Pacific Grove council adopts 2025 California building standards code with local amendments

Pacific Grove — The City Council unanimously approved introduction and first reading of an ordinance adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) with local amendments on Oct. 1, 2025. The vote followed a staff presentation and brief council questions about one descriptive finding in the ordinance.

The ordinance updates the city’s building regulations to align with the triennial state code cycle and incorporates a limited set of local amendments. John Kiel, chief building official in the Community Development Department, told the council that California revises the building code every three years and the city’s proposal seeks to minimize local amendments while meeting local needs.

The council’s action authorizes staff to publish the ordinance summary and proceed with second reading consistent with the city’s ordinance procedures.

Kiel said the city’s draft reflects a desire to reduce local amendments wherever possible and to forward substantive change to the state when appropriate. “What’s before you tonight is something that comes up every three years,” Kiel said. He highlighted two changes in the 2025 cycle: a new Urban Wildland Interface Code (transferring content from Chapter 7A) that applies to new construction in identified high-hazard zones, and requirements tied to Senate Bill 130 that constrain residential amendments and require specific findings when local governments adopt changes.

The ordinance text presented to council adopts Title 24, California Code of Regulations, parts 1 through 12, and also references the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, with local amendments to municipal chapters 18.04 and 18.32. Staff emphasized the Urban Wildland Interface provisions apply to newly constructed buildings located inside high-hazard fire zones shown on the city’s fire maps, and do not retroactively change existing homes.

Councilmember McDonald raised one point about a finding in the draft ordinance that describes the city shoreline and referred to a phrase mentioning “nearly 9 blocks of continuous construction.” McDonald said the factual phrasing might not accurately reflect Pacific Grove’s shoreline conditions and asked staff to review the language before the second reading. John Kiel said the finding was intended to capture locations that are difficult to access from more than one side and that staff would work with the city attorney to refine the wording if needed.

The council conducted a voice vote; the motion passed unanimously. No public commenters spoke on the item during the meeting.

The ordinance will come back for second reading and final adoption following the council’s direction to finalize any non-substantive language changes and publication of the ordinance summary as required by law.

Background: California updates its building standards code on a three-year cycle; Senate Bill 130 was described by staff as a state law that limits changes to residential code provisions and requires local jurisdictions to state specific findings when they propose residential amendments. Staff said that the most significant changes in 2025 are in the energy provisions, and that local amendments in Pacific Grove are intended to be minimal and targeted.