City Council Agenda Report
November 18, 2025
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alex Hamilton, Interim Director of Community Development Faye Yuan, Building & Safety Manager
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 25-1761 – ADOPTING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING,
RESIDENTIAL, FIRE, WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE, PLUMBING,
ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, ENERGY, EXISTING BUILDING, AND GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS AND AMENDMENTS – RESOLUTION NO. 25-53
MODIFYING THE CALIFORNIA STANDARD CODES DUE TO LOCAL
CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL OR TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS – AMENDING
THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE
Background:
The California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) is responsible for adopting and publishing the building codes used for construction within the state. The International Building Code, published approximately every three years by the International Code Council (ICC), serves as the model code referenced by California. The CBSC makes state-specific amendments to the International Building Code and publishes the California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
Building and Safety activities are regulated and controlled very closely by State Law and local ordinances. The CBSC adopted and published the 2025 edition of the California Code of Regulations Title 24, otherwise known as the 2025 California Codes. As mandated by state law, cities must enforce these codes for all construction after January 1, 2026.
The California Codes are applicable to all occupancies throughout the state, whether or not the local government takes an affirmative action to adopt these standards. California law takes a straightforward approach to amendments by local governments:
The governing body of the local government must make express findings that amendments to the building standards are necessary due to local climatic, topographic
City Council November 18, 2025
Ordinance No. 25-1761 and Resolution No. 25-53 –
Adopting California Building Codes
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or geologic conditions. The local amendments may only provide for a more restrictive building standard than that contained in the California Codes. The administrative provisions of the California Codes may also be amended, provided they are found to be equivalent to the provisions outlined in the Codes. The local amendments and the express findings must be filed with the California Building Standards Commission.
In accordance with these requirements, staff has identified the climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions within the City’s region that necessitate amendments to the California Codes. These findings include the hot dry Santa Ana wind conditions, the occasional heavy winter rains that follow the dry seasonal weather, the City’s location within a highly active seismic area, the soils potential for liquefaction, the density of development, and existing traffic circulation and congestion.
Most of the changes and modifications are the same or substantially similar to those that the City has adopted for previous codes. The modifications to the California Codes contain vital provisions regarding administrative procedures, roofing materials, seismic requirements, foundation requirements, pool safety barriers and other matters necessitated by the City’s exposure to the above climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions.
Some of the significant changes to the 2025 California Building Standards Codes:
California Building Code:
Automatic sprinkler systems are required to be installed in Group B, F-1, M and S-1 occupancies that have lithium-ion or lithium-metal battery systems. Guards required on retaining walls.
Public-occupancy temporary structures added which allows for up to one year of installation.
California Residential Code:
Building Integrated Photovoltaic system (BIPV) criteria has been added. The thickness of required under slab vapor retarders has returned to 6 mil.
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code:
Introduces Part 7: the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
This new part integrates California Residential Code section R337, California Building Code chapter 7A, and California Fire Code Chapter 49 to strengthen wildfire resilience in areas where development meets wildland.
California Energy Code:
Updates mandatory U-factor 0.40 for fenestration in all climate zones. Updates mandatory BESS-ready applies to newly constructed single-family buildings with dwelling unit electrical service over 125A.
City Council November 18, 2025
Ordinance No. 25-1761 and Resolution No. 25-53 –
Adopting California Building Codes
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Requires electric readiness for newly constructed commercial kitchens. Expanded PV Solar and battery requirements to certain occupancy types.
Adoption Process:
Government Code §50022.1, et seq., authorizes the adoption by reference of the codes specified in this ordinance. When adopting a code by reference, State law requires that the City Council schedule a Public Hearing after first reading of the ordinance. The Public Hearing can occur in conjunction with the second reading of the ordinance. Pursuant to Government Code Section 50022.3, the notice of the Public Hearing must be published once a week for two successive weeks, with at least five days intervening between the respective publication dates.
Copies of the California Building Codes have been deposited with the City Clerk for public review until adoption and shall be kept in the Building & Safety office after the adoption pursuant to Government Code §50022.6.
Environmental Review:
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to continuing administrative activities or organizational activities of government that will not result in specific direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, or to the creation of government funding mechanisms or other governmental fiscal activities that do not result in potential environmental impacts. Public Resources Code Section 21065 and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(2) and (b)(5). The draft ordinance makes various technical changes to the existing regulations in the form of local administrative, climate, geologic or topographical changes. On that basis, the draft ordinance is not subject to CEQA.
Fiscal Impact:
Training costs and the purchase of new code books for Building & Safety staff is included in FY 2025/26 budget.
Citizens Advised:
Notice of the Public Hearing was posted at the City’s three designated posting places and City website on November 7, 2025, and published in The Norwalk Patriot on October 31, and November 7, 2025.
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
City Council November 18, 2025
Ordinance No. 25-1761 and Resolution No. 25-53 –
Adopting California Building Codes
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Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt:
a.Ordinance No. 25-1761, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORWALK ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL,
FIRE, WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL,
ENERGY, EXISTING BUILDING, AND GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODES AND RELATED MODEL CODES, WITH APPENDICES AND AMENDMENTS THERETO; AND AMENDING THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE; and
b.Resolution No. 25-53, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NORWALK MAKING EXPRESS FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS THAT
MODIFICATIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, FIRE, WILDLAND-
URBAN INTERFACE, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, EXISTING BUILDING, AND GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODES IN ORDINANCE NO. 25- 1761 ARE REASONABLY NECESSARY BECAUSE OF LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL OR TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 25-1761
2. Resolution No. 25-53