CaliforniaBuilding& Fire Code
Introductionof Ordinances
CaliforniaCode of Regulations
Title24 2022 CaliforniaBuilding
Codes 2022 CaliforniaFireCode
City Council Meeting
November 1, 2022
Jesse Oswald
Chief Building Official
Mike Johnson
Assistant Fire Marshal
1 Background
• California’s building standards are
published in their entirety every three
(3) years. The California Building and
Fire Code are included in this series of
standards.
2 Background
• The 2022 California Building Standards
(California Code of Regulations, Title
24) published as of July 1, 2022.
• Effective date of the 2022 Code will be
January 1, 2023 upon successful
adoption.
3 Background
California Code of Regulations,
Title 24 Parts 1-12
• “California Building Standards” are the
statewide standards for all public and
private building construction in California.
• Includes Building, Fire, Plumbing,
Mechanical, Electrical, Energy, Disabled
Access, Green Building and other standards.
4 Background
California Code of Regulations, Title
24 Parts 1-12
• Updated and adopted every three years
for statewide application by the California
Building Standards Commission, with
mandatory enforcement by all
jurisdictions throughout the state.
• “Local jurisdictions may adopt additional
amendments based upon local or
regional topographical, climatic, or
geologic conditions germane to each
local entity. 5
Background
California Code of Regulations,
Title 24 Parts 1-12
• The 2022 Edition was adopted by the
state on January 1, 2022, and published
July 1, 2022.
• Local jurisdictions have until January 1,
2023, to adopt any additional
amendments at which time the
regulations are enforceable statewide.
6 Background
California Code of Regulations,
Title 24 Parts 1-12
• “Local jurisdictions may adopt additional
amendments based upon local or regional
topographical, climatic, or geologic
conditions germane to each local entity.
• City staff have been collaborating internally
and with other external peer organizations to
develop ordinances with the proper local
amendments specific to the City of Santa
Rosa.
7 Background
California Code of Regulations,
Title 24 Parts 1-12
• Planning and Economic Development
provided an update to the Climate Action
Subcommittee on October 12, 2022 for the
All-Electric Only readoption.
8 Collaboration
• Updates for the 2022 California
Building Standards were developed at
monthly Redwood Empire Association
of Code Officials (REACO) and
Sonoma County Fire Prevention
Officer meetings.
9 Collaboration
• Building officials from jurisdictions in
Marin, Sonoma, Napa and
Mendocino Counties participate in
REACO as well as all Sonoma
County fire authorities participating in
the Fire Prevention Officers
organization.
10 Collaboration
• Workgroups focused on
consistency to developed
common amendments
proposed for adoption and
alignment with model
codes in many of these
jurisdictions.
11 Participants
Santa Rosa FD
Petaluma FD
Healdsburg FD
Sebastopol FD
Sonoma County
FPD Rancho
Adobe FPD
Sonoma Valley
FPD Rohnert Park
Dept. of Pub
Safety
Sonoma County
PRMD REACO –
Building Officials
and others…
12 Examples
• These ordinances have recognized
opportunities to continue to protect not
just our newly built communities but
our existing built communities as well
from the dangers of wildfire through
construction standards and to provide
the ability for maintenance and
reduction of hazardous vegetation in
new and existing communities.
13 Examples
• This ordinance has also identified and
addressed known hazards, such as:
multiple points of access to new
developments; the continually evolving
cannabis industry, new technologies
and safety challenges by including
nationally recognized standards;
standardized fire alarm maintenance
forms, rural water supply and stand
alone residential fire sprinkler pump
options and protections.
14 Santa Rosa’s All-Electric Only
Requirement - Background
• In 2019 the City Council adopted the All-
Electric Only Ordinance.
• The requirement applies to all new Low-
Rise Residential construction (3-stories or
less).
• Council chose to adopt a stand-alone
ordinance based in the California Energy
Code.
15 Santa Rosa’s All-Electric Only
Requirement - Background
• The adoption required the execution of a
cost-effectiveness study.
• The California Energy Commission has
determined that reach code adoptions for
decarbonization do not require a cost-
effectiveness study for 2022 codes
provided the adoption resides within the
California Green Building Standards Code.
