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ORDINANCE NO. 2025-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE AS CHAPTER 8.04, THE CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE AS CHAPTER 8.05, THE CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING CODE AS CHAPTER 8.06, THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE AS CHAPTER 8.08, THE CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE AS CHAPTER 8.12, THE CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE AS 8.16, THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE AS CHAPTER 8.17, AND THE MODEL CODES WITH APPENDICES
AND AMENDMENTS RELATED THERETO, ALL OF WHICH COMPRISE THE
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CODE OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Commission has adopted and published the 2025 California Building Standards Code (“CBSC”), codified in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 CBSC contains, among other parts, the California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2), California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5), California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4), California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5), California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6), California Green Building Standards Code [“CALGreen Code”] (Title 24, Part 11),; and
WHEREAS, Sections 17922, 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 of the California Health & Safety Code provide that the governing body of every city or county shall adopt ordinances or regulations imposing the same requirements as those contained in the most recently adopted version of the CBSC; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Menifee (the “City”) wishes to update the rules and regulations governing building and construction within City limits to reflect the 2025 CBSC, as well as to make modifications to certain building standards and administrative provisions necessary to carry out the application of the CBSC; and WHEREAS, the City Council is not required to make any express findings for administrative amendments necessary to carry out the application of the CBSC and/or that do not otherwise modify a building standard.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Menifee does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The recitals above are true and correct and are incorporated herein in full.
SECTION 2. Local Climatic, Geological, and Topographical Findings. The City of Menifee hereby finds and determines it is reasonably necessary to adopt local amendments to the 2025 CBSC due to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions as follows:
I. Climatic Conditions
A. The City of Menifee, Riverside County is located in Southern California and covers a vast and varied geographic area. The base climate in western Riverside County consists of semi-arid Mediterranean weather patterns. Eastern Riverside County is a desert area with Mohave Desert temperatures and weather patterns. Those two primary areas are divided by the San Bernardino Mountain Range. Both areas outside of the mountain terrain annually experience 2 5
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extended periods of high temperatures with little or no precipitation. Hot, dry winds, which may reach speeds of 70 M.P.H. or greater, are common to the area. Examples are: Santa Ana/Foehn winds, afternoon surface-heating generated winds, and prevailing desert winds.
B. These climatic conditions cause extreme drying of vegetation and common building materials. Frequent periods of drought and low humidity add to the fire danger. This predisposes the area to large destructive fires (conflagration) which necessitates rapid identification, location, and extinguishment of all fires in the smallest stage possible. In addition to directly damaging or destroying buildings, these fires are also prone to disrupt utility services throughout Riverside County. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, streetlights, and utility poles, will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident scene.
During these winds, the inability to use aerial type firefighting apparatuses would place rescue personnel at increased risk of injury and further decrease our ability to stop fires in large buildings.
C. Although Riverside County and the City of Menifee occasionally experience periods of significant drought, the County can also experience periods of substantial rainfall.
Annual rainfall varies from three (3) inches in Blythe to over thirty- three (33) inches in Pine Cove.
When Riverside County does experience heavy rain, or rain over a period of days or weeks, many areas of the County are subject to flooding. Runoff from rain drains either naturally into rivers, washes, and creeks or into flood control facilities. Flash flooding is also a common problem, especially in the Coachella Valley and the easterly portions of the county. Flash flooding is typically associated with short duration, high intensity precipitation events often associated with summer thunderstorms. Such events can occur even during a drought.
D. Water demand in densely populated Southern California far exceeds the quantity supplied by natural precipitation; and although the population continues to grow, the already- taxed water supply does not. California is projected to increase in population by nearly 10 million over the next quarter of a century with 50 percent of that growth centered in Southern California.
Due to storage capacities and consumption, and a limited amount of rainfall future water allocation is not fully dependable. This necessitates the need for additional and on-site fire protection features. It would also leave tall buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled fires due to a lack of available water and an inability to pump sufficient quantities of available water to floors in a fire.
