The San Rafael City Council on Sept. 2 held a first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2025 California building codes with local amendments and to update the city’s single‑family FlexPath (LEHI Path) reach code target scores, with a proposed effective date of Jan. 1, 2027.

City planning staff explained the regular triennial code update process and the proposed local changes, which include new definitions, pool and fire safety updates, and an update to the city’s single‑family FlexPath/LEHI Path reach code for major remodels (500 square feet or more). The FlexPath menu lets homeowners select from energy‑efficiency and electrification measures and earn a target score tied to building vintage.

Staff said the proposed 2027 target scores increase the FlexPath requirements — a change intended to preserve the city’s ability to adopt stronger local reach code targets before state restrictions take effect. The staff presentation cited AB 130, a 2025 budget trailer bill, and said that AB 130’s restrictions could limit local reach‑code adjustments until February 1931 if the city did not act; the staff also reported the California Energy Commission asked for a specific jurisdictional cost‑effectiveness memo before approving the local amendment.

Sustainable San Rafael asked the council to consider an earlier and larger increase in the target score (advocates suggested bringing a 2029 target forward to 2027). City staff said the 2029 targets are supported by state cost‑effectiveness work but that the council and staff had planned a data‑driven, phased approach with time to gather implementation data before raising scores further.

Council members discussed the tradeoffs between acting now to preserve future flexibility and collecting local implementation data. Staff said the city could include future target increases in ordinance language but could choose not to enforce them if local conditions or costs proved infeasible. The council voted 5‑0 to introduce the ordinance, waive further reading and set the required public hearing for Monday, Sept. 15.

Nut graf: The ordinance would adopt the statewide 2025 building codes with local updates and raise the city’s FlexPath targets for single‑family major remodels starting Jan. 1, 2027; staff defended a measured, data‑driven timeline while advocates urged a faster, more aggressive change.

Key details: The FlexPath approach applies to single‑family major remodels (≥500 sq. ft.) and uses a vintage‑based scoring menu; staff noted that for newer building vintages some measures no longer show cost effectiveness in the updated state analysis. The staff presentation referenced an updated target score that “goes up to 169” for the proposed 2027 setting and described state feedback requiring the jurisdiction‑level cost analysis.

What’s next: The council set a public hearing on the ordinance for Sept. 15 and staff will return with responses to state comments and the jurisdictional cost‑effectiveness documentation requested by the California Energy Commission.

Ending: The ordinance was introduced on a unanimous 5‑0 vote; the council will hold the public hearing on Sept. 15 and may adopt the ordinance after considering public comment and the state feedback.