February 24, 2026
Community Development
DATE: February 24, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
George Kabaivanov, PE, Building Official
Subject:
Public Hearing and First Reading of Ordinance Adopting
the 2025 California Building Standards Code
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Adopting this ordinance will have no fiscal impact.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
State law mandates that all local jurisdictions enforce the California Building Standards Code (California Code of
Regulations Title 24) in the construction and
maintenance of all buildings and structures. These
standards are updated triennially. The State recently
published the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
HOLD a public hearing to INTRODUCE an ordinance
(first reading) amending Richmond Municipal Code
(RMC) Article VI, Building Regulations, Chapter 6.02 by adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code
with noted local amendments – Community Development
Department (Lina Velasco/George Kabaivanov 510-620-
5519).
DISCUSSION:
Under California State law, various State agencies have statutory authority to develop building standards, also known as building codes.
California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24) AGENDA
REPORT
February 24, 2026
California Building Standards Code (CBSC) is a compilation of three types of building standards from three different origins:
1. Building standards that have been adopted by state agencies without change from building standards contained in national model codes;
2. Building standards that have been adopted and adapted from national model codes to address California’s ever-changing conditions; and
3. Building standards, authorized by the California legislature, that constitute amendments not covered by national model codes, that have been created and adopted to address particular California concerns.
All occupancies in California are subject to national model codes adopted into Title 24, and occupancies are further subject to amendments adopted by state agencies and ordinances implemented by local jurisdictions’ governing bodies.
These building standards are updated every 3 years and are adopted into Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations by the California Building Standards Commission. The 2025 California Building Standards Code is based primarily on model codes developed by national code development organizations known as the International Code Council (Building, Fire, and Residential Codes), the National Fire Protection Association (Electrical Code) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (Plumbing and Mechanical Codes). The exceptions are the following building codes developed entirely in California: California Administrative Code, California Energy Code, California Green Building Standards Code, and the California Referenced Standards Code.
Both the model codes and state standards are developed with extensive local government input. The City of Richmond participates in these efforts via our membership and involvement in organizations such as the California Building Officials (CALBO) and its Local Chapters, as well as the International Code Council (ICC).
Code by Default
A local government may adopt Title 24 by reference in its jurisdiction’s ordinances. Even if a local government does not adopt Title 24 by ordinance, Title 24 becomes the applicable code for all building occupancies by default. This is made clear in HSC Sections 17950,17958, and 18938(b), and in California Building Code, Chapter 1, Division 1, Section 1.1.3.
Amendment by Local Ordinance
Local ordinances that amend Title 24 building standards are subject to the requirements of California law and must be ratified and filed for each triennial edition of Title 24.
Generally, local ordinances may only implement standards that are more restrictive than the building standards approved/adopted by the CBSC and provided that the local
February 24, 2026
jurisdiction makes express findings that such changes are reasonably necessary because of local geological, climatic, or topographic conditions.
Per Health and Safety Code Section 18909(c), “Building standard” includes a regulation or rule relating to the implementation or enforcement of a building standard not otherwise governed by statute, but does not include the adoption of procedural ordinances by a city or other public agency relating to civil, administrative, or criminal procedures and remedies available for enforcing code violations.
Local ordinances and regulations necessary to carry out procedures by a city, county, or city and county relating to civil, administrative, or criminal procedures, and remedies available for carrying out and enforcing building standards, and that do not establish building standards, may be enacted without meeting the requirements of the state laws governing Title 24 building standards amendments.
Local modifications to the building standards shall comply with Health and Safety Code Section 18941.5 for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 for State Housing Law, or Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts.
The proposed ordinance amends Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Article VI, Building Regulations, Chapter 6.02 by formally adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code, some of the appendix chapters contained therein, along with the noted local amendments (Attachment 1). Several of the local amendments are administrative, and the others establish minimum fire and life safety measures that were previously adopted and filed with the California Building Standards Commission. Local modifications to the code are specific to each edition of the code. Therefore, local modifications must be readopted and filed with CBSC for each subsequent triennial edition of the code to remain in effect.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The adoption of this ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed ordinance will not have an impact on the environment because they do not directly facilitate new development or changes in the type and intensity of land use.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The proposed recommended action aligns with the following strategic goals:
Strategic Goal Area No. 1: Improve Quantity and Quality of Housing, Especially Low-Income Housing, and Reduce Homelessness
Goal No. 1.1: Increase housing access - especially infill development (avoid the shoreline)
February 24, 2026
Goal No. 1.2: Reduce homelessness
Goal No. 1.3: Increase housing quality
Strategic Goal Area No. 3: Improve the Quality of Life and Community Health Goal No. 3.1: Improve maintenance of the built environment
By aligning the proposed changes with these strategic goals, the adoption of the 2025 Building Standards Code will not only enhance the physical infrastructure of our community but also support broader social objectives such as reducing homelessness, increasing access to quality housing, and improving overall community health.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Draft Ordinance Adopting 2025 CBC
Attachment 2 - Notice for Public Hearing - 2025 CA Building Code Adoption (CC Feb. 24, 2026)