2025 California Building Standards
Code Adoption
City Council Meeting
October 28, 2025 – Item 8.2
Lisa Joiner – Deputy Director/Chief Building Official, PBCE James Dobson – Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal, SJFD
2024 International
Building Codes
2 www.sanjoseca.gov/building
2025 California
Building Codes
City of San José
Municipal Code
Title 24 Building Code
Title 17 Fire Code
What Does the Proposed Ordinance Accomplish?
• Adopts the 2025 edition of the California Building
and Fire Codes with amendments
• Updates previously adopted local amendments to the
2025 California Codes to match current code
language and cross-references
• Updates the San José Municipal Code to eliminate
local amendments that have been incorporated into
the 2025 California Codes
3 www.sanjoseca.gov/building
Title 24 Building Code Amendments
• Repeal:
• One (1) local amendment to the California Building Code • Reach Code Amendments
• Retain:
• Three (3) amendments to 2025 California Building and Residential Codes
• Special Testing and Inspections
• Gypsum board shear walls
• Braced wall panels
• Additions:
• No (0) additional amendments to 2025 California Building Codes 4 www.sanjoseca.gov/building
There are eight proposed amendments. Six of the proposed amendments, based on stakeholder feedback, provide clarification and incorporate existing policies as code amendments. These policies are already being implemented based on code allowances, but cause confusion for developers who don't know where to cross-reference underlying policies. Two proposed amendments regarding alternating tread stairs and outdoor rooftop storage, use, and handling of hazardous materials not related to existing policies:
5 Construction Permit for 2-way communications (rescue
assistance).
Cooking operation requirements within a membrane structure.
Removal of alternating tread for stairways as an exception Remove Outdoor rooftop storage, use, and handling of
hazardous materials.
Location of Class I standpipe hose connections.
Large-Scale Fire Testing for Energy Storage Systems
Wildland-Urban Interface Code requirements to include all Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas, in alignment with State Responsibility Areas.
Appendix D: apparatus turning radii and gate width requirements.
Retain: 83 amendments
Title 17.12 – 2025 California Fire Code
Amendments
Repeal: Three (3) local amendments to the
California Fire Code (CFC)
• Remove the Failure to Comply with Stop Works
Order, Means of Appeals, and Spill Control for
hazardous materials liquids Sections, revert to the
model code.
• Remove Process and Extraction Facilities
amendment, revert to model code.
• Remove Section 6004.4 and incorporate it into
Section 6004.2 for highly toxic, toxic, and
moderately toxic compressed gases.
6 Title 17.12 CFC Amendments (Continued)
Title 17.12 CFC Amendments (Continued)
Modification: 48 Amendment modifications for minor clarity corrections and long-term policy codification.
• Include language from current policies into the code regarding fire apparatus access roads, firefighter access, fire sprinkler system supply valves, fire sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings when 50% or more of the dwelling is demolished, and termination of Signaling Line-Circuits. • Include Operational Permit for Lithium Batteries.
• Remove Operational Permit for Battery Storage System and Lithium Battery Storage System
• Include definitions for Installation-Level Testing and Large-Scale Fire Test. • Update NFPA 13 “Shell” fire sprinkler requirements for leased spaces. • Update NFPA 72 backbone cabling requirements for high-rise buildings. • Appendix L: Firefighter Air Replenishment System requirements to better align with model codes.
7 Additional Ordinance Amendments
Title 17.68- Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance
Modification: One (1) modification:
• Rename Ordinance to the original name of
Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance.
Retain: 71 amendments
Title 17.82- Fire Safety During Construction
Retain: 17 amendments
8 Next Steps
• Training Sessions provided early 2026
• Significant changes between 2022 and 2025 California
Codes
• Offered to design professionals, developers and contractors 9 www.sanjoseca.gov/building
Lisa Joiner
Deputy Director/Chief Building Official
[email protected]
408-535-7757
James Dobson
Deputy Chief/ Fire Marshal
[email protected]
408-535-7050