Riverside City Council
October 21, 2025

10/9/2025
1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov2025 TRIENNIAL BUILDING STANDARDS CODE UPDATE: INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCESAND A RESOLUTION MAKING NECESSARYEXPRESS FINDINGS FOR LOCALAMENDMENTSCity CouncilOctober 21, 2025Community and Economic DevelopmentFire Department RiversideCA.gov2
BACKGROUND1. Building Standards Commissionadopts new codes based on national“model” codes every 3 years2. CA Code of Regulations, Title 24 – the“California Building Standards Code”has 13 parts including Building, Firecodes, and various others3. Enforced through local and state agencies (HCD, OSHPD, SFM, etc.)California Building Standards Code 1 2
10/9/2025
2 RiversideCA.gov3
BACKGROUND - CONTINUEDLocal agencies may amend the technical building standards if specific conditions exista) Must make express findings through Resolutionb) Must be more restrictive than state codesc) Three justifications for local amendmentsLocal Amendments PermittedClimaticGeologicalTopographicalAdministrative local amendments exempt from these requirements RiversideCA.gov4
BACKGROUND - CONTINUED•Building & Safety: Administrative Amendments•Fire Prevention: Administrative and Technical Code Amendments•All local Building and Fire Code amendments reside in RMC Title 16, Buildings and ConstructionCity of Riverside Local Amendments3 4 10/9/2025
3 RiversideCA.gov5
BACKGROUND - CONTINUEDModifications to RMCOrdinance adopting the 2025 Edition of California Code of Regulations Title 24 (including local amendments)Ordinance amending Title 1 – Chapter 1.17 – Administrative Code Enforcement RemediesOrdinance amending Title 16 – Chapter 16.04 through 16.80 RiversideCA.gov6
DISCUSSIONSequence of code adoption events:Publishing – Local ReviewState publishes new buildingcodes on July 1, 2025Staff reviews new codes andprepares localamendments/updatesDrafts new Building, FireOrdinances, perform publicoutreach, etc.Effective Date 1/1/2026After council consideration/adoption, newcodes become effective 30 daysthereafter, but not before1/1/2026Introduction and Public HearingNew Building and Fire Ordinances with Resolution of Findings introduced to City Council in October 2025 and Public Hearing/Presentation in November 2025 to consider adoption5 6 10/9/2025
4 RiversideCA.gov7
RECOMMENDATIONSThat the City Council:1. Introduce a Resolutionmaking the necessary express findings to support local amendments to the 2025 edition of California Code of Regulations Title 24, the California Building Standards Code; and2. Introduce and subsequently adopt Ordinances:a) Adopting the 2025 Edition of the California Code of Regulations Title 24, the California Building Standards Code with local amendments thereto;b) Amending Chapter 1.17 of the Riverside Municipal Code, Administrative Code Enforcement Remedies; andc) Amending Chapter 5.59 of the Riverside Municipal Code, Fire Alarm Systems7