E. These dry climatic conditions and winds contribute to the rapid spread of even small fires originating in high-density housing or vegetation. These fires spread very quickly and create a need for increased levels of fire protection. The added protection of fire sprinkler systems and other fire protection features such as identification and notification will supplement normal fire department response by providing immediate protection for the building occupants and by containing and controlling the fire spread to the area of origin. Fire sprinkler systems will also reduce the use of water for firefighting by as much as 50 to 75 percent.
II. Topographical Conditions
A.Natural: The topographical conditions of Riverside County varies from three hundred (300) feet below sea-level, flat desert communities, to mountains over ten thousand (10,000) feet in Alpine-like areas of the San Bernardino Mountain Range. In between these areas, developable slopes of 25 percent and greater generally occur throughout the foothills. Riverside County extends from Orange County to the State of Arizona and is mixed with congested urban areas, rural lands, and wild lands. A large number of sensitive habitats for various animal species and vegetation consist within large open space areas between major urban centers that impact building and structure location, which impedes emergency access and response. This variety in 3 5
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regions contributes to an increased emergency response time, which necessitates cooperation between local agencies.
B.Traffic and circulation congestion is an artificially created, obstructive topographical condition, which is common throughout Riverside County.
C.These topographical conditions combine to create a situation, which places fire department response time to fire occurrences at risk and makes it necessary to provide automatic on-site fire-extinguishing systems and other protection measures to protect occupants and property.
III. Geological Conditions
A. Located within Riverside County are several known active and potentially active earthquake faults, including the San Andreas, San Jacinto, and Elsinore Fault. In the event of an earthquake, the location of the epicenter as well as the time of day and season of the year would have a profound effect on the number of deaths and casualties, as well as property damage.
B. The major form of direct damage from most earthquakes is damage to construction. Bridges are particularly vulnerable to collapse, and dam failure may generate major downstream flooding. Buildings vary in susceptibility, dependent upon construction and the types of soils on which they are built. Earthquakes destroy power and telephone lines; gas, sewer, or water mains; which, in turn, may set off fires and/or hinder firefighting or rescue efforts. The hazard of earthquakes varies from place to place, dependent upon the regional and local geology.
Ground shaking may occur in areas 65 miles or more from the epicenter (the point on the ground surface above the focus). Ground shaking can change the mechanical properties of some fine grained, saturated soils, where upon they liquefy and act as a fluid (liquefaction).
C. Previous earthquakes in Southern California have been accompanied by disruption of traffic flow and fires. A severe seismic event has the potential to negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression activities because it is likely to create obstacles similar to those indicated under the high wind section above. With the probability of strong aftershocks there exists a need to provide increased protection for anyone on upper floors of buildings.
D. Road circulation features located throughout Riverside County also make amendments reasonably necessary. Located through Riverside County are major roadways, highways and flood control channels that create barriers and slow response times. Hills, slopes, street and storm drain design accompanies with occasional heavy rainfall, causes roadway flooding and landslides and at times may make an emergency access route impassable. There are areas in Riverside County that naturally have extended emergency response times that exceed the 5-minute goal.
California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.7 and 18941.5 require that the modification or change be expressly marked and identified as to which each finding refers. Therefore, the City Council finds that the following table sets forth the 2025 CBSC Codes and sections that have been modified and the associated local climatic, geological and/or topographical conditions described above supporting the modification.
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2025 CODE SECTION TITLE/SUBJECT FINDINGS I, II,
III
Building Code 1.8.4.2 Fees Administrative
Building Code 107.4 Amended Construction Documents Administrative Building Code 1.8.8.1 General Administrative
Building Code 105.1 Permits Required Administrative
Building Code 105.2 Work Exempt from Permit Administrative Building Code 105.5 Permit Expiration Administrative
Building Code 105.5.1 Permit Expiration Administrative
Building Code 111.1 Change of Occupancy Administrative
Building Code 202 Definitions Administrative
Residential Code 1.8.4.2 Fees Administrative
Residential Code R105.1 Permits Required Administrative Residential Code R105.2 Work Exempt from Permit Administrative Residential Code R105.5 Permit Expiration Administrative Residential Code R105.5.1 Permit Expiration Administrative Residential Code R110.1 Use and Change of Occupancy Administrative Residential Code R202 Definitions Administrative
Electrical Code Annex H
80.19 (A)
Commercial Projects Administrative
SECTION 3. Additions. All such additions and replacements shall be as described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein.
