10/21/25 Item #6
City Council
October 21, 2025
Item #6 RTC 25-1520
Proposed Ordinance to Adopt the
2025 California Building Standards
Code with Local Amendments
1852 Including Updates to the City's
THE MISSION CITY "Reach Code"
Afshan Hamid
Community Development Director
1 City of
Santa Clara
The Certer of Whits Possible
California Building Standards
Code: Background
• Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations is
referred to as California Building Standard Code. Cur 2025 со 2025 CHrOm 2025 • Title 24 is organized into 12 separate parts and is с 2025 сконн: 2025 updated every 3 years.
• Current 2022 Code covers Jan. 2023 - Dec. 2025. • м 2025 • The 2025 Code will cover Jan. 2026 - Dec. 2028. ~ 2025 cureN 2025 • Cities can follow the state code mandate OR adopt
these regulations with local amendments to address
local geologic, topographic or climate conditions
2 POST MEETING MATERIAL
10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of Whats Possible
The Code of the City of Santa Clara -
Title 15: Buildings and Construction
Amendments to CCR, Title 24 are located in the City of Santa Clara Municipal Code - Title 15 Part 124 Publication Chapter_ Title 15 of the City Code - Heading 1 2025 CA Administration Code 15.05 Administrative Code 2 2025 CA Building Code 15.15 Building Code
2.5 2025 CA Residential Code 15.17 Residential Code
2025 CA Electrical Code 15.20 Electrical Code
2025 CA Mechanical Code 15.30 Mechanical Code
5 2025 CA Plumbing Code 15.35 Plumbing Code
2025 CA Energy Code 15.36 Energy Code
2025 CA Historical Building Code 15.37 Historical Building Code 2025 CA Fire Code 15.60 Municipal Fire and Environmental Code 10 2025 CA Existing Building Code 15.75 Existing Building Code 11 2025 CA Green Building Standards Code 15.38 Green Building Code The proposed ordinance would also adopt the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code published by the International Code Council (Chapter 15.18 - Property Maintenance Code) City of
Santa Clara
The Center of Whats Possible
California Building Code: Continuation of
Proposed Amendments
• 2025 California Building Code Chapter 9:
- Automatic Fire Sprinkler Requirements for Additions to existing CALIFORNIA 2025 Group R3 Occupancies; i.e. one- and two-family dwellings, BUILDING CODE townhouse, etc. (same amendments as previous code cycle). • 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 10: CALIFORNIA 2025 - Requirements for safe stairway configuration and the routing of BUILDING CODE emergency exit paths to facilitate emergency egress out of multi- story buildings (same amendments as previous code cycle). • 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 19:
- Requirements for Structural Plain Concrete in Seismic Design Category C, D, E or F (same amendments as previous code cycle). 4 2
1 10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
California Residential Code: Continuation
of Proposed Amendments
2025 California Residential Code Chapter 3:
- Automatic Fire Sprinkler Requirements for Additions to existing CALIFORNIA 2025 Group R3 Occupancies; i.e. one- and two-family dwellings,
RESIDENTIAL CODE
townhouse, etc. (same amendments as previous code cycle).
City of
Santa Clara
The Canter of Wilt Possi
What is a Reach Code?
A Reach Code is the local amendments to the California Building Code, which focus on increased sustainability, including amendments to:
- 2025 California Energy Code
- 2025 California Green Building Standards Code
• The State requires cost effective analysis for Reach Code standards to demonstrate Return on Investment.
• City's Reach Code was adopted in 2022, took effect 2023. 6 3
10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
The Center ovie Ponsible
2025 Reach Code: Proposed Amendments
• The 2025 baseline California Green Building Standards Code is significantly more aggressive regarding sustainability standards.
• Staff compared the 2022 Santa Clara Reach Code to the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
• The City's Reach Code has higher standards regarding certain Electric Vehicle (EV) parking and Photovolatic (PV) System requirements.
City of
Santa Clara
2025 Reach Code: Proposed Amendments
• Proposed Ordinance includes carrying forward the existing Reach Code standards, which continue to be higher, including:
-2025 California Energy Code, Section 110.10:
Additional requirements for Solar Readiness for Non-Residential and Multi- Family Buildings.
-2025 California Green Building Standards Code, Section 4.106:
Additional requirements for increased electric vehicle charging stations for Residential projects.
-2025 California Green Building Standards Code, Section 5.106:
Additional requirements for increased electric vehicle charging stations for Non- 8 Residential development.