16 Santa Rosa’s All-Electric Only
Requirement - Background
• For 2023; it is proposed to adopt the All-
Electric Only requirement for new Low-
Rise Residential construction by amending
the 2022 California Green Building
Standards Code.
17 Santa Rosa’s All-Electric Only
Requirement – Lessons
Learned/Moving Forward
• The current All-Electric Only requirement
proved to be effective with new housing
starts without fuel-gas connections.
Approximately 1,000 or more new units
have been constructed without a gas
connection.
18 Santa Rosa’s All-Electric Only
Requirement – Lessons
Learned/Moving Forward
• The proposed amendments maintain the
attached ADU exemption with
clarifications:
ADUs created by altering existing
legal space in dwellings, garages, and
accessory structures. This clarification
follows existing State Law initiatives for the
development of ADUs.
19 Santa Rosa’s All-Electric Only
Requirement – Lessons
Learned/Moving Forward
• Additional exemptions are proposed:
1. Reconstructed buildings lost in a
disaster or calamity.
2. New construction where existing utility
infrastructure would have to be
removed at the owner’s expense.
20 “HomeHardening”
Requirements
The following amendments were adopted
previously and are proposed to be
maintained.
• Additions and alterations to buildings in the
WUI to be compliant with CBC 7A or CRC
R337 requirements.
• Fences attached to buildings in the WUI
to be fire-resistive construction for first 5
feet.
21 “HomeHardening”
Requirements
• New roofing installed throughout Santa
Rosa to be Class A.
• Reroofing within WUI to be Class A.
• Disallowance of wood shingles or shakes in
WUI
22 CaliforniaBuilding& Residential
Codes– Emergency Housing
Requirements
• In 2017 the California Department of
Housing and Community
Development (HCD) provided
optional and temporary Emergency
Housing measures.
• As appendices, the measures must
be specifically-adopted by local
jurisdictions.
23 CaliforniaBuilding& Residential
Codes– Emergency Housing
Requirements
• The adoption will provide
minimum standards and
requirements for
implementation.
• We propose readopting
these measures.
24 • The final document was peer reviewed by
all fire agencies listed as well as other
industry professionals, private industry
representatives, Redwood Empire
Association of Code Officials
representatives and fire prevention and
operation personnel.
Processand NextSteps
25 • Much of the final language has been
incorporated into other code adoption
packages of Fire and Building agencies
throughout Sonoma County, Greater Bay
Area and other various jurisdictions
within the State.
• October 25, 2022 - Introduction of
California Building and Fire Code
Ordinances
Processand NextSteps
26 Processand NextSteps
27 • November 15, 2022 - Public Hearing for
Council adoption of the Ordinances,
effective January 1, 2023.
Recommendation
• It is recommended by the Fire
Department and the Planning and
Economic Development Department
that the Council…
28 Recommendation
1) Introduce an Ordinance adopting
by reference the 2022 edition of
the California Fire Code as
adopted and amended by the
State of California, and repeal and
replace Chapter 18-44 of the Santa
Rosa City Code, modified to meet
local requirements and reflect the
new model code,
29 Recommendation,continued
2) Introduce an Ordinance adopting by
reference, with local amendments,
• 2022 California Administrative Code,
• 2022 California Building Code,
• 2022 California Residential Code,
30 Recommendation,continued
• 2022 California Green Building
Standards Code,
• 2022 California Energy Code,
• 2022 California Electrical Code,
31 Recommendation,continued
• 2022 California Mechanical Code,
• 2022 California Plumbing Code,
• 2022 California Historical Building
Code,
32 Recommendation,continued
• 2022 California Existing Building
Code,
• 2022 California Referenced
Standards Code,
• 2021 International Property
Maintenance Code, and the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination
Permit and Waste Discharge
Requirements, and
33 Recommendation,continued
3) Adopt a resolution setting a public
hearing on November 15, 2022, for
adoption of the Ordinances.
34 Jesse Oswald
Chief Building Official
Mike Johnson
Assistant Fire Marshal
35 QUESTIONS?