California Code of Regulations › Title 25 - Housing and Community Development › Division 1 - Housing and Community Development › Chapter 6.5 - Program Operations › Subchapter 3 - California Environmental Quality Act › Article 3 - Exempt Activities › Section 6962 - Categorical Exemptions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
The Guidelines establish classes of projects which have
						been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment and are
						therefore categorically exempt. Provided below are only those exempt classes
						from Article 8 of the State EIR Guidelines which might be relevant to
						departmental activities. All class exemptions are inapplicable when the
						cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place,
						over time is significant. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are not exempt if the
						project may impact on an environmental resource of hazardous or critical
						concern which is designated, precisely mapped and officially adopted pursuant
						to law by federal, state or local agencies. (Areas of concern include critical
						air basins and coastal zones.) A categorical exemption shall not be used where
						there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant
						effect due to unusual circumstances.
(a) Class 1: Existing Facilities. Class 1
					 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance or minor alteration of existing
					 public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or
					 topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that
					 previously existing, including but not limited to:
(1) Interior or exterior alterations
					 involving such things as interior partitions, plumbing, and electrical
					 conveyances;
(2) Electrical, gas,
					 sewerage, or other public utility facilities;
(3) Highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters,
					 bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities;
(4) Restoration or rehabilitation of
					 deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities or mechanical equipment to meet
					 current standards of public health and safety, unless it is determined that the
					 damage was substantial and resulted from an environmental hazard such as
					 earthquake, landslide or flood;
(5)
					 Additions to existing structures provided that the addition will not result in
					 an increase of more than:
(A) 50 percent of
					 the floor area of the structures before the addition of 2,500 square feet,
					 whichever is less; or
(B) 10,000
					 square feet if:
1. The project is in an area
					 where all public services and facilities are available to allow for maximum
					 development permissible in the general plan and
2. The area in which the project is located
					 is not environmentally sensitive.
(6) Addition of safety or health protection
					 devices for use during construction of, or in conjunction with, existing
					 structures, facilities or mechanical equipment, or topographical
					 features.
(7) Division of existing
					 multiple family rental units into condominiums or stock cooperatives;
(8) Unless the structures are of historical,
					 archaeological or architectural significance, the demolition and removal of the
					 following individual small structures:
(A)
					 Single family residences not in conjunction with the demolition of two or more
					 units;
(B) Motels, apartments, and
					 duplexes designed for not more than four dwelling units if not in conjunction
					 with the demolition of two or more such structures;
(C) Stores, offices, and restaurants if
					 designed for an occupancy load of 20 persons or less, if not in conjunction
					 with the demolition of two or more such structures;
(D) Accessory (appurtenant) structures
					 including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and
					 fences.
(9) Conversion of
					 a single family residence to office use.