Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pb
Item # 29
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
January 20, 2026
TOPIC: California Building Standards Code Adoption
AGENDA TITLE
Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. NS-3088 Adopting the Updated California and International Building and Fire Codes with Local Conditions Amendments First reading December 2, 2025 City Council meeting and approved by a vote of 7-0.
Legal notice published in the OC Reporter on December 19 and December 26, 2025.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
1. Find that the proposed Ordinance is exempt under the provision of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
2. Conduct a public hearing and approve second reading and adoption of 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 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-3088 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
California Building Standards Code Adoption
January 20, 2026
5 4
9 5
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
On December 2, 2025, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the City Council adopted a resolution 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. Moreover, at the same meeting, the City Council introduced Ordinance No.
NS-3088 and requisite findings for first reading. The items were approved by unanimous vote, with the City Council authorizing the City Clerk to schedule a public hearing for the Ordinance on January 20, 2026. A link to the December 2, 2025 City Council agenda item packet is included as Exhibit 2 to this staff report.
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.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Exhibit 1 – Ordinance
2. Exhibit 2 – December 2, 2025 City Council agenda item packet Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director of Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager