Ordinance No. 25-08
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ORDINANCE NO. 25-08
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss
CITY OF SAN JACINTO )
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN JACINTO, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING AND ADDING CERTAIN SECTIONS AND
SUBSECTIONS IN TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF
THE SAN JACINTO MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE
CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE
THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS
CODE, KNOWN AS TITLE 24 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF
REGULATIONS, INCLUDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING
CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024
INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE), THE 2025 CALIFORNIA
ELECTRICAL CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2023
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE), THE 2025 CALIFORNIA
MECHANICAL CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024
UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE), THE 2025 CALIFORNIA
PLUMBING CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024
UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE), THE 2025 CALIFORNIA
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE,
THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, THE
2025 REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE, AND THE 2024 UNIFORM
SWIMMING POOL, SPA AND HOT TUB CODE, TOGETHER WITH
LOCAL AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS BASED ON
LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL, AND TOPOGRAPHICAL
CONDITIONS, AND REPEALING OBSOLETE PROVISIONS
RELATING TO THE 1997 UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 50022.1 et seq., the City of San Jacinto (“City”) may adopt by reference the California Building Standards Code, as set forth in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations; and WHEREAS, the California Building Standards Commission (“CBSC”) has published the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code, which becomes effective statewide on January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 authorize cities and counties to make modifications to the California Building Standards Code where reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed amendments to the 2025 California Building Standards Code set forth in this Ordinance are more restrictive than the standards adopted by the California Building Standards Commission, would reduce Ordinance No. 25-08
the potential for property damage, injury, and loss of life, and are reasonable and necessary to mitigate local conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council introduced this Ordinance No. 25-08 on October 21, 2025, at which time all interested persons were given the opportunity to appear and be heard; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on November 18, 2025 to consider the adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code and local amendments; and
WHEREAS, copies of each uniform code to be adopted by reference have been on file with the City Clerk of the City of San Jacinto for at least fifteen (15) days prior to the public hearing and are available for public inspection, as required by Government Code Section 50022.6; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites relating to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JACINTO DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings. The following changes and modifications to the 2025 California Building Standards Code are more restrictive than the standards contained in the 2025 California Building Standards Code and therefore require findings based on local conditions. The City Council hereby finds and determines that, due to local climatic, geological, and topographical conditions, the following changes and modifications are reasonably necessary to provide sufficient and effective protection of life, health, and property. The City Council adopts the findings set forth below to support the modifications to the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
A. Amendments to Chapter 1, Section 105.2, “Building” Item 2 of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code are reasonably necessary due to the following local climatic condition: The City of San Jacinto is subject to frequent high-velocity Santa Ana winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, which have historically caused property damage to fences and walls. The local amendment clarifies which fences are exempt from permitting and ensures that retaining walls or structural fence systems exposed to these winds are properly reviewed for safety and anchorage.
B. Amendments to Chapter 1, Section 105.5, “Expiration of Permits,” are reasonably necessary due to the following local administrative conditions: The City regularly encounters long-term project inactivity resulting from construction delays, changes in ownership, and unpermitted work stoppages. Establishing clear local limits on permit duration and extensions ensures that inactive or abandoned permits Ordinance No. 25-08
do not remain open indefinitely, allowing the City to maintain accurate records and effective code enforcement.
C. Amendments to Chapter 16 of the California Building Code regarding local wind design standards are reasonably necessary due to the following local climatic and topographical conditions: The San Jacinto Valley is characterized by open terrain, mountain passes, and strong prevailing winds. To mitigate the potential for structural damage to masonry walls and other non-engineered elements, the City retains a basic wind design speed of one hundred (100) miles per hour, consistent with regional historical data and previous adopted standards.
D. Amendments to Chapter 1, Section 109.1, “Plan Review Fees,” are reasonably necessary due to the following local administrative condition: The City maintains a Master Fee Schedule adopted by resolution to allow fees to be periodically updated in accordance with cost-recovery policies and inflation adjustments. Referencing the Master Fee Schedule within the Building Code provides flexibility and ensures fees remain aligned with actual service costs without requiring separate ordinance amendments.
E. All other amendments to Title 15 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code adopted by this Ordinance are hereby found, declared, and determined by the City Council to be primarily administrative, procedural, or clarifying in nature, and therefore equivalent in purpose and intent to the corresponding provisions of the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
Section 2. Section 15.04.010 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 3. Section 15.04.020 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.020 2025 Building Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Building Code, 2025 Edition, including Chapter 1 and all appendices, tables, and indices thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is hereby adopted as part of the Building Code of the City of San Jacinto with the following modifications:
A. Section 105.2, Building, Item 1 is amended to read as follows:
“1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.15 m2). It is permissible that these structures still be regulated by Section 710A, despite Ordinance No. 25-08
exemption from permit. However, a permit is required for any concrete flat work associated with the structures.”