8 4
10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
The Conter of Whats Possible
2025 Reach Code: EV Parking
Requirements
• Terms:
- EV Capable - conduit installed for a future EV space
- EV Ready - outlet provided
- EVCS Charging Station - charger
- EVCE Charging Equipment
- Levels: Level 1 - Level 3 (increase power capacity and faster charge) EV Capable EV Ready EVCS Charging Station
City of
Santa Clara
The Conter of What's Possible
2025 Reach Code: EV Parking
Requirements
2025 Reach
Category 2022 Reach Code 2025 CALGreen
Code
Private garage with two or
One- and more parking spaces:
Each unit w/ parking: 1 Continues
Two- (1) Level 2 EV Ready & (1) Low Power EV Ready
City's 2022
Family Level 1 EV Ready standard
(20amp)
Dwellings One parking space:
1 Level 2 EV Ready
Each unit w/ parking: 1 Low
Multi- Each unit w/ parking: Power EV Ready (20 amp) Continues Family, 1 Level 2 EV Ready (40 Unassigned spaces: City's 2022 < 20 Units amp) 1 Low Power EV Ready per standard
unit 10
10 5
10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of What's Possible
2025 Reach Code: EV Parking
Requirements
2025 Reach
Category 2022 Reach Code 2025 CALGreen
Code
First 20 units: see above Each unit with parking: 1 Low Multi- 25% of addt'l units: 1 Level Power EV Ready space Continues Family, 2 EV Ready Unassigned spaces: City's 2022
≥ 20 Units 75% of addt'l units: 1 Low 1 Low Power EV Ready space Reach Code Power EV Ready per unit
10% of units with parking:
1 Level 2 EV Ready space
Continues
Affordable (24V/40 amp) (Same requirements as
City's 2022
Housing 90% of units with parking: market rate housing) Reach Code 1 Level 1 EV Ready space
(120V/20 amp) 11
11 City of
Santa Clara
The Centur of What: Possible
2025 Reach Code: EV Parking
Requirements
2025 Reach
Category 2022 Reach Code 2025 CALGreen
Code
10% of spaces LV2 EVCS 65% of EV charging spaces = Adopts 2025 Hotels and 40% LP L2 receptacles + CALGreen
50% of spaces
Motels LV2 Capable 25% Level 2 EVSE standard
35% of spaces LV2 EVCS 15% of spaces EVCS Continues
Office and City's 2022
35% of spaces LV2 5% of spaces EV Capable
Retail Reach Code
capable
Other Non- 35% of spaces LV2 EVCS 10% of spaces EVCS Continues Residential 35% of spaces LV2 10% of spaces EV capable City's 2022 Uses capable Reach Code
12 12
6 10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
The Confet of vitate Possiote
2025 Reach Code: Photovoltaic (PV)
Requirements
Category 2022 Reach Code 2025 Energy Code 2025 Reach Code Single Family PV systems required Adopts 2025 Energy
No requirement Code standard
& Duplex for new construction
Multifamily, PV systems required Adopts 2025 Energy
No requirement
low rise for new construction Code standard
< 10K st: 3 KW Dc PV systems required;
Multifamily, system required Retains 2022 Reach
PV capacity factor
hi rise ≥ 10K sf: 5 kWDo Code standard
2.21 system required
13 13
City of
Santa Clara
The Conter of What's Possible
2025 Reach Code: Photovoltaic (PV)
Requirements
Category 2022 Reach Code 2025 Energy Code 2025 Reach Code Hotels and PV systems required Adopts 2025 Energy
No requirement for new construction Code standard
motels
< 10K sf: 3 kWoc PV systems required;
Non- system required PV capacity varies Retains 2022 Reach residential ≥ 10K sf: 5 kWDc based on type of Code standard system required building
14 14
10/21/25 Item #6
City of
Santa Clara
The Center of What: Postillu
All Electric Suspension
• The Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which struck down the Berkeley Code, which was an All-Electric Code.
• January 14, 2025, the Santa Clara City Council indefinitely suspended the all- electric provisions of the Reach Code, and gave staff direction to prepare a revised Reach Code utilizing one or more alternate approaches that do not directly prohibit natural gas infrastructure.
• Staff is in the process of drafting the revised text and will return in early 2026 with alternative approaches to encourage electrification in mixed-fuel buildings. 15
15 City Council
October 21, 2025
Item #6 RTC 25-1520
CITY OF Proposed Ordinance to Adopt the
2025 California Building Standards
Code with Local Amendments
1852 Including Updates to the City's
THE MISSION CIN "Reach Code"
Afshan Hamid
Community Development Director
16 16
8