Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board introduces expedited 2025 building-code updates to preserve local choices under AB 130
Summary
Faced with an Oct. 1 AB 130 deadline, Mariposa County introduced an ordinance to adopt the 2025 triennial building-code package (Title 24/25) to preserve locally important deviations such as a three-year permit term and county appendices; staff warned failure to adopt would revert the county to state code and limit local amendments for six years.
Mariposa County’s interim building department head, Karina Miranda, told the Board on Sept. 16 that AB 130 created an expedited schedule for adoption of the 2025 state codes and that failure to adopt could cause the county to lose its locally tailored modifications.
Miranda summarized key elements of the proposed adoption: incorporation of Title 25 (Housing and Community Development) to enable programs such as limited-density owner-built rural dwellings, adoption of appendices (tiny homes, sleeping lofts, straw-bale guidance, emergency housing), and updated provisions for wildfire resilience around new construction sites. She said staff prepared a "stripped-down" adoption so the county preserves its local findings and authority and can follow with public engagement and administrative improvements.
Planning commissioners and public speakers asked for workshops to ensure coordination between the upcoming development-code rewrite (in progress) and the building-code adoption. Planning Commissioner Art Baggett urged focusing on the "bare minimum" to comply now and returning for more detailed local adjustments after public review; building staff said some appendices are required for emergency-housing and other programs and cautioned that removing items may prevent re-adoption later.
After discussion the board waived first reading and introduced the ordinance; the measure passed introduction on a 4-0 vote with Supervisor Poe excused. Staff said they will return with a second reading and a series of public-engagement steps that include contractor outreach and coordination with the planning commission on overlapping topics such as fire and setbacks.
