TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2025
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
ADOPTION OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODES BY REFERENCE AND CONTINUATION OF LOCAL AMENDMENTS (FUNDING SOURCE: GENERAL FUND)
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SUMMARY
Every three years, the City of Claremont adopts the latest version of the California Building Standards, along with amendments that have been deemed necessary due to local conditions and are in accordance with State Law. These local amendments are primarily related to increased fire risks present throughout our community and were the result of prior collaboration with the Los Angeles County Fire Marshall. The Building Division currently enforces the 2022 California Building Standards as adopted on November 22, 2022.
On July 1, 2025, the California Building Standards Commission (BSC) published revised Building Standards Codes (Title 24, Parts 1-12). State law mandates that these standards be enforced in all jurisdictions effective January 1, 2026, regardless of whether they are specifically adopted by local jurisdictions. The adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards would align State and local construction requirements.
Government Code Section 50022.3 requires that a public hearing be held after the first reading of an ordinance adopting building codes. If the City Council approves the first reading of the proposed ordinance, a public hearing on the ordinance will take place on November 25, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Introduce for first reading AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24); INCLUDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2023 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE; THE 2025 CALIFORNA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE ); THE 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE; THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE; IN ADDITION ADOPTING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE; TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ADDITIONS, INSERTIONS, DELETIONS AND CHANGES THERETO; AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2026 LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE CODE (LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE, TITLE 32) INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE (INCORPORATING AND AMENDING THE 2024 EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE); and
B. Set a public hearing date for November 25, 2025.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Continue the discussion and request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The costs associated with this Ordinance are minimal and only involve updating the published code references on printed and online handouts.
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $1,300 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
ANALYSIS
Approval of the proposed Ordinance (Attachment) would mean that on the effective date, the 2025 Building Standards would take effect by reference in the City of Claremont, along with the local amendments included in the Ordinance. Additionally, the 2022 California Building Standards would cease to be effective.
If the adoption process were to continue beyond January 1, 2026, or if the Ordinance were to be denied, the Claremont Building Division would enforce the 2025 California Building Standards and the 2022 California Building Standards, along with the local amendments as previously adopted. Where a conflict exists between the two code versions, the Building Official is required to determine which code takes precedence.
The State of California Building Standards Commission (BSC) continually monitors and revises the California Building Standards through a process of review, which involves input from local chapters of the International Code Council (ICC), the California Association of Building Officials (CALBO), professional design associations, trade groups, and the general public. Every year, the Building Standards Commission compiles these observations into a revised triennial version of the California Building Standards, which are incorporated into the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 1 through 12. The most recent iteration of these Standards was published on July 1, 2025, and mandated to become effective and enforceable by all California jurisdictions on January 1, 2026.
Local jurisdictions are enabled per California Building Code Section 1.1.8, to make amendments to the California Codes based on local geographic, topographic, climatic, and environmental conditions. However, the process to make these local amendments requires express findings to be made on each issue, and for those findings to be filed and approved by the State prior to becoming effective at the local level. The local amendments included in the proposed Ordinance have already been adopted under a prior Ordinance and are consistent with similar findings and local amendments adopted by Los Angeles County, as contained in their Title 32 (Los Angeles County Fire Code), which is also referenced in this proposed Ordinance.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the proposed Ordinance.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: General Plan, Sustainability Plan, and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
It can be seen with certainty that this item has no possibility of having a significant effect on the environment. In the absence of any pending application for a development project that might implicate the proposed ordinance, any specific environmental effects would be speculative. Therefore, the adoption of the proposed Ordinance is not a project subject to the CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office. A Notice of Public Hearing was published in the Claremont Courier on October 17, 2025. The Notice of Public Hearing is scheduled to be published in the Claremont Courier again on November 14, 2025.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Joseph Caro
Community Development Director Building Official
Attachment:
Draft Ordinance