B. Section 105.2, Building, Item 2 is amended to read as follows:
“2. Fences and walls accessory to Group R-3 occupancies and located on lots used exclusively for single-family residential purposes shall not require a building permit where the height does not exceed six (6) feet measured from adjacent grade, provided they comply with the San Jacinto Municipal Code, Development Code (Title 17), and California Building Standards Code. Retaining walls over eighteen (18) inches in height, and any fence or wall that includes a retaining wall over eighteen (18) inches in height with a freestanding fence on top, shall require a building permit.”
C. Section 105.2, Building, Item 5 is amended to read as follows:
“5. Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,925 L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2:1 and any associated concrete flat work.” D. Section 105.5 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“Permits shall expire where the work authorized has not commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days of issuance, or where work is suspended or abandoned for one hundred eighty (180) days. The Building Official may grant a single extension for good cause not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days. Additional extensions require written request and approval by the Building Official.” E. Section 109.1 (Payment of Fees) is amended to read as follows:
“A permit shall not be valid until the fees prescribed by law have been paid, nor shall an amendment to a permit be released until the additional fee, if any, has been paid. When plans or other data are required to be submitted under Section 107, a plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submittal. Plan review fees shall be calculated and collected in accordance with the City’s Master Fee Schedule, as adopted by City Council resolution and as may be amended from time to time. The fee shall cover the cost of examining plans, specifications, and supporting documents for compliance with applicable codes and standards.
Where plans are incomplete, substantially revised, or resubmitted for additional review, an additional plan review fee may be assessed in accordance with the City’s Master Fee Schedule.”
Ordinance No. 25-08
F. F. Section 1616.3.3 is added to Chapter 16, “Structural Design,” of the CBC is amended to include the following local provisionread as follows:
“1616.3.3 Block Walls. Block walls within the City shall be designed for a basic wind speed of one hundred (100) miles per hour, due to documented local wind conditions and historic regional wind events.” G. Appendix J (Grading), Section J110.3 is hereby added to read as follows:
“J110.3 Slopes. The faces of cut and fill slopes shall be prepared and maintained to control erosion and provide stability. Where cut slopes are not subject to erosion due to erosion-resistant character of materials, such production may be omitted. Unless otherwise recommended in the approved soil engineering or engineering geology report, cut and fill slopes shall be planted in accordance with this Section. The protection for the slopes shall be installed as soon as practicable and prior to calling for final permit approval.
A. General Requirements. Cut slopes equal to or greater than 5 feet in vertical height and fill slopes equal to or greater than 3 feet in vertical height shall be planted with grass or ground cover to protect the slope from erosion and instability. Other slopes as deemed necessary by the Community Development Director shall also be planted.
B. Slopes exceeding 15 feet in vertical height shall be planted with shrubs, spaced at not more than 10 feet on center; or trees, spaced not to exceed 20 feet on center; or a combination of shrubs and trees at equivalent spacings, in addition to the grass or ground cover. The plants selected and planting patterns may be varied upon the recommendation of a
landscape architect or a slope control specialist with approval of the Community Development Director. If a species other than those from the recommended list of plants is selected, a written statement shall be submitted by a landscape architect or slope control specialist certifying the plants suitable for erosion control and slope stability. This statement must accompany the grading plan at the time of submittal.
C. All Landscaping shall be in accordance with Chapter 17.325 of the Development Code.
Section 4. Section 15.04.030 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.030 2025 Mechanical Code adopted—Modifications.
Ordinance No. 25-08
The California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, including Chapter 1 and all appendices, tables, and indices thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Mechanical Code of the City of San Jacinto.”
Section 5. Section 15.04.035 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.035 2025 Residential Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, including Chapter 1 and all appendices, tables, and indices thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Residential Code of the City of San Jacinto.”
Section 6. Section 15.04.040 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.040 2025 Plumbing Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, including Chapter 1 and all appendices, tables, and indices thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Plumbing Code of the City of San Jacinto.”
Section 7. Section 15.04.045 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.045 2025 Green Building Standards Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition, and including all appendices, tables, and indices, but excepting any voluntary provisions thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Green Building Standards Code of the City of San Jacinto.” Section 8. Section 15.04.055 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.055 2025 Administrative Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Administrative Code, 2025 Edition, and including all appendices, tables, and indices, but excepting any voluntary provisions thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Administrative Code of the City of San Jacinto.” Section 9. Section 15.04.065 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
Ordinance No. 25-08
“15.04.065 2025 Energy Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Energy Code, 2025 Edition, and including all appendices, tables, and indices, but excepting any voluntary provisions thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Energy Code of the City of San Jacinto.”
Section 10. Section 15.04.070 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.070 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code adopted.
The Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, 2024 Edition, and all appendices, tables, and indices thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code of the City of San Jacinto.”
