Port Hueneme introduces ordinance to adopt 2025 California building standards; local amendments carried forward

City building officials presented the proposed ordinance to adopt the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code with Port Hueneme’s local amendments and the council introduced the ordinance for first reading on Oct. 20.

Building Official Tom Juzwiak told council the state reissues the codes every three years and local amendments must be re-adopted to remain in effect. The city will carry forward prior local amendments relating to pool fencing, foundation and grading for expansive soils, pool design requirements, post-disaster safety assessment placards, and the International Property Maintenance Code. The staff report added Appendix G (floodplain construction) to align the ordinance with the city’s floodplain management program; staff noted the appendix update was issued the morning of the meeting and included in the latest report.

Juzwiak also described the effect of Assembly Bill 130, which limits local jurisdictions’ ability to adopt building standards affecting residential units from Oct. 1, 2025 through June 1, 2031 unless specified conditions are met. He said the city is carrying forward existing amendments and that changes required for fire-code related updates from the Ventura County Fire Protection District will return to council in a later item (the council scheduled a Nov. 17 public hearing to consider final adoption).

Council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance, waive further reading, and schedule the adoption hearing for Nov. 17.

Why it matters: Adopting the state’s updated codes with locally adopted provisions preserves the city’s technical requirements for construction, maintenance and safety, while complying with state limitations under AB 130.