finds that compliance with the handicap access code creates an unreasonable hardship, compliance with the access requirements may be limited to the area where the work is to take place.

For purpose of this exemption, an unreasonable hardship exists where the cost of providing an accessible entrance, path of travel, sanitary facilities, drinking fountains and public phones is disproportionate to the cost of the project; that is, where it exceeds 20 percent of the cost of the project without these features.

Where the cost of alterations necessary to make these features fully accessible is disproportionate, access shall be provided to the extent that it can be without incurring disproportionate cost. In choosing which accessible elements to provide, priority should be given to those elements that will provide the greatest access, in the following order:

1. an accessible entrance;
2. an accessible route to the altered area;
3. at least one accessible rest room for each sex;
4. accessible telephones;
5. accessible drinking fountains; and
6. when possible, additional accessible elements such as parking, storage, and alarms.

Please note that for projects that are valued at less than $80,647.06, 20% of the total construction cost [NOT including features (1)-(6) above] must be spent on making an accessible entrance, the path travel, sanitary facilities, telephones, drinking fountains and making additional element accessible, in that order of priority.

For exemption qualification, please submit a written proposal for review by the Building Official which describes the required feature and costs associated with each improvement that will equal 20% of the value of the proposed construction.

Call the Inspection Services recorder at 723-CITY to request an inspection when the work is completed. No work is to be concealed without inspection approval. Please refer to the Inspection Recorder handout when calling for an inspection.

Contact the Inspection Services Department at (209) 385-6861 for permit fees.

If your project is not in the City of Merced, you may still connect to the Sewer System if you are in the service area and a health hazard exists according to the Merced County Health Department. You must submit the Development Application form (available at the counter) to the Current Planning Department to be approved by the City Council. After the City Council approval, you may then apply for a sewer service connection. There is a $75.00 fee for preparation and approval of the Development Application.

For detailed information about submittal materials, please refer to the Commercial Industrial Submittal Requirement Checklist available at the Inspection Services counter.

For detailed information about submittal materials, please refer to the Multi-Family Submittal Requirement Checklist available at the Inspection Services counter.

For detailed information about submittal materials, please refer to the Single-Family Addition Submittal Requirement Checklist available at the Inspection Services counter or in the download information of the Building Department web page.

For detailed information about submittal materials refer to the Tenant Improvement Plan Submittal Checklist available at the Inspection Services Counter.

Before any construction begins on a multi-family dwelling, a building permit and other related permits must be obtained from the City of Merced. Check with the Current Planning Department if there are any development review actions required before applying for a building permit.

Zoning and development standards apply to the construction of and additions to any multi-family dwelling. When planning any kind of construction check with the Planning Department to make sure the following standards are maintained,

• Do not exceed the maximum number of units allowed on the lot.
• Do not exceed the maximum number of structures allowed on the lot.
• Maintain the required minimum distances from structure to property lines and structure to structure.
• Provide the required number of parking spaces for tenants and guests.
• Meet all landscaping requirements.

Other factors will apply, so it is important to be as specific as possible when inquiring about proposed construction. Some multi-family dwellings, such as apartments, are considered a high-impact use and might require a Conditional Use Permit, depending on their proximity to lower-impact uses. Condominiums will require a Conditional Use Permit. A copy of the City Of Merced Multi-Family design guidelines may be acquired at the Planning Department.

Before any construction begins on an addition to a single-family dwelling, a building permit and other related permits must be obtained from the City of Merced. Check with the Current Planning Department if there are any development review actions required before applying for a building permit.

Zoning and development standards apply to the construction of and additions to any single-family dwelling. When planning any kind of construction check with the Planning Department to make sure the following standards are maintained,

• Do not exceed the maximum number of units allowed on the lot.
• Do not exceed the maximum number of structures allowed on the lot.
• Maintain the required minimum distances from structure to property lines and structure to structure.

Other factors will apply, so it is important to be as specific as possible when inquiring about proposed construction.

A fire alarm system is required when indicated by the Uniform Fire Code, article 14. Required installations include, but not limited to:

1. New Construction: Manual and automatic evacuation alarms for apartment buildings 3 or more stories or containing 16 or more dwelling units, manual evacuation alarms for assemblies of 300 or more persons, automatic alarms for non-rated corridors in office buildings equipped with sprinklers, and fire sprinkler supervisory alarms.
   A fire alarm system includes initiating devices, audible and visual notification devices, an annunciator panel, wiring, and battery backup. Central station monitoring may be required in certain situations as determined by the Fire Marshal.
2. Existing Construction: All systems that were required when the building was constructed must be maintained in operable condition. If repairs, alterations, or additions exceed 50% of the current assessed value or increase the floor area more than 10% [only if exceeds (a) above], the building must comply with current code requirements.

Hydrants are required when the water supply for fire protection is either inadequate or more than 150 feet distance from buildings to be protected. Fire hydrant locations and distribution should conform to California Fire Code Appendices III-A and III-B.

New Construction: An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout apartment houses with 3 or more stories in height or containing 16 or more dwelling units, in congregate residences of 3 or more stories in height and having an occupant load of 50 or more, in hotels 3 or more stories in height or containing 20 or more guest rooms.

In commercial buildings exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. in floor area all automatic fire sprinkler system is required. Additionally, fire sprinklers are required where indicated by chapter 38 of the Uniform Building Code. such locations include, but not limited to, basements larger than 1,500 sq. ft. in floor area, all multi-theater complexes, amusement buildings greater than 1,000 sq. ft. in floor area, welding areas 3,000 sq. ft. or larger woodworking facilities , and most other hazardous locations.

Existing Construction: In existing construction an automatic sprinkler is required whenever repair, alteration, or additions exceeds 50% of current assessed value of the structure, increase the floor area more than 10% [only if exceeds requirement (1) above] or increasing the floor area to over the maximum allowable by Uniform Building Code for construction type, or other requirements as in (1) above. In commercial buildings an automatic sprinkler is required for any building exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. and is changing its primary use as classified in the UBC. References: UFC 10.51 (b), 1.103, UBC 502.

A mechanical permit is required for the installation, alteration, repair, replacement, or remodeling of any mechanical system such as heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration.

A plumbing permit is required for the installation, alteration, repair, replacement or remodeling of any plumbing system

A public works encroachment permit is required whenever work or activity is performed within the City easements or rights-of-way, such as:

• Street improvements (pavement, curb, gutter, sidewalk, and/or driveway);
• Public utility installation(s) (PG&E, PacBell, Cable TV,...);
• Storm drain installations and/or connections;
• Sanitary sewer installations and/or connections; and
• Water services and main installations.
• Monitoring well (installation, monitoring and abandonment).

A sewer service connection is required for any new construction or any existing building in case of a septic tank failure. The process for a sewer connection on a new construction begins when a building permit application has been submitted

A water service connection is required for any new construction or any existing building if the service does not meet the current demand. The process for a water connection begins when a permit application has been submitted.

An electrical permit is required for the installation, alteration, repair, replacement and/or extension of electrical wiring and equipment.

Before any construction begins on a commercial or industrial building, a building permit and other related permits must be obtained from the City of Merced. Check with the Current Planning Department to see if there are any development review actions required before applying for a building permit.