BUILDING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR: INFORMATION

GUIDELINE
SOLID ROOF
PATIO COVER 8B
May 2013
10 lb. live load – 10 lb. dead load
CITY OF ESCONDIDO • BUILDING DIVISION • 201 N. BROADWAY, ESCONDIDO, CA 92025 • (760) 839-4647
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ITEMS BELOW AND READ THE GENERAL NOTES
Job Address Owner
Patio Dimensions: Length Width Total Square Feet
Inspection Requests: 839-4646 (24-hr. recorder) Building Inspectors: 839-4647
Inspector's Phone Hours: 8:00-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Upon permit issuance, this Guideline will serve as your approved plan.
Fire Severity Zone: Yes No (IF YES, ALL LUMBER SHALL BE FIRE-RETARDANT TREATED)
Permit Validation: Roof Covering:_____________________
CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL NOTES Following are the minimum construction specifications
1. To expedite the permit process, please circle or for patio covers.
highlight the appropriate rafter, beam and footing A. Footing/Foundation concrete shall consist of 1 part
sizes on Tables I, II, III or IV. cement, 3 parts sand and 4 parts gravel, volumetric
2. Construction of a patio cover by any method other measure, with not more than 7-1/2 gallons of water per
than those outlined herein, or an ICC-ES approved sack of cement (min. f’c 2,000 psi at 28 days).
installation, is required to be designed and must be
submitted for plan check. B. Lumber shall be Douglas Fir/Larch No. 2 (DF/L) or
3. A patio cover may be enclosed. Please refer to better. All lumber shall be grade marked. If redwood or
Information Guideline #12 for patio enclosures. cedar are to be used in place of (DF/L), they must meet
4. A patio cover is not a habitable room. If converted or exceed (DF/L) No. 2 specifications. Redwood and
to a habitable room, major modifications may be cedar lumber that does qualify may not be readily
required. available in this area.

DESCRIPTION OF SOLID ROOF PATIO COVER C. FOUNDATION/FOOTINGS:

A patio cover is a one-story structure not more than 12 1. Patio footings refer to Table III.
feet in height. It is open on one or more sides with a 2. All footings to extend a minimum of 12 inches
clear height, from the floor to the soffit of the supporting into undisturbed soil or a minimum of 90%
members, of not less than 6 ft. 8 in. and with a compacted fill.
minimum height of 7 feet to the bottom of the rafters.
The roof covering will consist of solid sheathing with an D. Post anchorage and bracing details contained in this
approved roofing material applied per manufacturer's guideline approved in the City of Escondido.
specification or fiberglass panels. The cover is 1. Posts shall be anchored at the lower end by any
attached to and permitted as an accessory to a single- method shown in Details A through E, and at the upper
family dwelling, a single-family dwelling unit in a multi- end by any method shown in Details F through I.
dwelling unit building or to a residential garage. Patio Decorative-type bracing may be substituted if the same
covers shall not to be used as a carport garage, storage resistance to lateral loading is provided
or habitable room.
2. Post anchorage to slabs may be accomplished
LOCATION with a standard approved post base installed per
Except for allowed overhang, no patio cover may manufacturer’s instructions.
encroach into the required setbacks. Contact the
Planning or Building Division for setback requirements.

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Solid Patio Cover 8B
Specifications (Continued)
Footings must be adequate for the applied loads. See 3. When all work is complete and weather-protected a
Table III. When the load on supporting posts does not final inspection shall be requested and approved.
exceed 750 pounds per post, a minimum 3 ½ inch-thick 4. The approved plans and inspection card must be on
concrete slab-on-grade may be substituted for the pad the job for the inspector.
footings shown on the typical framing details. TABLES
The following assumptions pertaining to the tables in this
3. Specify roof covering refer to Chapter 9 CRC, (cap- Guideline are applicable:
sheet, shingles, etc.) when submitting plans. The Roof Live Load = 10 psf
minimum slope for a patio cover roof is 1/4 inch in 12 Roof Dead Load= 10 psf (max)
inches. Rafter, post spacing and beam sizes are All lumber is to be Douglas Fir-Larch No 2 or better:
determined by Tables I, II and IV. The roof covering Fb = 900 psi (Base Design Value)
shall consist of solid lumber of standard dimensions, Fv = 180 psi
plywood or OSB board applied perpendicular to the E = 1,600,000 psi
rafters with an approved covering applied per Repetitive member use.
manufacturer's installation instructions. For roof All posts minimum 4x4,
sheathing spans refer to (Information Guideline No. 17 Soil bearing pressure is 1000 psf, minimum.
SPAN TABLES), for nominal 1-inch lumber and Table If the above information differs from proposed
No. 2304.7(3),, from the California Building Code, for construction, values in the tables must be adjusted.
plywood (Information Guideline No. 5). Ix nominal
lumber solid sheathing may be used when the rafter Additional Regulations
spacing does not exceed 24” on center and the A. If patio cover posts are located less than 3’-0”
sheathing is placed perpendicular to the rafters. from the property line (Zoning Regulations permitting),
the patio cover must have a one-hour fire-resistive wall
E. When connecting and supporting one side of the extending from the underside of the roof sheathing on
patio cover directly to the dwelling/structure, the rafter the property line side to provide fire protection. A 30”
spacing and beam sizes are determined by Tables I and high parapet may be required.
II. However, the main beam on the side attached to the
B. No fire protection is required for the common wall
dwelling may be replaced with a ledger the same size as
between the dwelling unit and the patio cover as they
the rafters, fastened to the wall studs with staggered, ½”
are considered the same occupancy.
x 5” lag screws at 48” maximum on center, for up to a
10’-0” rafter span. Lag screws to be 32” maximum on C. When openings required for light and/or
center for rafter spans up to 20’-0”. Attaching the rafters ventilation within the dwelling unit open into a patio cover
to the existing dwelling unit rafters is not recommended. structure, there shall be a minimum openable area
If a ledger beam is not used, patio cover rafters shall be between the patio cover and adjoining room of not less
supported directly on the double top plates of the wall. than 10% of the floor area of the interior room but not
less than 20 square feet. Refer to CRC Section R303.
INSPECTIONS
Inspections are required at the following times: D. All electrical wiring and equipment shall comply
1. When footings have been excavated but prior to with regulations for exterior installations (WP and GFCI).
placing concrete,
2 When ledger beams are attached to an existing
structure,