SECTION 4. References to Prior Code. Unless superseded and expressly repealed, references in the City forms, documents, and regulations to the chapters and sections of the former City’s Building and Construction Code, Title 8 of the Menifee Municipal Code, shall be construed to apply to the corresponding provisions contained in this Ordinance of the City of Menifee and all other ordinances or parts or ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby superseded and expressly repealed.
SECTION 5. Severability and Validity. If any section, subsection, paragraph, or sentence of this Ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason found to be unconstitutional, invalid, or beyond the authority of the City of Menifee by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
SECTION 7. Implementation Date. This Ordinance shall be implemented on January 1, 2026.
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This Ordinance was introduced on the 20 th day of August 2025 and APPROVED AND ADOPTED on the 17th day of September 2025.
Ricky Estrada, Mayor
ATTEST:
Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Jeffrey T. Melching, City Attorney
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EXHIBIT A
TITLE 8: BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 8.04: BUILDING CODE
Sections:
8.04.010 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE
8.04.020 FEES
8.04.030 BOARD OF APPEALS
8.04.040 PERMITS
8.04.050 FENCES
8.04.060 PERMIT EXPIRATION
8.04.070 USE AND OCCUPANCY
8.04.080 DEFINITIONS
8.04.090 RESERVED
§8.04.010 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE.
(A) Except as hereinafter changed or modified, the 2025 California Building Code as published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including Chapters 1 through 35), tables, indices, addenda, footnotes, and appendices (including appendices E, I, J, K, L, P and Q), are hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Building Code and incorporated into this title. (B)A copy of the 2025 California Building Code, including the above-designated appendices, shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
§ 8.04.020 FEES.
(A) Chapter 1, Division I, §1.8.4.2 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid in accordance with the schedule as established by resolution of the City Council of the City of Menifee.
(B) Chapter 1, Division II, §107.4 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) Amended Construction Documents: Any person commencing any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permit shall be subject to a penalty fee that shall be twice the fee which is established by the Building Official in addition to the required permit fees.
§8.04.030 BOARD OF APPEALS.
(A) Chapter 1, Division I, §1.8.8.1, is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) The Planning Commission shall hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or 7 5
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determinations made by the Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of this Code.
(2) An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this Code or the rules legally adopted thereunder has been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this Code do not fully apply or an equally good or better form of construction is proposed. The Planning Commission does not have the authority to interpret the administrative provisions of the Building Code, nor shall the Planning Commission have any authority to waive requirements of this Code. §8.04.040 PERMITS.
(B)Chapter 1, Division II, §105.1, is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) No person shall construct, erect, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or erect, install, connect, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this Code, or to cause, permit, or suffer any such work to be done, without having first obtained a separate and valid permit for each such building, structure, or system from the Building Official. § 8.04.050 FENCES.
(A) Chapter 1, Division II, §105.2, subsection 2 under “Building” is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) Chain link, wood, or other similar fences not over seven (7) feet high, and masonry block walls less than three (3) feet high.
§8.04.060 PERMIT EXPIRATION.
(A)Chapter 1, Division II, §105.5 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) Except as set forth in Section 105.5.1, every permit issued by the Building Official shall expire by limitation and become null and void unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance. If the work authorized on the site by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance date, such permit shall expire by limitation and become null and void 180 calendar days after the last successful inspection. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and good cause demonstrated. In no event shall any permit be extended, nor shall any permit otherwise be valid, for any period exceeding three (3) years from the original date of issuance.