Section 11. Section 15.04.075 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.075 2025 Referenced Standards Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Referenced Standards Code, 2025 Edition, and including all appendices, tables, and indices, but excepting any voluntary provisions thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Referenced Standards Code of the City of San Jacinto.” Section 12. Section 15.04.080 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.080 2025 Electrical Code adopted—Modifications.
The California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, including Article 89 and all appendices, tables, and indices thereto (copies of which are on file in the Office of the City Clerk), is adopted as the Electrical Code of the City of San Jacinto.”
Section 13. Section 15.04.115 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.115 Enforcement—Stop-work orders.
The Building Official is authorized to issue stop-work orders where construction is occurring without a permit or in violation of the conditions of a permit. Work shall not resume until the violation has been corrected, applicable fees have been paid, and the stop-work order has been rescinded by the Building Official.”
Ordinance No. 25-08
Section 14. Section 15.04.120 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.04.120 Violation—Penalty.
A. Penalties. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy, or maintain any building or structure, or cause or permit the same to be done, in violation of this Code.
B. Violation of the provisions of this chapter or the 2025 Building Code is deemed to be a misdemeanor punishable by fine or imprisonment, or by both fine and imprisonment. A person is guilty of a separate offense each day during which he or she commits, continues, or permits a violation of this chapter or the 2025 Building Code.
C. Violations of this chapter are declared to be a public nuisance, and the City Attorney may institute necessary legal procedures for the abatement, removal, or enjoinment thereof in the manner provided by law, or may take such other steps as deemed necessary to accomplish these ends. The application of any penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.”
Section 15. Section 15.08.010 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“15.08.010 Application requirements—Electronic submittals.
Applications for building permits, including plans and supporting documents, shall be submitted electronically in a format approved by the Building Official. Electronic submittals shall have the same force and effect as paper plans and shall be retained in accordance with the City’s records retention policy.”
Section 16. Section 15.08.020 of the San Jacinto Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows
“15.08.020 – Fees and Service Charges.
All fees and service charges for permits, plan review, inspections, reinspections, energy compliance, and other services required by this Title or by the California Building Standards Code shall be established by resolution of the City Council. Such fees shall be based on the reasonable cost of providing the service, as determined by the City, and may be adjusted from time to time by Council resolution.”
Section 17. Sections 15.08.025 is hereby added to the San Jacinto Municipal Code to read as follows.
Ordinance No. 25-08
“15.08.025 Fees in Effect Unless Superseded.
The various fees established in this chapter shall remain in effect and enforceable unless and until amended, superseded, or repealed by resolution of the City Council.
Where the City Council has adopted a fee by resolution that differs from the amount specified in this chapter, the fee established by resolution shall govern.”
Section 18. Section 15.08.130 is hereby added to the San Jacinto Municipal Code to read as follows:
“15.08.1530 Contractor license and City business license requirement; owner-builder limitation.
A. All building permits for construction, alteration, or repair of buildings or structures, other than single-family dwellings and their accessory structures, shall be issued only to a contractor licensed pursuant to the California Contractors State License Law (Business and Professions Code § 7000 et seq.).
B. The licensed contractor shall maintain a valid City of San Jacinto business license at the time of permit issuance and throughout the duration of work authorized by the permit.
C. Owner-builder permits shall be limited to single-family dwellings (Group R-3 occupancy) and their accessory structures, as defined in the California Residential Code.”
Section 19. CEQA. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3), because adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code and related local amendments will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. This action is a regulatory update mandated by State law and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined in Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Section 20. Severability. Should any provision, section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this chapter be determined or declared invalid by any final court action in a court of competent jurisdiction or by reason of any preemptive legislation, the remaining provisions, sections, paragraphs, sentences, or words of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 21. Publication. The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause a summary thereof to be published within fifteen Ordinance No. 25-08
(15) days of the adoption and shall post a Certified copy of this Ordinance, including the vote for and against the same, in the Office of the City Clerk, in accordance with Government Code Section 36933.
Section 22. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force on January 1, 2026, concurrent with the effective date of the 2025 California Building Standards Code, as adopted by the State of California.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 21st day of October 2025.
PASSED APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 18th Day of November 2025, by the following vote.
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY OF SAN JACINTO:
___________________________
by Valerie Vandever, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Julia Espinoza, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP
__________________________
Craig Hayes, City Attorney
Ordinance No. 25-08
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE) SS
CITY OF SAN JACINTO)
I, Julia Espinoza, duly appointed City Clerk of the City of San Jacinto, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 25-08 was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Jacinto on the 21st day of October, 2025. Ordinance No. 25-08 was passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council of the City of San Jacinto, California, at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 18th day of November, 2025:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL the 18th day of November 2025. _____________________________
Julia Espinoza, City Clerk
City of San Jacinto