Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Adoption and Amendments of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Codes and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, including a finding that the Ordinance is exempt from CEQA under 15061.3(b).
End
publichearing
• Staff Report
• Mayor and City Council Questions for Staff
• Public Comments
• Mayor and Council Member Discussion
• Council Action
End
From: Steven Mendoza, Interim Community Development Director
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Justin Nguyen, Building Official
____________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Conduct a public hearing and adopt Ordinance No. 2629 entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, REPEALING CHAPTERS 15.08 (BUILDING CODE), 15.10 (RESIDENTIAL CODE), 15.12 (ELECTRICAL CODE), 15.14 (MECHANICAL CODE), 15.16 (PLUMBING CODE), 15.20 (GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE), AND 15.22 (FIRE CODE) OF THE WESTMINSTER MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE PROVISIONS OF THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, WITH AMENDMENTS AND ALSO ADOPTING THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, 2024 EDITION,” read by title only and waive further reading.
end
BACKGROUND
During the October 15, 2025 Special Meeting, the City Council introduced for first reading an Ordinance to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Codes with proposed local amendments and scheduled a public hearing for November 12, 2025, as required by law. A public hearing is required as the second step in the procedure for adoption of the codes as outlined in California Government Code Title 5, Division 1, Part 1.
The California Building Standards Code to be adopted by the City consists of the following:
• 2025 California Building Code and Appendices I and J
• 2025 California Residential Code and Appendix CI
• 2025 California Electrical Code
• 2025 California Mechanical Code
• 2025 California Plumbing Code
• 2025 California Energy Code
• 2025 California Existing Building Code
• 2025 California Green Building Code
• 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface Code
• 2025 California Fire Code and Appendices B, C, H, BB, and CC
• 2025 California Historical Building Code
• 2025 California Referenced Standards Code
The 2024 International Property Maintenance Code is also recommended to be adopted by the City.
At the October 15, 2025, Special Meeting, the City Council also adopted Resolution No. 5327, making the necessary findings for the local amendments to the Building Standards Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of the recommended actions is minimal, and funds have been budgeted in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 in Account No. 100-12000-44070 (Advertising) and 100-12000-43090 (Contracts - Quality Code) to cover costs for publication of Westminster Municipal Code amendments.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The State’s Health and Safety Code requires local governments to adopt the most recent editions of the model codes related to construction and fire. Staff is recommending that the Council approve the second reading and final adoption of the Ordinance. If adopted by the Council, the most recent editions of the California Building Standards code with the applicable amendments will become effective January 1, 2026, as required by State Law, and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code will be formally adopted by the City.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Ordinance
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager