ORDINANCE NO. 625-25
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE Summary: This ordinance amends portions of Title 15 of the City of Murrieta Municipal Code, by adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
WHEREAS, every three years the State of California repeals and adopts administrative regulations to the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Health and Safety Code sections 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 the City of Murrieta may adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code; and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 authorize the City to make amendments to said codes on the basis of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions existing in the City; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 17958 of the California Health and Safety Code, the California Building Standards Code shall become effective in the City 180 days after publication by the California Building Standards Commission; and
WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Commission published the 2025 California Building Standards Code on July 1, 2025, with an effective date of January 1, 2026; and WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Code and local amendments are adopted for the protection of the public health and safety; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance is categorically exempt from environmental review, per the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970, as amended, 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15061(b)(3).
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Murrieta hereby adopts the 2025 California State Building Standards Codes, including in their entirety the Administrative Provisions of the 2025 California Building Code, the 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2), 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5), 2025 California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5), 2025 California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4), 2025 California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6), 2025 California Historical Building Code (Title 24, Part 8), 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10),and the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11).
SECTION 2. Section 15.02.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is replaced, in its entirety, to read as follows:
“15.02.010 Adoption of the administrative provisions of the 2025 California Building Code.
Chapter 1, Division II of the California Building Code is not part of the 2025 California Building Standards Code but may be adopted by a local jurisdiction. The City of Murrieta hereby adopts Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Building Code and modifies, adds and deletes sections where necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter. The adopted portions and the City's modifications, additions and deletions, shall be used to administer and enforce the California Building Standards Codes within the City of Murrieta.”
SECTION 3. Section 15.04.060 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“One copy of each code adopted by this title shall be made available for public reference. Such reference materials may be provided in either digital or printed format.” SECTION 4. Section 15.04.120 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.120 Building Construction Advisory Board of Appeals Created. Section 113 Board of Appeals of the 2025 California Building Code is amended by adding new paragraphs to Section 113 Board of Appeals to read as follows:
A . A person may appeal an order, decision or determination made by the Building Official that relates to the application or interpretation of this chapter by filing a written appeal to the Building Construction Advisory Board of Appeals within 30 days of the Building Official's decision.
B. This section establishes a Building Construction Advisory Board of Appeals (BCA Board) consisting of five members. The Building Industry Association of Riverside County shall appoint one member and one alternate. The Presidents of the local Chapters of the International Code Council (Coachella Valley ICC, Foothill ICC, and San Diego ICC) shall, acting jointly, appoint two members and one alternate. One member shall be a California licensed architect, civil engineer, or structural engineer. The Director of the City of Murrieta Development Services Department shall appoint one member with one alternate. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and three affirmative votes shall be necessary to render a decision. The City of Murrieta Development Services Department appointee shall act as the secretary of the BCA Board. The BCA Board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its review and shall render decisions and findings in writing to the Director of Development Services, with a copy to the appellant. The BCA Board shall make a recommendation to the Director of Development Services, advising whether the decision appealed should be upheld or modified. The Director of Development Services shall consider the BCA Board's recommendation and provide a final decision in writing to the appellant within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the BCA Board's recommendation.
C. A person appealing to the Building Construction Advisory Board of Appeals shall pay an appeal fee pursuant to the fee schedule approved by the City Council.”
SECTION 5. Section 15.08.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.08.010 – Building Code adopted. The California Building Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 2), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 6. Section 15.08.015 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.08.015 – Residential Code adopted. The California Residential Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 2.5), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 7. Section 15.16.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.16.010 – Plumbing Code adopted. The California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 5), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 8. Section 15.20.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.20.010 – Mechanical Code adopted. The California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 4), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 9. Section 15.40.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.40.010 – Electrical Code adopted. The California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 3), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 10. Section 15.43.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.43.010 – Energy Code adopted. The California Energy Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 6), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 11. Section 15.45.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.45.010 – Historical Building Code adopted. The California Historical Building Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 8), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 12. Section 15.46.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.46.010 – Existing Building Code adopted. The California Existing Building Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 10), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 13. Section 15.047.010 of the Murrieta Municipal Code is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.47.010 – Green Building Standards Code adopted. The California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition (Title 24, Part 11), is hereby adopted and made part of this title by reference.” SECTION 14. The City Council hereby finds and determines that the adoption of this ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the State Guidelines implementing CEQA.
SECTION 15. This ordinance shall take effect on January 1, 2026.
SECTION 16. If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
SECTION 17. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall publish a summary of this Ordinance and post a certified copy of the full ordinance in the office of the City Clerk at least five (5) days prior to the adoption of the proposed ordinance; and within fifteen (15) days after adoption of the ordinance, the City Clerk shall publish a summary of the ordinance with the names of the council members voting for and against the ordinance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of November, 2025.
Cindy Warren, Mayor
ATTEST:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Tiffany J. Israel, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE) §
CITY OF MURRIETA)
I, Cristal McDonald, City Clerk of the City of Murrieta, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 625-25 was duly introduced on the 4th day of November, 2025, passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Murrieta at the regular meeting thereof, held on the 18th day of November, 2025, and was signed by the Mayor of the said City, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
I, Cristal McDonald, City Clerk of the City of Murrieta, California further certify that Ordinance No. 625-25 was duly published according to law and the order of the City Council of said City and the same was so published in Press Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation on the following date(s):
Introduced Ordinance: November 13, 2025
Adopted Ordinance: , 2025.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed to my name this __ day of ______________, 2025.
Cristal McDonald, City Clerk
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