CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Codes
MEETING DATE: September 17, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Craig Carlson, Building Official
REVIEWED BY: Orlando Hernandez, Community Development Director APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Adopt an ordinance adopting by reference the 2025 Editions of the California Building Code, the California Residential Code, the California Green Building Code, the California Electrical Code, the California Mechanical Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Energy Code, and the Model Codes with appendices and amendments related thereto, all of which comprise the Buildings and Construction Code of the City of Menifee.
DISCUSSION
On August 20, 2025, the City Council conducted the introduction and first reading of an ordinance adopting the 2025 California Building Standard Codes (Ordinance). This is the required public hearing for the second reading and adoption. If adopted, the proposed ordinance would become effective on January 1, 2026.
This hearing was publicly noticed in The Press Enterprise on August 26, 2025, and September 2, 2025.
In accordance with the California Health and Safety Code and a code update cycle of typically three years, the City adopts by reference a number of model codes that are applicable to construction on private property. Once the State completes the code adoption process, which includes State mandated amendments, local jurisdictions must then adopt the State mandated codes with any local amendments thereto. The codes used by the City were last revised and adopted by the City Council on November 16, 2022, with a subsequent ordinance to amend appendices adopted on August 16, 2023.
The State adoption of the latest model codes, 2025 California Building Standards Codes (“CBSC”), will go into effect on January 1, 2026. Any local amendments must be based on findings related to specific local topographic, climatic or geographic conditions. However, express findings
City of Menifee Staff Report
Adoption and Second Reading of an Ordinance Adopting the 2025 Building Codes September 17, 2025
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are not required for administrative amendments that are necessary to carry out the application of the 2025 CBSC and/or any amendments that do not otherwise modify the building standard.
The 2025 CBSC becomes effective as of January 1, 2026, and includes the following updates:
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code: The International Code Council (ICC) has created a new WUI Code aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires. As part of the 2025 California Building Code (CBC) updates, the State has repealed the previous CBC Chapter and adopted the new WUI Code, while keeping California-specific amendments that were already in place. The WUI will apply to any buildings or structures located within the WUI or designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
High-Rise Classification: The measurement to determine a high-rise building now includes the elevation of any occupied roof. In prior codes, the high-rise measurement was taken to the highest occupied floor, and occupied roofs were not a factor. Two-Way Communication Systems – Stairways & Elevators: This code provides detailed requirements for the design and installation of fire alarm and emergency communication systems in stairways and elevators. Previous building codes did not clearly require compliance with NFPA 72 which is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code published by the National Fire Protection Association.
Horizontal Exit Communication Systems: The CBC now requires two-way communication systems on both sides of a horizontal exit, unless there is already an elevator lobby with such a system. A horizontal exit is a fire-rated wall or barrier inside a building that allows people to move to a safe area on the same floor instead of using stairs. Stairway Exterior Wall Protection: The CBC added a new requirement for protecting stairway exterior walls when the stairway extends above a lower roof. The wall must either have a one-hour fire rating for 10 feet above the roof, or the roof itself must be one-hour rated with 45-minute rated openings within 10 feet of the stairway wall. This requirement does not apply at the true high-roof condition where the stair penthouse is extending above the roof. Egress Court Fire Separation Exception: The CBC now includes an exception to fire separation rules for narrow exit courts. An exit court is an outdoor pathway or open space that leads people from a building exit to a safe area, such as a street or public way. If the exit court is less than 10 feet wide and less than 10 feet from the building, fire separation is not required, as long as people can travel in two different directions toward separate exits leading to the street or another safe area.
Insulated Metal Panels: The CBC now includes rules for Insulated Metal Panels (IMPs), which are factory-made panels with metal on the outside and insulation inside. They can be used for walls or roofs. The new code sets safety standards for how these panels are designed, built, and installed, including fire safety, strength, and how they are joined together.
City of Menifee Staff Report
Adoption and Second Reading of an Ordinance Adopting the 2025 Building Codes September 17, 2025
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Podium Construction Updates: There are two updates to podium-style buildings that use a three-hour fire-rated floor to separate different types of construction:
oLarge assembly spaces with occupancy of more than 300 people are now allowed above the three-hour fire separation floor.
oAny changes in height or steps in that fire separation floor must now be built as fire-rated barriers to maintain protection.
Exterior Wall Continuity: The CBC contains new requirements that address continuity of fire-resistance rated exterior walls and how the exterior wall continuity is affected by intersecting floor assemblies or roof assemblies.
Floor Penetration Exceptions: There are two new exceptions for floor penetrations. oConcrete floor openings in parking garages (open or enclosed) can now be left unprotected if the space above and below is also a parking garage. oIf the openings are filled with concrete, grout, or mortar, the usual fire-resistance rating (T- rating) is not required, matching similar rules for fire ratings in other parts of the code.
Plans submitted to plan review prior to January 1, 2026, would not be subject to the new code requirements. All projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026, will be subject to the 2025 CBSC.
In past updates, this action had also incorporated the California Fire Code; however, for this cycle, the Fire Code will be presented to the City Council under a separate ordinance. Riverside County Fire, which provides fire prevention services to the City, is still reviewing the State’s 2025 Fire Code and will bring forward a separate item for Council consideration. This report focuses solely on adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Codes by reference to ensure the City remains in compliance with State law and maintains consistency with regional standards.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Safe and Vibrant Community
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance
2. Public Hearing Notice