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Yorba Linda council adopts 2025 California building standards (Title 24)
Summary
After a public hearing, the council unanimously approved an ordinance adopting the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards (Title 24). Staff said the updates focus on energy efficiency, EV readiness and wildfire-safety measures and do not apply retroactively to existing buildings.
The Yorba Linda City Council unanimously approved an ordinance adopting the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code, commonly called Title 24, after a public hearing. The vote was taken following a staff presentation explaining the scope of the changes and brief public comment.
City Building Official Jeff MacGyver told the council the statewide code cycle emphasizes stricter energy and electrification measures, new metrics for energy evaluation, expanded electric-vehicle charging requirements, and wildfire-safety provisions through the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. “The new code requirements…are not retroactive — they're only applicable to new construction which is triggered by a permit application or permit issuance,” MacGyver said.
Nate Farnsworth, community development director, noted that jurisdictions that do not adopt a local ordinance will default to the state codes and lose local amendments. He and MacGyver told the council that the 2025 updates also reflect revisions in seismic design and increased structural loads.
During public comment, resident Richard De Bruin asked whether other housing-related bills (he referenced AB 179) were included; staff clarified that those measures are addressed through separate state legislation or local zoning and not as part of the building standards adoption.
Council members moved and seconded adoption of the ordinance on second reading. The roll call recorded unanimous approval by the five seated council members, and the ordinance will take effect in accordance with the state-specified schedule.
The action aligns the city with statewide construction, fire-safety and energy standards while preserving the city’s ability to maintain more restrictive local amendments through the formal adoption process.
