Submitted By: Building Division
Prepared By: Robert Ferguson, Building Official
Subject:
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INTRODUCTION (FIRST READING) OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 8.16 AND TITLE 15 OF THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE REGULATIONS WITH CERTAIN ADDITIONS, AMENDMENTS, AND DELETIONS
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Fiscal Impact:
None.
Summary:
January 1, 2026 is the statewide effective date established by the California Building Standards Commission for the new 2025 California Building Standards Code. In order for these building regulations to be effective with local amendments on January 1, 2026, it is necessary to adopt the attached building codes by ordinance. The proposed ordinance will amend Chapter 8.16 and Title 15 of the San Clemente Municipal Code to adopt the most current mandatory State regulations while allowing the City to address special local conditions.
Background:
The California Building Standards Code, Title 24, are the established minimum regulations for the design and construction of buildings and structures in California. Every three years, the State of California Building Standards Commission (BSC) reviews the newest model codes published by various independent code-developing bodies. These model codes are sent to the BSC and the other state agencies that propose or adopt building standards. These model codes with state amendments from the various state agencies become the California Building Standards Code.
The proposed Ordinance (Attachment 1) adopts the building regulations prescribed by state law. In addition, the proposed Ordinance adopts local amendments to those codes based on special local conditions, including administrative provisions for the enforcement of these Codes.
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 18941.5, any city, county, or fire protection district may establish more restrictive amendments to the building standards than those contained in the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24), if the amendment is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions.
The Ordinance provides findings that local conditions make the changes to the California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Wildland-Urban Interface and Existing Building Codes reasonably necessary for building occupancies in the City to address special construction and fire issues unique to San Clemente related to unstable geotechnical, expansive and corrosive soils conditions, topography, dry Santa Ana wind conditions, and the City’s proximity to natural canyons and grassy areas. A summary of local amendments proposed by City staff and/or the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is included as Attachment 1, Exhibit A. As with previous code adoptions, the San Clemente Building Division strives to minimize code amendments except where administrative in nature or where needed to address special construction and fire issues unique to San Clemente.
California Code of Regulations, Title 24 - the 2025 California Building Standards Code, incorporates the family of codes listed below and becomes effective statewide on January 1, 2026:
Part 1 of Title 24
2025 California Administrative Code - SCMC 15.05
Part 2 of Title 24
2025 California Building Code (Volumes 1 & 2) - SCMC 15.08
[Based on the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) as amended by the State]
Part 2.5 of Title 24
2025 California Residential Code - SCMC 15.22
[Based on the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) as amended by the State]
Part 3 of Title 24
2025 California Electrical Code - SCMC 15.12
[Based on the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) as amended by the State]
Part 4 of Title 24
2025 California Mechanical Code - SCMC 15.16
[Based on the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) as amended by the State]
Part 5 of Title 24
2025 California Plumbing Code - SCMC 15.20
[Based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as amended by the State]
Part 6 of Title 24
2025 California Energy Code - SCMC 15.11
Part 7 of Title 24
2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code - SCMC 15.13
[Based on the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code]
Part 8 of Title 24
2025 California Historical Building Code - SCMC 15.17
Part 9 of Title 24
2025 California Fire Code - SCMC 8.16
Part 10 of Title 24
2025 California Existing Building Code - SCMC15.23
Part 11 of Title 24
2025 Green Building Standards Code - SCMC 15.14
Part 12 of Title 24
2025 California Referenced Standards Code - SCMC 15.18
Government Code section 50022.3 requires that the City Council set a public hearing following the first reading of an ordinance to adopt a uniform code and further requires that the public hearing notice be published.
Council Options:
• Introduce and conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 1796.
• Modify Ordinance No. 1796 and conduct a first reading.
• Direct staff to return to Council with additional information.
• Take no action.
Environmental Review/Analysis:
This ordinance is not subject to the requirements of California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) for the following reasons:
A. This Ordinance is not a “project” within the meaning of State CEQA Guidelines, section 15378, because it has no potential for resulting in direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
B. This Ordinance is exempt under section 15061(b)(3), the general rule exemption, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this code amendment will have a significant effect on the environment.
Recommended Actions:
Staff Recommendation
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council take the following actions:
1. Introduce for first reading Ordinance No. 1796 entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 15, CHAPTERS 15.05, 15.08, 15.11, 15.12, 15.14, 15.16, 15.17, 15.18, 15.20, 15.22, 15.23 OF AND TITLE 8, CHAPTER 8.16 OF AND ADDING CHAPTER 15.13 TO THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE AND, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24), CONSISTING IN PART OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE, AND THE 2025 CALIFORNIA REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE, TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN ADDITIONS, AMENDMENTS, AND DELETIONS THERETO AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO.1738;” and
2. Find that the changes and modifications to the 2025 Editions of the California Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Residential, Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Existing Building, and Fire Codes are reasonably necessary due to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions in San Clemente. Other amendments are of an administrative or procedural nature and concern themselves with subjects that are not covered by the Code or are reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within the City of San Clemente. Adoption of these codes as amended will implement the latest codes in the City, and complies with current State law and Repeals Ordinance No.1738; and
3. Set a Public Hearing for November 4, 2025, to consider the adoption of Ordinance No. 1796, and direct staff to advertise the Public Hearing as required by State law.
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Attachment:
1. Ordinance No. 1796
a. Exhibit A - Summary of Amendments Matrix - 2025 California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Residential, Wildland-Urban Interface, Existing Building, and Fire Codes
2. Strike-through/Underline Version of Ordinance Sections 4-17
3. Public Hearing Notice
Notification:
California Building Standards Commission
2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130
Sacramento, CA 95833-2936
ordinancefilings@dgs.ca.gov