City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Fire
Meeting Date: November 3, 2025
Report #:2509-5206
TITLE
FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Repealing Chapter 15.04 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Adopting a New Chapter 15.04, the California Fire Code (2025 Edition) With Local Amendments and Related Findings. CEQA Status: Exempt Pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA Guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance that repeals Chapter
15.04 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) and adopts a new PAMC Chapter 15.04 adopting the California Fire Code (2025 Edition) with local amendments.
BACKGROUND
Every three years, California updates its Building Standards Code, known as Title 24, to incorporate the latest technology, best practices, and policy goals for safe, efficient, and sustainable buildings. Jurisdictions may adopt the model code as-is or adopt local amendments that are more stringent than the model code adopted by the state. State law imposes certain requirements when jurisdictions adopt local amendments to any of these 13 parts, including that the jurisdiction make express findings that each amendment is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, topographic or environmental conditions.
If no local amendments are adopted before the beginning of the new code cycle, in this case January 1, 2026, then the model code adopted by the state automatically applies. If prior local amendments are not readopted before the new code cycle begins, they expire and can no longer be applied or enforced at the local level.
The California Building Standards Code is organized into 13 parts, as shown below. Note that there are both Parts 2 and 2.5, creating a total 13 parts. Part 7, the Wildlands-Urban Interface (WUI) Code is a new addition this cycle. It replaces Chapter 49 of the California Fire Code. ·Part 1: CA Administrative Code
·Part 2: CA Building Code
·Part 2.5: CA Residential Code
·Part 3: CA Electrical Code
·Part 4: CA Mechanical Code
·Part 5: CA Plumbing Code
·Part 6: CA Energy Code
·Part 7: CA Wildlands-Urban Interface Code
·Part 8: CA State Historical Building Code
·Part 9: CA Fire Code
·Part 10: CA Existing Building Code
·Part 11: CA Green Building Standards Code
·Part 12: CA Reference Code Standards
On October 6, 2025 the City Council approved ordinances adopting the 2025 editions of the other parts of the California Building Standards Code and directed staff to return on the Consent Calendar with ordinances adopting the 2025 editions of the California Fire Code and California WUI Code with local amendments.1 On further review, staff determined that no local amendments to the WUI Code are necessary, and proposes to allow Part 7 of the CBSC to take effect without amendment.
ANALYSIS
Staff recommend that the Council adopt the attached ordinance adopting the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code with local amendments. The proposed ordinance re-adopts local amendments adopted in previous code cycles with some clarifying language and formatting. It also removes prior local amendments that have been incorporated into the updated 2025 State Code or incorporated into the new Part 7 (Wildland-Urban Interface Code).
This ordinance also adopts new local amendments, most of which are administrative and similar to amendments or practices currently in place. Most of the new local amendments are derived from the collaborative efforts of the Santa Clara County Fire Marshals’ Association.
Several sections of the California Fire Code (CFC) related to definitions, fire sprinkler specifications and hazardous materials are amended to allow the Fire Department greater flexibility and application of life safety and property conservation controls.
Specifically, this ordinance adopts new local amendments that: 1) define triggers for automatic sprinkler systems and more intense fire sprinkler design for different types of new and existing nonresidential buildings; 2) specify exhaust requirements for nonresidential parking garages; 3) define maximum allowable quantities of Energy Storage Systems in fire areas; and 4) add 1 October 6, 2025 staff report:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/api/compilemeetingattachmenthistory/historyattachment/?historyId=2a2b3 4e2-2c23-4b9f-ab42-c67dd1176b35.
Business Occupancies to the list of occupancies where the use of portable unvented heaters is prohibited.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
No additional staff, consulting or budgetary resources are required to adopt and enforce the recommended ordinances adopting and amending the California Building Standards Code at this time. Staff contemplated, requested and secured the resources needed to complete this triennial process in the FY25 and FY26 city budgets.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff hosted a community engagement meeting as part of the Building Standards Code update process for the 2026-2028 Cycle. This was a focus group with 10 local design professionals held on August 12, 2025 that covered all Title 24 updates.
The engagement opportunity was listed on the City website. Staff sent a targeted email notice to approximately 50 design professionals and community members to increase awareness for the event and promote attendance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The recommended action in this report is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15061(b)(3) on the grounds that the proposed standards are more stringent than the State standards, there are no reasonably foreseeable adverse environmental impacts and there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant adverse effect on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance repealing PAMC Chapter 15.04 and adopting a new Chapter 15.04, incorporating California Fire Code (2025 Edition) and local amendments and related findings APPROVED BY:
Stephen Lindsey, Fire Chief