(B)Chapter 1, Division II, §105.5.1 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) Notwithstanding Section 105.5, any permit issued in order to bring an unpermitted structure (as that term is defined in Section 202 of this Code) or other unlawful, substandard, or hazardous condition into compliance with any applicable law, ordinance, rule, or regulation shall expire by limitation and become null and void 8 5
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90 calendar days from the date of its issuance. The Building Official may extend the validity of the permit for a period not exceeding 90 calendar days beyond the initial 90-day limit upon the written request by the applicant and good cause demonstrated filed with the Building Official prior to the expiration date of the original permit.
§8.04.070 USE AND OCCUPANCY.
(A) Chapter 1, Division II, §111.1 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) No person shall use, occupy, or maintain, or allow the use or occupancy of, any unpermitted structure. No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made, until the Building Official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this Code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.
§8.04.080 DEFINITIONS.
(A) Chapter 2, §202 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1)SUCCESSFUL INSPECTION shall mean a required inspection (as set forth in Section 110.3 of this Code) in which work inspected was determined by the Building Official or designee thereof to meet all applicable minimum Code requirements and the inspection was approved and documented as successful. (2) UNPERMITTED STRUCTURE shall be defined as any structure, or portion thereof, that was erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed , connected, converted, demolished or equipped, at any point in time, without the required approval(s) and permit(s) having first been obtained from the Building Official, or pursuant to a permit which subsequently expired and became null and void before receiving final approval from the Building Official.
CHAPTER 8.05: RESIDENTIAL CODE
Sections:
8.05.010 ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE
8.05.020 FEES
8.05.030 BOARD OF APPEALS
8.05.040 PERMITS
8.05.050 FENCES
8.05.060 PERMIT EXPIRATION
8.05.070 USE AND OCCUPANCY
8.05.080 DEFINITIONS
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§8.05.010 ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE.
(A)Except as hereinafter modified or changed, the 2025 California Residential Code published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including Chapters 1 through 44), tables, indices, addenda, footnotes and appendices (BB, BF, BJ, BM, CI, CJ, and CK), is hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Residential Code and incorporated into this title.
(B)A copy of the 2025 California Residential Code shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
§8.05.020 FEES.
(A) Chapter 1, Division I, §1.8.4.2, is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) On buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems or alterations requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid in accordance with the schedule as established by resolution of the City Council of the City of Menifee.
§8.05.030 BOARD OF APPEALS.
(A) The Planning Commission shall hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of this Chapter 8.05 in the same manner outlined in Section 8.04.030 of Menifee Municipal Code.
§8.05.040 PERMITS.
(A) Chapter 1, Division II, §R105.1, is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) No person shall construct, erect, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure; or erect, install, connect, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this Code; or to cause, permit, or suffer any such work to be done, without having first obtained a separate and valid permit for each such building, structure, or system from the Building Official.
§8.05.050 FENCES.
(A) Chapter 1, Division II, §R105.2, subsection 2 under “Building” is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) Chain link, wood, or other similar fences not over seven (7) feet high, and masonry block walls less than three (3) feet high.
§8.05.060 PERMIT EXPIRATION.
(A) Chapter 1, Division II, §R105.5 is hereby amended to include the following:
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(1) Except as set forth in Section 105.5.1, every permit issued by the Building Official shall expire by limitation and become null and void unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance. If the work authorized on the site by such permit is commenced within 12 months after its issuance date, such permit shall expire by limitation and become null and void 180 calendar days after the last successful inspection. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and good cause demonstrated. In no event shall any permit be extended, nor shall any permit otherwise be valid, for any period exceeding three (3) years from the original date of issuance.
(B) Chapter 1, Division II, §R105.5.1 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) Notwithstanding Section 105.5, any permit issued in order to bring an unpermitted structure (as that term is defined in Section R202 of this Code) or other unlawful, substandard, or hazardous condition into compliance with any applicable law, ordinance, rule, or regulation shall expire by limitation and become null and void 90 calendar days from the date of its issuance. The Building Official may extend the validity of the permit for a period not exceeding 90 calendar days beyond the initial 90-day limit upon the written request by the applicant and good cause demonstrated filed with the Building Official prior to the expiration date of the original permit.
