Glendale staff present 2026 Building and Fire Code package; no new residential amendments proposed

City of Glendale staff on Sept. 17 presented a draft of the 2026 Glendale Building and Safety Code to the Building and Fire Board of Appeals and said they will ask the board to recommend adoption to City Council in October. Ara Sarkson, Glendale building official, told the board the package carries forward most local amendments from the prior cycle and that "we are presenting today to the board, proposed amendments to 2026 City of Glendale Building and Safety Code."

The presentation focused on process and timing: staff said state law and recent legislation constrain local changes to residential building standards this cycle, and therefore Glendale is proposing only limited clarifications to the fire code and administrative provisions rather than new residential amendments. Staff asked the board to review the draft at a second meeting on Oct. 15 and said the ordinance will be introduced to City Council on Oct. 28 and scheduled for adoption on Nov. 4; staff noted the ordinances are being timed so the local amendments would become effective on Jan. 1, 2026, the date the state Title 24 update takes effect.

Why it matters: Title 24 (the California Building Standards Code) sets statewide minimums for building, residential, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire…