15.10.160 Footings – General.
Exterior porch and entrance platforms or landings constructed of any material shall be anchored to and supported by the building foundation wall at the point of junction. The outer edges of such platforms or landings shall be supported on approved footings or piers buried a minimum of 36 inches below finish grade. This shall not apply to cantilevered platforms or landings, nor shall it apply to concrete platforms or landings not supporting any part of a building and extending no more than eight inches above finish grade.
EXCEPTIONS: In lieu of extending footings below the frost line, one of the following may be used, but in no case shall the footing extend less than minimum cover depth required by the building code:
A. Place footings on natural sand or gravel backfill compacted to 95 percent standard density. The minimum width of the compacted sand or gravel shall be twice the depth plus the width of the footings, except where the water table is within the depth of frost below frost line, 36 inches, or as required by the building official; or
B. Place footings at a depth and in a type of soil so that allowable soil bearing pressure may be calculated as prescribed elsewhere in this code. [Ord. FY2006-02 §6, 2005; Ord. 84-42-O §2, 1984. Formerly §15.04.120].