ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: Community Development Item No: PH4
Prepared by: Nabil Chehade, Building Official Meeting Date: September 23, 2025 Approved by:
Joe Vacca, Director of Community
Development
John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Public Hearing S
UBJECT: ADOPTION OF 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODES WITH AMENDMENTS RE
COMMENDATION:
1. Open, conduct, and close a public hearing to receive testimony regarding adoption of the 2025 California B
uilding Codes with Amendments.
2. Introduce and adopt City Council Ordinance No. 2025- , amending Title 16 of the Vista Municipal Code, adopting by reference Parts 1 through 6, 8, and 10 through 12 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, with amendments.
CO
RRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Public Safety.
P
RIOR ACTION: On October 25, 2022, introduced and adopted City Council Ordinance No. 2022- 19, adopting the California Building Codes by reference (Vote: 5-0).
S
TATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: Every three years, the California Building Standards Commission updates the California Building Standards Code, which is Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. The California Building Standards Code is the minimum standard governing the design and construction of buildings and construction in California. Except for building occupancies subject to state agency enforcement, cities must enforce the most current edition of Title 24. Cities may adopt Title 24 by reference in an ordinance, however, regardless of whether it is adopted by reference, the most recent version of Title 24 automatically becomes the applicable code for all building occupancies by default.
The new
codes become effective on January 1, 2026, as published by the State. State law authorizes local governments to adopt amendments to the building standards in Title 24. Local amendments to building standards require express findings for each amendment based on local climatic, topographical or geological conditions, and environmental conditions in the case of amendments to the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen, Part 11 of Title 24). Amendments must be adopted for each new edition of Title 24 and are not effective until filed with the applicable state board.
S
igned into law June 30, 2025, Assembly Bill (AB) 130 requires that local amendments to residential building standards be filed with the state prior to October 1, 2025. After that date, local jurisdictions cannot amend residential building standards from October 1, 2025 through June 1, 2031, subject to limited exceptions.
The proposed Ordinance (Exhibit 1) formally adopts the 2025 California Building Standards Code as amended by the California Building Standards Commission, with local amendments. The local amendments AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Opened, conducted and closed the public hearing. Introduced and adopted City Council Ordinance No. 2025-08. Vote: 5-0