Council adopts 2025 California building standards with local technical amendments; directs study on single-stair residential buildings

The San Jose City Council adopted the 2025 California building and fire codes with local technical amendments and directed staff to coordinate a study of whether modern single-stair residential buildings up to six stories should be allowed in San Jose.

Code adoption with technical clarifications: Planning, Building and Code Enforcement presented the city doption of the 2025 California codes, explaining that many prior local amendments had been incorporated into the new state codes and would be repealed from municipal code where redundant. Deputy Building Official Lisa Joyner said the city would retain a small set of technical local amendments (for example special testing and inspections for certain foundation and braced wall assemblies) and would not propose new building-code amendments beyond the listed items.

Fire department amendments and safety clarifications: Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Marshal James Dobson reviewed eight proposed fire-code amendments meant to clarify review processes, codify existing policies and address energy-storage testing standards. Dobson emphasized concerns about alternating-tread stair designs and rooftop hazardous-material storage and explained proposed clarifications for large-scale battery testing, relocation of standpipe hose connections and special-permit processes for two-way communication systems in buildings.

Single-stair building study: Councilmember Sergio Tordias and others proposed evaluating a policy allowing single-stair residential buildings up to six stories — a typology permitted in cities such as Seattle and New York under specific engineering and sprinkler conditions. Councilmembers noted peer-city evidence (a Pew analysis of incidents in New York and Seattle) that modern code-compliant single-stair midrise buildings have a strong safety record, but fire professionals warned that firefighter egress, ladder reach and operational considerations may differ locally.

Stakeholder outreach and timeline: The council directed staff to study single-stair feasibility and to consult the statewide work group convened by the Office of the State Fire Marshal; the motion requires inclusive stakeholder outreach (San Jose Fire Department, IAFF Local 230, sprinkler fitters Local 483, building trades, state work group, and others) and requested a report after the state-level recommendations are published in January 2026. The motion passed 9-2, with Councilmembers Ortiz and Dwan dissenting.