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Solid Patio Cover 8B
TABLE 1 Minimum Rafter Sizes (Inches) Table II Minimum Beam Size (Inches)
Rafter Rafter Spacing Center-to-Center (Inches) Post
Span 12 16 24 32 Spacing Rafter Span (In Feet)
(Feet) (5/16"Plywood (3/8"Plywood (1/2"Plywood (5/8"Plywood (Feet)
sheathing) sheathing) sheathing) sheathing) 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
6 2x4 2x4 2x4 2x4 4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4
7 2x4 2x4 2x4 2x4 6 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x4 4x6
8 2x4 2x4 2x6 2x6 8 4x4 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x6
9 2x4* 2x6 2x6 2x6 10 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x6 4x8 4x8 4x8
10 2x6 2x6 2x6 2x6 12 4x6 4x6 4x8 4x8 4x8 4x8 4x8 4x10
11 2x6 2x6 2x6 2x6 6x8 6x8 6x8 6x8 6x8
12 2x6 2x6 2x6 2x8 14 4x8 4x8 4x8 4x8 4x10 4x10 4x10 4x10
13 2x6 2x6 2x8 2x8 6x8 6x8 6x8 6x10 6x10 6x10
14 2x6 2x6 2x8 2x8 16 4x8 4x8 4x10 4x10 4x10 4x12 4x12 4x14
15 2x6 2x8 2x8 2x10 6x8 6x8 6x8 6x8 6x10 6x10 6x10 6x10
16 2x8 2x8 2x8 2x10 18 4x8 4x10 4x10 4x10 4x12 4x12 4x14 4x14
17 2x8 2x8 2x10 2x10 6x8 6x8 6x8 6x10 6x10 6x10 6x12 6x12
18 2x8 2x8 2x10 2x10 20 4x10 4x10 4x12 4x12 4x14 4x14
19 2x8 2x10 2x10 2x12 6x8 6x10 6x10 6x10 6x12 6x12 6x12 6x14
20 2x8 2x10 2x10 2x12
Table IV 4 x Rafters
Table III Minimum Square Footing Sizes (Inches) Maximum Maximum Spacing
Post Span Center to Center
Spacing Rafter Span (In Feet) (Feet) (Inches)
(Feet) 32 48
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 8 4x4 4x4
4 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 9 4x6 4x6
10 4x6 4x6
6 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 14
13 4x6 4x8
8 12 12 12 12 12 14 14 14
15 4x8 4x8
10 12 12 12 14 14 14 16 16
17 4x8 4x8
12 12 12 14 14 16 16 18 18 20 4x8 4x10
14 12 12 14 16 16 18 18 20
16 12 14 14 16 18 18 20 20 DIRECTIONS for TABLES I thru IV:
18 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 22 1. Footings to extend 12” minimum into undisturbed
20 14 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 soil.
2. Please indicate appropriate rafter, beam, post
spacing and footing size with a circle or by
highlighting the appropriate spacing and span
numbers on each chart.

GENERAL NOTES:
1. Maximum span for 1-inch nominal solid sheathing
is 24 inches.
2. 2-inch nominal solid sheathing will span 48 inches.
3. Plywood or OSB sheathing shall comply with
Table No. 503.2.1.1(2), CRC, for span index
rating.
4. Use manufacturer's specified fasteners per listing.
5. All bases, caps and connectors are to be
approved and listed products.
6. All bases, caps and connectors shall be
galvanized or coated with a corrosion resistant
paint.

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