Bellflower council introduces ordinance to adopt 2025 California building codes; public hearing set for Sept. 22

The Bellflower City Council on Sept. 3 introduced Ordinance No. 1449 to adopt the 2025 editions of the California Building Code and related California building standards and set a public hearing for Sept. 22, 2025, for second reading and possible adoption.

The ordinance covers the 2025 editions of the California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Energy Code, California Fire Code, California Existing Building Code, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, California Green Building Standards Code, California Reference Standards Code and the California Building Standards Administrative Code, with local amendments based on Bellflower conditions.

Council members and staff focused discussion on several substantive changes in the 2025 cycle: the local adoption of Fire Code Section 503 (which staff said gives local officials authority to set requirements for fire access roads and related features), updated provisions for electric-vehicle (EV) charging and battery storage, permit expiration and extension timelines, and the city’s self-certification and audit process for plans.

Alan (building official) summarized the update: “This is for the 2025 building codes update. As you may be aware, every 3 years, the CBC is updated.” He said much of the current cycle’s changes relate to fire protection, solar and EV charging, battery storage and permit expiration time frames, and that some local…