PREPARED BY: SERGIO CALDERA DATE OF MEETING: 12/15/2025
SUBJECT:
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AMENDING CHAPTER 15.04 OF THE SAN PABLO MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE; 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, VOLUMES 1 AND 2, WITH APPENDIX CHAPTERS G, H, I, J, N, P AND Q, AS AMENDED; 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, WITH APPENDIX CHAPTERS BB, BF, BG, CI, AND CJ, AS AMENDED; 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE WITH ANNEXES A, C, AND I; 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE WITH APPENDIX CHAPTERS B, C, F, G AND H; 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE WITH APPENDIX CHAPTERS A, D, G, H, I, J, M, AND R; 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, AS AMENDED; 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE; 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE WITH AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT; 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE; 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE; 2025 CALIFORNIA REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE; 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE; AND THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, AS AMENDED; AND DETERMINING THAT ADOPTION OF THESE AMENDMENTS IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
CEQA: This proposed action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (i.e., the “common sense” exemption) in that its purpose to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, limb, health, property, and public welfare of construction and its adoption will not have the effect of deleting or substantially changing any regulatory standards or findings and it can be determined with certainty that the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Municipal Code has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. In addition, adoption of these amendments is exempt from review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 because the project is an action being taken by a regulatory agency where the process involves procedures for the protection of the environment that do not have the potential to cause significant effects on the environment.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Conduct public hearing; waive first reading; introduce Ordinance
Body
WORKPLAN COmpliance statement
FY 2025-2027 Council Priority Work Plan. Improve Public Safety Policy #500. Employ integrated efforts to reduce blight. Adoption of updated building and property maintenance codes are essential tools in blight reduction and enhancement of building safety.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This proposed action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (i.e., the “common sense” exemption) in that its purpose to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, limb, health, property, and public welfare of construction and its adoption will not have the effect of deleting or substantially changing any regulatory standards or findings and it can be determined with certainty that the adoption of the proposed amendments to the Municipal Code has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. In addition, adoption of these amendments is exempt from review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 because the project is an action being taken by a regulatory agency where the process involves procedures for the protection of the environment that do not have the potential to cause significant effects on the environment.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
A public hearing notice was published in the West County Times (West Contra Costa edition of the West County Times) newspaper on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
REQUESTED ACTION
The City Council is requested to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Municipal Code identified in the attached draft Ordinance; then to waive the reading of the Ordinance and read by title only; and introduce the attached Ordinance including any further revisions. Unless there is an objection from the City Council, the Ordinance as introduced will be placed on the consent calendar at a future meeting for adoption (second reading).
BACKGROUND
The construction and maintenance of residential, commercial, and other buildings in California is regulated by Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the California Building Standards Code (“CBSC”) and consisting of the California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Energy Code, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, California Historical Building Code, California Fire Code, California Green Building Code Standards, and California Referenced Standards Code. These regulations establish construction standards to protect the public’s welfare and provide uniformity in building laws. State law requires that the Building Codes be updated every three years. The updated Building Codes go into effect statewide on January 1, 2026. The CBSC is enforced by local governments through the building permit process. All construction in the State must comply with the CBSC, subject to any local modifications made to the CBSC by the city or county in which the construction is to occur. Modifications are allowed only to address local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, and the local government must make express findings that such conditions justify its modifications.
The attached Ordinance (Attachment A) adopts the 2025 CBSC and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code as part of the San Pablo Municipal Code. The City’s previous adoption of the 2022 CBSC and 2021 International Property Maintenance Code by Ordinance 2023-001 on January 17, 2023 included modifications to reflect local conditions in San Pablo based on local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, and removed unnecessary fire prevention requirements in the City’s codes that duplicate those in County Ordinance and enforced by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District in the City of San Pablo and other jurisdictions within the District’s jurisdiction. These previously made modifications remain and only the further modifications noted below are needed for the current adoption. This includes the adoption of the new Part 7, the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS
A summary of the major amendments to be made follows by section.
Title: The title has been changed to reflect the adoption of the 2025 California Building Codes, as amended, and the adoption of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended.
15.04.010 California Building Codes and International Property Maintenance Code adoption by reference. Amended to expand on how each of the model codes are modified with California specific requirements consistent with the California Code of Regulations Title 24. Each Code is amended to include only those appendices that will be adopted by the City of San Pablo.
