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Public Hearings
Item No. 1.
| MEETING DATE: 10/20/2025 |
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| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Ginger Ivey, Management Analyst II |
| SUBJECT: | DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, EXISTING BUILDING, GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS, WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AND ENERGY CODES; AND, THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
A. APPROVE THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. CC 2025-__ ENTITLED: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 15 "BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION" OF THE LA HABRA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS 15.04, 15.05, 15.06, 15.07, 15.08, 15.12, 15.16, 15.32, 15.46 AND 15.68, BY ADOPTING THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, EXISTING BUILDING, GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS, AND ENERGY CODES; AND, THE 2025 COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FIRE CODE AND 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE; and,
B. APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. CC 2025-__ ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY WHICH MAKE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES NECESSARY TO THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, AND ELECTRICAL CODES, AND ITS APPENDICES.
DISCUSSION:
Once every three years, the California Building Standards Commission ("Commission") compiles and publishes the adoption, amendment, and repeal of administrative regulations to Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also referred to as the "California Building Standards Code." The Commission has enacted the 2025 editions of the California Building Code, the California Residential Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Mechanical Code, the California Electrical Code, the California Existing Building Code, the California Green Building Standards Code, the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, and the California Energy Code (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Codes"). Effective January 1, 2026, these Codes are applicable to all jurisdictions in California.
State law mandates that all California jurisdictions enforce the Codes for new building construction, and permits local jurisdictions to make modifications, referred to as "local amendments." Local amendments may be more stringent, but not less than the State Codes, based on local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The City of La Habra has adopted local amendments during each of the prior triennial code adoption cycles to address specific local concerns. With the adoption of the 2025 Codes, the existing local amendments from the 2022 cycle are automatically repealed. Therefore, to retain these necessary amendments, they must be readopted as part of the 2025 code adoption process.
A significant update in this cycle is the introduction of the California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code, Part 7 of Title 24. This new code consolidates and replaces regulations from various parts of the previous codes (including CBC Chapter 7A, CRC Section R337, and CFC Chapter 49) to provide a unified set of standards for construction in wildfire-prone areas. This is a critical development for the Southern California region and is incorporated into the proposed ordinance. A map of the City's Fire Hazard Severity Zones is attached.
The proposed amendments for the 2025 Codes pertain to permitted plumbing alternate systems, fence and walls, roofing materials, concrete and masonry foundation walls, swimming pool barriers, and small electrical aluminum wire installations. These amendments are intended to mitigate local life safety concerns related to fire hazards and seismic conditions, which remain a primary concern for the City.
The attached resolution sets forth the necessary findings to enable the City to amend the new construction codes to reflect the City's local conditions, including the hot, dry Santa Ana winds, and the City's location within a high seismically active area.
In accordance with Section 50022.3 of the California Government Code, the adoption of the above Codes by reference, with local amendments, requires that the City Council schedule a time and place for a public hearing to consider whether to adopt the Codes, as amended, and adopt the resolution making the necessary findings for said amendments. On October 20, 2025, the City Council set a public hearing on said ordinance and resolution for November 3, 2025, and directed the City Clerk to publish notice of said public hearing pursuant to law.
State law mandates that all California jurisdictions enforce the Codes for new building construction, and permits local jurisdictions to make modifications, referred to as "local amendments." Local amendments may be more stringent, but not less than the State Codes, based on local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The City of La Habra has adopted local amendments during each of the prior triennial code adoption cycles to address specific local concerns. With the adoption of the 2025 Codes, the existing local amendments from the 2022 cycle are automatically repealed. Therefore, to retain these necessary amendments, they must be readopted as part of the 2025 code adoption process.
A significant update in this cycle is the introduction of the California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code, Part 7 of Title 24. This new code consolidates and replaces regulations from various parts of the previous codes (including CBC Chapter 7A, CRC Section R337, and CFC Chapter 49) to provide a unified set of standards for construction in wildfire-prone areas. This is a critical development for the Southern California region and is incorporated into the proposed ordinance. A map of the City's Fire Hazard Severity Zones is attached.
The proposed amendments for the 2025 Codes pertain to permitted plumbing alternate systems, fence and walls, roofing materials, concrete and masonry foundation walls, swimming pool barriers, and small electrical aluminum wire installations. These amendments are intended to mitigate local life safety concerns related to fire hazards and seismic conditions, which remain a primary concern for the City.
The attached resolution sets forth the necessary findings to enable the City to amend the new construction codes to reflect the City's local conditions, including the hot, dry Santa Ana winds, and the City's location within a high seismically active area.
In accordance with Section 50022.3 of the California Government Code, the adoption of the above Codes by reference, with local amendments, requires that the City Council schedule a time and place for a public hearing to consider whether to adopt the Codes, as amended, and adopt the resolution making the necessary findings for said amendments. On October 20, 2025, the City Council set a public hearing on said ordinance and resolution for November 3, 2025, and directed the City Clerk to publish notice of said public hearing pursuant to law.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
City Council Resolution No. 6076 establishes the Building and Safety Division Fee Schedule to fund adoption and enforcement of building and fire code regulations. The recommended actions being proposed below will not institute any new fees, nor will they change any existing fees.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE/CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
General Plan Goals and Policies
Goal FS 1 Fire and Emergency Services. Fire protection and emergency medical services that maintain the safety of La Habra's residents and property.
Goal FS 1 Fire and Emergency Services. Fire protection and emergency medical services that maintain the safety of La Habra's residents and property.
- Policy FS 1.3 Enforcement of the Codes to Reduce the Risk of Fire
- Policy FS 1.4 Fire Inspection and Permit Program
Goal NH 1 Geologic and Seismic Hazards. Adverse effects to persons, property, and essential public facilities caused by geologic and seismic hazards are minimized.
- Policy NH 1.1 Safety Standards
City Council Goals and Objectives
Goal 5 - Development Activity and Business Assistance
- Objective E - Continue to evaluate and improve the City's development review process and continue to foster a "business friendly" environment within all City departments.