STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 12
10/28/2025
TN
Date: October 28, 2025
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Andrea Alexander, City Clerk
Subject: Ordinance Pertaining to Building Construction
Recommendation:
Adopt Ordinance No. 1139, adopting the 2025 edition of the California Building Code; the 2025 edition of the California Residential Code; the 2025 edition of the California Electrical Code; the 2025 edition oft he California Mechanical Code; the 2025 edition of the California Plumbing Code; the Lancaster Security Code, the 2024 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code; the 2025 edition of the California Energy Code; the 2025 edition of the California Historical Buildings COde; the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code; 2025 edition for the Los Angeles County Fire Code; the 2025 edition of the California Green Building Standards Code; the 2025 edition of the California Existing Buildings Code; and the 2025 edition of the California Referenced Standards Code, all pertaining to life and safety and to the construction, alteration, moving demolition, repair, maintenance, and use of buildings, structures, and properties within the City
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Background:
On July 1, 2025, the California Building Standards Commission published the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Codes and Regulations, based on the most recent editions of the International Building and Fire Codes, the National Electrical Code, and the Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes; all with California-specific amendments. Such codes will become effective on a statewide basis on January 1, 2026. All local building departments are, therefore, required to enforce such codes as the minimum codes. State law allows local authorities to amend the provisions of Title 24, provided certain conditions are met. The adoption of the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code, as amended in this Ordinance, meets State requirements and will serve as the code for building 2 2
2 7
and construction within the City. The adoption of the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code also places such codes within the Lancaster Municipal Code.
The City of Lancaster is part of the consolidated fire protection district of Los Angeles County, which provides fire protection and prevention services for the City. The County of Los Angeles will amend the 2022 edition of the California Fire Code and adopt it as the 2023 County of Los Angeles Fire Code. The City is proposing to adopt this code with the County’s amendments after the County’s adoption process is complete. Until then, the 2022 edition of the California Fire Code, along with the 2020 edition of the Los Angeles County Fire Code, will be in effect, with the exceptions of amendments to Section 503.4 and the deletion of Section 503.4.1. These sections cover the issue of the strict prohibition of traffic calming devices. The City desires to have the ability to install traffic calming devices, where necessary for safety, with full consultation of the Fire Department. The Council’s adoption of the 2022 California Fire Code meets the State requirements, and it will be incorporated within the Municipal Code (for the interim) as the Lancaster Fire Code.
The 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, published by the International Code Council, when adopted by a local jurisdiction, governs the use, maintenance, and occupancy of existing structures and premises, as well as administration, enforcement, and penalties. This code is based on the requirements of the International Codes, which are the model codes utilized by the California Codes. While the State does not adopt a property maintenance code statewide, the City has previously adopted the International Property Maintenance Code as a minimum standard for the occupancy of existing structures in Lancaster.
By adopting the 2025 California Codes, with minimal amendments, the City will place itself in a level position with other communities throughout the State. This will place the City ahead of those communities adopting more restrictive amendments.
At the Lancaster City Council meeting held on October 14, 2025, the City Council approved the introduction of Ordinance No. 1139, adopting the 2025 edition of the California Building Code; the 2025 edition of the California Residential Code; the 2025 edition of the California Electrical Code; the 2025 edition oft he California Mechanical Code; the 2025 edition of the California Plumbing Code; the Lancaster Security Code, the 2024 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code; the 2025 edition of the California Energy Code; the 2025 edition of the California Historical Buildings COde; the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code; 2025 edition for the Los Angeles County Fire Code; the 2025 edition of the California Green Building Standards Code; the 2025 edition of the California Existing Buildings Code; and the 2025 edition of the California Referenced Standards Code, all pertaining to life and safety and to the construction, alteration, moving demolition, repair, maintenance, and use of buildings, structures, and properties within the City, by the following vote: 4-0-0-1; AYES: Hughes-Leslie, Malhi, Mann, Crist; NOES: None: ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Parris.
Attachment:
Ordinance No. 1139