Remodeling an older home

Water-saving fixtures

California's water-conserving fixture law covers homes built and available for use on or before January 1, 1994.

A fixture is “noncompliant” if it is a toilet made to use more than 1.6 gallons per flush, a urinal made to use more than 1 gallon per flush, a showerhead made to flow more than 2.5 gallons per minute, or an interior faucet that emits more than 2.2 gallons per minute.

When a single-family home is altered or improved under a permit, the applicant has to replace every noncompliant fixture with a water-conserving one before the building department gives final permit approval.

The law does not apply to registered historical sites, to property where a licensed plumber certifies that water-conserving fixtures are not technically feasible, or to a building whose water service is permanently disconnected.

Sources: California Civil Code §1101.1; California Civil Code §1101.2; California Civil Code §1101.3; California Civil Code §1101.4; California Civil Code §1101.7

The contract

What a home improvement contract must say, and when it must be in writing, is set out in California Business and Professions Code sections 7159 and 7159.5.

On a home improvement contract in California, the down payment cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract amount, whichever is less, and apart from the down payment the contractor cannot ask for or accept more than the value of the work done or the materials delivered. Neither limit applies to a contractor who furnishes a performance and payment bond, a lien and completion bond, or a bond equivalent or joint control approved by the registrar, covering full performance and payment.

When a home improvement contract can be cancelled, how long the buyer has and the exceptions are set out in California Civil Code sections 1689.5 to 1689.14 and Business and Professions Code §7159.

Sources: California Business and Professions Code, sections 7150 to 7170 (home improvement contracts, including 7159 and 7159.5); California Business and Professions Code §7159.5 (home improvement contract payments); California Civil Code, sections 1688 to 1693 (rescission of contracts, including 1689.5 to 1689.14)

Who issues the permit

The Humboldt County building department covers all of unincorporated Humboldt County. It does not cover the cities of Eureka, Arcata, Trinidad, Rio Dell, Fortuna, Ferndale or Blue Lake.

Inside the City of Eureka, the city's own Building Division regulates construction, and building permit applications go through its online permitting platform, OpenGov.

In Trinity County, building permits come from the county's Community Development Department, Building Division, 61 Airport Road, Weaverville.

Sources: Humboldt County: Building Inspection Department; City of Eureka: Building; Trinity County: Building Permit Application (Community Development, Building Division)