San Ramon schedules adoption vote on 2025 California building codes; staff outlines energy, safety, EV and pool changes

San Ramon building-safety staff on Oct. 14 outlined statewide 2025 updates to California's Title 24 building codes and local, San Ramon-specific amendments. The City Council voted to set the ordinance for formal adoption at its Oct. 28 meeting; if adopted, the 2025 code will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Josh D'Mello, supervising building inspector for the city's Building Safety Services division, summarized the statewide code cycle and key changes. "In July 2025, California Building Standards Commission published the 2025 edition of the Title 24 building codes and standards," D'Mello said, noting the codes become mandatory statewide on Jan. 1, 2026, and jurisdictions adopt state codes with limited local amendments.

Major changes highlighted by staff included energy-efficiency upgrades for new and altered buildings, EV and battery readiness, and safety requirements:

- Energy and envelope: The energy code tightens performance, including stricter window U-factors (from 0.45 to 0.40) and higher attic insulation requirements (R-38 instead of R-30 when a roof is replaced). D'Mello said the 2025 energy code "includes upgrade requirements that will reduce the energy use for California's 7,600,000 existing, single family dwellings when alterations are made."

- Electrification preparedness: New residential and some commercial measures encourage electric heat pumps for space and water heating. Multifamily projects will be required to provide EV charging spaces and circuits that can be monitored per unit; new homes must be battery-storage ready so a future battery can be installed without major retrofit.

- Pool safety: Under Assembly/Senate action implemented in the code (Senate Bill 442, the Pool Safety Act), swimming-pool isolation barriers that separate a pool from direct home access will in many cases require permits; options include a separate interior safety fence or door alarms, and municipalities must verify barrier compliance.

- Wildland-urban interface: The code adds a California Wildland Urban Interface chapter addressing homes at the urban edge; San Ramon’s fire district will adopt the fire-code aspects and the city will ratify those changes where applicable.

D'Mello also explained a temporary statewide scheduling change: "Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131 have required that our 2025 code will be on a 6-year cycle" for the residential portions, meaning residential provisions will not change again until 2031, while commercial provisions will continue on the standard three-year cycle.

Council questions and clarifications: Council member Adler asked whether projects already submitted must resubmit under the new code. D'Mello replied: "The application was submitted under the 22 code. It's approved under 22 code and it will follow 22 code until finished. So even if it rolls into next year, they don't have to make changes." He repeated that applicants may opt into the 2025 code early if they choose because some projects may benefit from the newer energy calculations.

Motion and procedure: Council voted to set introduction for adoption. Vice Mayor Burrows moved to set the ordinance for adoption at the Oct. 28, 2025 meeting; Council member Rubio seconded the motion. The council president announced the motion passed; staff indicated the ordinance will return on Oct. 28 for formal adoption and that permits applied for or issued before Jan. 1, 2026 remain subject to the 2022 code unless an applicant elects to use the 2025 standards.

Ending: Staff said they will post code documents and guidance on the city website and provide training materials and handouts for contractors and residents. Staff also noted the city will coordinate with the San Ramon Fire Protection District on the wildland-urban interface provisions.