OSHPD asks public to help "right-size" Title 24 rules for alternative birthing clinics

The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development hosted a virtual public meeting to review Title 24 building standards for alternative birthing clinics and solicit stakeholder input on possible code changes and a guidance document.

OSHPD Supervisor Mia Marbelli, who leads the Building Standards Unit, opened the session and said the agency plans to "spend the bulk of the two hours today discussing the Title 24 regulations themselves" and welcomed public comment and technical input.

The meeting focused on several recurring issues raised by clinic operators, midwives and local plan reviewers: minimum birthing-room size and configuration; nurse-call and bedside communication requirements; restroom and fixture counts for small clinics; ventilation and mechanical requirements; and whether guidance or checklists could streamline local permit reviews.

Why it matters: California has seen reductions in hospital labor-and-delivery services and stakeholders told OSHPD that building-code requirements can be a barrier for smaller community-based birth centers seeking licensure or for local jurisdictions when permitting remodels. OSHPD said it seeks to "right size" clinic code requirements so that safety is preserved while remodeling and small-site licensure are more feasible.

What OSHPD and CDPH said OSHPD staff summarized how the rules interact with licensing and other state codes. Marbelli explained that OSHPD amends Title 24 building standards and coordinates with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which issues licensing under Title 22. "When we talk about the health and safety code, we are talking about the law. And when we talk about titles, such as Title 24 or Title 22, we are talking about the California Code of Regulations," Marbelli said.

Clara Wu, compliance officer and registered nurse with…