Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pb
Item # 39
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
December 2, 2025
TOPIC: California Building Standards Code Adoption
AGENDA TITLE
Resolution and Ordinance Adopting the Updated California and International Building and Fire Codes with Local Conditions Amendments and Requisite Findings
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
1. Find that the proposed Ordinance is exempt under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
2. Adopt a resolution of the City Council setting forth findings for required amendments, modifications, and changes with respect to the local climatic, geographical, and topographical conditions within the City of Santa Ana to the California Building, Residential, Green Standards, Energy, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire Codes as amended by the State of California.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH RESPECT
TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA THAT JUSTIFY
CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING
CODE, CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING
STANDARDS CODE, CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA
MECHANICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, CALIFORNIA
ENERGY CODE, CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, CALIFORNIA EXISTING
BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, AND
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, AS AMENDED BY THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
3. Introduce an ordinance amending Chapters 8 and 14 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code adopting the State Building Regulations, including the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, and certain modifications and changes with respect to local climatic, geographical, and topographical conditions with the City of
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Santa Ana to the California Building, Existing Building, Residential, Green Standards, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building, and Fire Codes as amended by the State of California.
ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXXX entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING CHAPTERS 8 AND 14 OF THE
SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT AND AMEND THE MOST
RECENTLY ENACTED CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA
RESIDENTIAL CODE, CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE,
CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE,
CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, CALIFORNIA
HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, CALIFORNIA
EXISTING BUILDING CODE, AND INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE CODE
4. Authorize and direct the City Clerk to schedule a public hearing on said Ordinance for January 20, 2026, and to publish notice of said public hearing pursuant to Section 50022.3 of the California Government Code.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The State’s Health and Safety Code (Section 17958) mandates that the California Building Standards Commission adopt and publish the California Building Standard Code (Title 24 California Code of Regulations) every three years. The 2025 Edition of the California Code of Regulations Title 24, which incorporates the model codes, becomes effective statewide on January 1, 2026. The proposed Ordinance would amend the Santa Ana Municipal Code to implement the new Construction Codes and repeal references to the prior editions of the Construction Codes. The Construction Codes proposed for adoption by reference with amendments include the following:
1. 2025 California Building Code
2. 2025 California Residential Code
3. 2025 California Green Building Standards Code
4. 2025 California Electrical Code
5. 2025 California Mechanical Code
6. 2025 California Plumbing Code
7. 2025 California Energy Code
8. 2025 California Fire Code
9. 2025 California Existing Building Code
10.2025 California Historical Building Code
11.2024 International Property Maintenance Code
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The proposed Ordinance also includes administrative and procedural amendments not covered by the above Construction Codes.
As part of the adoption of Construction Codes, it will also be necessary to include certain changes and modifications that are reasonably necessary due to local conditions within the City of Santa Ana. Exhibit 2 is the Resolution delineating the necessary findings and substantiating the necessary amendments to the Residential, Fire, and Building Codes to address specific local conditions. The separate adoption of the Resolution is necessary in order to include the local changes in the proposed Ordinance.
The changes to the 2025 California Codes as adopted by the State include revisions to enhance clarity and consistency in the application of the Codes and to include provisions for green and sustainable alternatives. Major changes in the 2025 California Building Code include new seismic design standards based on updated data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), new rules for lithium-ion battery storage facilities triggering fire protection requirements, and updates to the Energy Code to encourage electric-ready buildings for future adoption of electric technologies.
Further, with the passage of Assembly Bill 130 (“AB 130”), effective on June 30, 2025, for a six-year period beginning October 1, 2025 and ending June 1, 2031, cities and counties are prohibited from making changes to building standards that are applicable to residential units, unless one of several conditions can be met. Section 17958(b)(1) provides that re-adoption of changes or modifications that are substantially equivalent to changes or modifications previously adopted by a city and in effect on September 30, 2025 is permissible. In compliance with AB 130, changes or modifications applicable to residential units that have been included as part of the City’s 2025 update are substantially equivalent to those previously adopted by the City and that were in place on September 30, 2025. A finding to this effect has also been included in Exhibit 2.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA guidelines, as amended, in that it is not a Project which has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. No further environmental review is necessary.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBITS
1. Exhibit 1 - Ordinance
2. Exhibit 2 - Resolution
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Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director – Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager