Agenda Item Wording:
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Public Hearing and Ordinance Adoption - Public Hearing and Introduction to Ordinance No. 2025-16 for the 2025 Building Code adoption.
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Prepared by:
Jason Huckleberry, Director of Engineering & Building Dept, (559) 713-4495, Jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive information and initiate the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-16 and set a second hearing at Council’s meeting on January 20, 2026 to adopt all components and recommended appendices of the 2025 California building code updates including the 2025 California Administrative Code, 2025 California Referenced Standard code, 2025 California Building Code, 2025 California Plumbing Code, 2025 California Mechanical Code, 2025 California Electric Code, 2025 California Historical Building Code, 2025 California Existing Building Code, 2025 California Residential Code, 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, and 2025 California Energy Code. The recommended action will initiate building code updates as recently mandated by the State of California.
Summary:
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 50022.3 the Building Safety Division within the Engineering and Building Department is presenting information on the proposed modifications to the City Municipal Code Chapter 15. Staff is recommending that following this first reading of the ordinance, and in compliance with Section 50022.3, a public hearing for the second reading be set for the City Council meeting on January 20, 2026.
The adoption process is to repeal the present ordinance chapter and replace it with the current Code as required by the State with specific appendices or local amendments recommended by City staff. The recommended Ordinance includes the adoption of various Appendices of the Codes that have also been adopted by the State Building Standards Commission and the California Department of Housing and Community Development, reference the paragraph below. No local amendments to the Codes are being recommended.
Local jurisdictions are required by State law to implement these State of California mandated codes. In order to comply with State law, the Building Safety Division recommends adoption of the following Appendices as adopted by the State Building Standards Commission and the California Department of Housing and Community Development:
• 2025 California Building Code appendix B: Board of Appeals, C: Group U - Agricultural Buildings, F: Rodent proofing, H: Signs, I: Patio Covers, J: Grading, P: Sleeping Lofts and Q: Emergency Housing.
• 2025 California Residential Code appendix BF: Patio Covers, BB: Tiny Houses, BJ; Strawbale Construction, CK: Areas Protected By The Facilities Of The Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, and CJ: Emergency Housing.
• 2025 California Mechanical Code appendix B: Procedures to be followed to Place Gas Equipment into operation, and C: Installation and testing of oil (liquid) fuel-fired equipment.
• 2025 California Plumbing Code appendix A: Recommended Rules of Sizing the Water Supply system, B: Explanatory Notes on Combination Waste & Vent systems, D: Sizing Storm Water Drainage Systems, H: Private Sewage Disposal Systems, I: Installation Standards and J: Combination of Indoor and Outdoor Combustion and Ventilation Opening Design.
• 2025 California Electrical Code Annexes A, B and C
• 2025 California Green Building Standards Code appendix A4: Residential Voluntary Measures, A5: Nonresidential Voluntary Measures.
All appendices recommended for adoption were previously adopted in past code adoption cycles except for:
• 2025 CA Building Code - Appendix P: Sleeping Lofts
o This is a new appendix added to the Code for 2025
o Addresses sleeping lofts, specifically their design, including limitations on floor area and ceiling height, requirements for a permanent means of egress (like stairs or ladders), and safety features such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and ventilation. Key provisions include a maximum floor area of 70 square feet and specific ceiling height rules for the loft and its means of egress.
• 2025 CA Electrical Code - Appendix C
o Appendix C provides tables for conduit, tubing, and cable tray fill for conductors and fixture wires of the same size.
Background Discussion:
Every three years, the State adopts new codes (known collectively as the California Building Standards Code) to establish uniform standards for the construction and maintenance of buildings, electrical systems, plumbing systems, mechanical systems, and fire and life safety systems. These codes have been updated for 2025, the prior update was in 2022, and the attached ordinance is being passed to update the references in the Visalia Municipal Code to the applicable statewide standards.
On July 1, 2025 the State of California, Building Standards Commission published the 2025 California Administrative Code, 2025 Referenced Standard Code, 2025 California Building Code (CBC), 2025 California Plumbing Code (CPC), 2025 California Mechanical Code (CMC), 2025 California Electric Code (CEC), 2025 California Historical Building Code, 2025 California Existing Building Code, 2025 California Residential Code (CRC), 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (CAL Green), and 2025 California Energy Code.
Fiscal Impact: No adverse impacts on City. There are likely, but unknown, cost impacts to private construction projects. All staff training to ensure expertise in the new code change is already taken into consideration in division budgets.
Prior Council Action: The City Council approved the current 2022 Building Code update at the December 5, 2022 Council meeting.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: The 2025 Building Codes are effective January 1, 2026 as determined by the State of California regardless of the City’s adoption, apart from the additional appendices adopted by the City.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to accept this report and introduce the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-16 for the 2025 California Building adoption process, and set a public hearing on January 20, 2026 for the second reading of these ordinances to be adopted by reference.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 12/31/2025
Attachments: Ordinance 2025-16 - Building Code