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Placentia adopts first reading of 2025 California building and fire codes; second reading set for Nov. 18
Summary
After a public hearing Nov. 4, Placentia's council approved the first reading of Ordinance O-2025-11 to adopt the 2025 California building and fire codes (with local amendments), and staff will return for a second reading Nov. 18 before the codes take effect.
Placentia Nov. 4, 2025 The City Council completed the required first public hearing on Ordinance O-2025-11 and voted unanimously to approve staff's recommendation to adopt the 2025 California building and fire codes by reference, with local amendments and the related findings to be submitted to the California Building Standards Commission.
Joe Lambert, director of development services, and Fire Marshal Amanda Horner described the package of updated model codes that local governments must adopt by reference so state model codes become effective locally. Lambert said the city currently operates under the 2022 codes and must adopt the 2025 codes so the updated standards can take effect by Jan. 1, 2026. The presentation listed 12 code updates including the 2025 California fire code, the 2025 California building code, the Wildland Urban Interface code (statewide for affected areas), the California historical building code, and the California existing building code.
Lambert told the council that staff and the city attorney prepared local amendments where appropriate and recommended completing the statutory process: first reading (this meeting), second reading (anticipated Nov. 18 public hearing) and final adoption. "These model codes are effective for all local jurisdictions statewide unless a local jurisdiction adopts their own local amendments to the model codes," Lambert said.
Council voted 5-0 to complete the first public hearing and approve the staff recommendations. Staff also recommended adoption of a resolution making the findings required to submit the ordinance and supporting documents to the California Building Standards Commission; staff will return with second-reading materials and the required findings.
Next steps: the second reading and anticipated adoption are scheduled for Nov. 18; staff said the codes would become effective 30 days after final adoption, consistent with ordinance procedure.
