FAQ

The CSU provides information for general contractors on the calstate.edu website. Here are a few topics that pertain to construction on all CSU campuses:

• Doing Business with the CSU
• CSU Project Center
• Energy and Sustainability
• Contractor Prequalification
• Professional Service Agreements
• Construction Insurance Programs

First of all, the CSU Board of Trustees policy requires all architectural firms seeking commissions on major capital outlay projects to be prequalified. The CSU Office of the Chancellor has established an annual prequalification process that fulfills this requirement.

• CSU Architectural Prequalification is a systemwide effort and is valid for all campuses. Individual campuses do not maintain individual prequalification programs.
• Firms seeking architectural prequalification must primarily provide architectural services. Other service providers (i.e., structural, MEP, civil engineering firms, land planning, etc.) are not subject to systemwide prequalification and therefore are not included in this systemwide architectural listing.
• Prequalification is an annual requirement.

Architectural Prequalification Information

The CSU provides information for design professionals on the calstate.edu website. Here are a few topics that pertain to construction on all CSU campuses:

• Doing Business with the CSU
• CSU Project Center
• Energy and Sustainability
• Professional Service Agreements

Education Code 66606 grants the CSU full power and responsibility in the construction and development of its capital program. Health & Safety Code 18934.5​ requires the CSU to follow the provisions of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 24 as adopted by Building Standards Commission (BSC) and identified in the matrix adoption tables. In addition to the BSC-adopted code sections, the CSU has procedurally adopted Chapter 1, Division II of the CBC.

Section 1.2.1.2 of the CCR Title 24, Part 2, of the California Building Standards Code (CBSC), also known as the California Building Code (CBC), empowers the CSU to act as its own building official. The CSU is required to coordinate its building official authority with various state agencies in certain aspects, most notably the State Fire Marshal on fire and panic safety issues, including exiting, and with the Division of the State Architect on access compliance issues. 

Other agencies have specific approval authority that may apply depending upon the characteristics of an individual CSU project. Notable examples include local county health department approval for food service operations and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Elevator Unit for elevator approvals.

Click here for more information about permitting, plan check, access compliance, and peer review.