The California Code, 2025 Edition, including all volumes and appendices listed below, shall be the building code for the City and said code, together with the adopted appendices, shall regulate and govern the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures within the City by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical items and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use and providing for the condemnation and demolition of buildings and structures that are unfit for human occupancy and use, and the issuance of permits and collection of permit fees.
A. The California Code of Regulations, Title 24, 2025 Edition, published by the International Code Council, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and BNi Building News, including Appendices listed below, is adopted by reference, including:
1) Part 1 - California Administrative Code.
The 2025 California Administrative Code, published by the International Code Council, as amended in Part 1 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24;
2) Part 2 - California Building Code - Volumes 1 and 2
The 2025 California Building Code based on the International Building Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto as amended in Part 2 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24; as amended in Section 15.04.020, including Chapter 17A, with Appendix Chapters G, H, I, J, N, P and Q, and as amended in Section 15.04.020;
3) Part 2.5 - California Residential Code
The 2025 California Residential Code based on the International Residential Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto as amended in Part 2.5 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24; as amended in Section 15.04.020, including Appendices with Appendix Chapters BB, BF, BG, CI, and CJ, as amended in Section 15.04.020;
4) Part 3 - California Electrical Code
The 2025 California Electrical Code based on the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, published by the National Fire Protection Association, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, as amended in Part 3 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24 with Annexes A, C, I;
5) Part 4 - California Mechanical Code
The 2025 California Mechanical Code based on the Uniform Mechanical Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, as amended in Part 4 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24 with Appendix Chapters B, C, F, G and H;
6) Part 5 - California Plumbing Code
The 2025 California Plumbing Code based on the Uniform Plumbing Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, as amended in Part 5 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24 Appendix Chapters A, D, G, H, I, J, M, and R;
7) Part 6 - California Energy Code
The 2025 California Energy Code, published by the International Code Council, as amended in Part 6 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24; as further amended in Section 15.04.020 of the San Pablo Municipal Code;
8) Part 7 - California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
The 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as amended by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and adopted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as County Ordinance number 2025-15.
9) Part 8 - Historic Building Code
The 2025 California Historical Building Code, published by the International Code Council, as amended in Part 8 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24;
10) Part 9 - California Fire Code
The 2025 California Fire Code, as amended by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and adopted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as County Ordinance number 2025-14.
11) Part 10 - California Existing Building Code
The 2025 California Existing Building Code, based on the International Existing Building Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto as amended in Part 10 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24; including Appendix A, Chapter A1;
12) Part 11 - California Green Building Standards Code
The 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, published by the International Code Council, as amended in Part 11 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24;
13) Part 12 - California Referenced Standards Code
The 2025 California Referenced Standards Code, published by the International Code Council, as amended in Part 12 of the California Building Standards Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24; and
14) 2024 - International Property Maintenance Code, as amended
The Housing and Property Maintenance Code for the City of San Pablo shall heretofore consist of the California Housing Law Regulations, as set forth in Division 13, Part 1.5, commencing with Section 17910, in the Health and Safety Code (as amended) combined with the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) including Appendix A except as amended by the changes, additions and deletions set forth in this SPMC Chapter section 15.04.020.
B. The above-listed codes are located in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, with the exception of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code which is published by the International Code Council. A copy of the California Codes and International Property Maintenance Code is on file in the Building Division for use and examination by the public.
15.04.020 - Amendments, additions and deletions.
The titles to the following subsections are revised to reflect the new CBSC and International Property Maintenance Code editions, as shown below:
A. Amendments, additions and deletions to the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 1, Division II, Scope and Administration.
B. Amendments, additions and deletions to 2025 California Residential Code, Chapter 1, Division II, Scope and Administration.
C. Amendments, Additions and Deletions to 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC).
D. Amendments, additions and deletions to Title 24 Part 6, the 2025 California Energy Code:
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council review the proposed amendments, take public testimony, and introduce the attached Ordinance which, if adopted at a future meeting, would amend the Municipal Code to update it to the most recent editions of the California Building Codes and to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code, as amended.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no direct fiscal impact to the City as a result of this amendment. However, to the extent that new construction and renovations in San Pablo meet current codes, the longevity and value of these improvements will be enhanced and will help to support the San Pablo tax base and local economy.
AttachmentS:
Att A - Proposed Ordinance Adopting the 2025 California Building Codes, as amended and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended.
Att B - Proof of Publication