Item 408/2025
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Omar Sandoval
Dept:
City Manager Dept: City Attorney
Date: 10/28/2025
Subject: First Reading and introduction of an Ordinance Adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Codes. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
To introduce an ordinance adopting the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Codes, and to set a public hearing for its second reading and adoption.
BACKGROUND
The State’s Health and Safety Code establishes that the Uniform California Building, Fire and related construction Codes (Title 24, California Code of Regulations) as published by the California Building Standards Commission every 3 years, is the applicable codes for occupancies throughout the State. The Building Standards Commission published the 2025 California Building, Fire and related construction Codes earlier this year, and it becomes effective January 1, 2026.
The California Codes serve as the baseline construction standards for all local governments in the State. Cities and counties must adopt the updated codes by reference to remain consistent with State law (Health and Safety Code §17958 et seq.). Local jurisdictions may adopt amendments only when reasonably necessary to address unique local climatic, geologic, or topographic conditions, or to uphold community quality-of-life values, such as preventing blight caused by abandoned construction projects. The purpose of the attached ordinance is to adopt the 2025 California Codes and continue existing local amendments consistent with State law.
DISCUSSION
The attached Ordinance adopts and amends the 2025 Editions of the California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building, and Referenced Standards Codes, adopted by the State of California; and adopts the 2024 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, and the 2024 Edition of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Item 408/2025
The proposed modifications are intended to increase safety to life and property from fire and other hazards, and continue existing local amendments consistent with State law.
Assembly Bill 306 (2025) amended Health and Safety Code §§17958 et seq., prohibiting local jurisdictions from modifying residential construction standards except where necessary for wildfire home-hardening requirements. The local amendments proposed for adoption are continuations of existing provisions, updated only as necessary to reflect the renumbering and organizational changes in the 2025 California Codes.
After introduction, State law requires that the City Clerk publish a notice of public hearing for two weeks. The City Council is required to hold a public hearing prior to adoption. A public hearing will be scheduled for the Council's regular meeting on November 12, 2025, for second reading and adoption of the ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact in the adoption of this ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Introduce the ordinance adopting the 2025 Building and Construction Codes and pass it to second reading and adoption.
Schedule a public hearing for the regular meeting to be held on November 12, 2025, for the second reading and adoption.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Attachment 1 – Ordinance