§8.05.070 USE AND OCCUPANCY.
(A) Chapter 1, Division II, §R110.1 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1) No person shall use, occupy, or maintain, or allow the use or occupancy of, any unpermitted structure. No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made, until the Building Official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this Code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.
§8.05.080 DEFINITIONS.
(A) Chapter 2, §R202 is hereby amended to include the following:
(1)SUCCESSFUL INSPECTION shall mean a required inspection (as set forth in Section R109 of this Code) in which work inspected was determined by the Building Official or designee thereof to meet all applicable minimum Code requirements and the inspection was approved and documented as successful. (2)UNPERMITTED STRUCTURE shall be defined as any structure, or portion thereof, that was erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, connected, converted, demolished or equipped, at any point in time, without the required approval(s) and permit(s) having first been obtained 11 5
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from the Building Official, or pursuant to a permit which subsequently expired and became null and void before receiving final approval from the Building Official.
CHAPTER 8.06: GREEN BUILDING CODE
Section:
8.06.010 ADOPTION OF THE GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
§8.06.010 ADOPTION OF THE GREEN BUILDING CODE.
(A) Except as hereinafter modified or changed, the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including Chapters 1 through 8), tables, indices, addenda, footnotes and appendices (including appendices A4 through A6), is hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Green Building Code and incorporated into this title.
(B) A copy of the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
CHAPTER 8.08: ELECTRICAL CODE
Sections:
8.08.010 ADOPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CODE
8.08.020 COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
§8.08.010 ADOPTION OF ELECTRICAL CODE.
(A) Except as hereinafter changed or modified, the 2025 California Electrical Code as published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including Chapters 1 through 9), tables, indices, appendices (including appendices A through K), addenda, annexes, and footnotes is hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Electrical Code and incorporated into this title. (B) A copy of the 2025 California Electrical Code, including the above-designated appendix, shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
§8.08.020 COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.
(A) Annex H, §80.19 (A) is hereby amended by adding the following subsection which reads as follows:
(1) For all commercial projects, a California Licensed Electrical Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining permits for electrical work performed. 12 5
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CHAPTER 8.12: MECHANICAL CODE
Section:
8.12.010 ADOPTION OF THE MECHANICAL CODE
§8.12.010 ADOPTION OF MECHANICAL CODE.
(A) Except as hereinafter changed or modified, the 2025 California Mechanical Code as published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including Chapters 1 through 18), tables, indices, addenda, footnotes and appendices (including appendices A through J), are hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Mechanical Code and incorporated into this title.
(B) A copy of the 2025 California Mechanical Code, including the above-designated appendix, shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
CHAPTER 8.16: PLUMBING CODE
Section:
8.16.010 ADOPTION OF THE PLUMBING CODE
§8.16.010 ADOPTION OF PLUMBING CODE.
(A) Except as hereinafter changed or modified, the 2025 California Plumbing Code as published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including Chapters 1 through 17), tables, indices, addenda, footnotes and appendices (including appendices A through S), are hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Plumbing Code and incorporated into this title.
(B) A copy of the 2025 California Plumbing Code, including the above-designated appendices, shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.
CHAPTER 8.17: ENERGY CODE
Section:
8.17.010 ADOPTION OF THE ENERGY CODE
§8.17.010 ADOPTION OF ENERGY CODE.
(A) Except as hereinafter changed or modified, the 2025 California Energy Code as published by the State Building Standards Commission, including all of its chapters (including 13 5
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Chapters 1 through 12), tables, indices, addenda, footnotes and appendices (including appendices 1-A through 1-B), are hereby adopted by reference as the Menifee Energy Code and incorporated into this title.
(B) A copy of the 2025 California Energy Code, including the above-designated appendices, shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk.