Tustin adopts 2025 California Building Standards Code with limited local amendments

The Tustin City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 15-69 and Resolution 2523 on Nov. 18 to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) for application in Tustin beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Miriam Majlesse, who presented the ordinance, told the council that the California Building Standards Commission issues the triennial code updates and that state law permits local jurisdictions to adopt modifications where reasonably necessary due to climatic, geological or topographical conditions. Majlesse said the city and the Orange County Fire Authority collaborated on the local amendments, which are largely administrative or procedural and intended to align local rules with the state—s 2025 code cycle.

Key points clarified during council questions and staff responses included:

- Effective date and transition: Projects submitted for plan check before Jan. 1, 2026 may remain under the 2022 code if they remain active in the review process, Majlesse said.

- Permit thresholds: Majlesse explained the local amendments will align certain permit requirements to state code practice. She said the city changed its prior local requirement so that ordinary fences up to 6 feet will no longer require a building permit; the state code threshold is generally 7 feet for most fences but local zoning often establishes a 6-foot maximum in many areas. She emphasized that removal of the permit requirement does not eliminate enforceable construction standards: inspectors can still require corrections where a structure is unsafe.

- Accessory structures: Majlesse noted that small accessory structures (sheds) at or below 120 square feet are addressed under planning thresholds rather than full building permits, consistent with the state codes referenced.

Council Member Rishnoff asked for clarification on the international property maintenance codes used for code enforcement; Majlesse explained that separate international codes (property maintenance, uniform housing, abatement of dangerous buildings) are used for enforcement actions, not for new permits.

The council voted five-zero to adopt Ordinance 15-69 and Resolution 2523 in accordance with the cited state code update. Majlesse and staff will return as needed to implement the administrative changes and provide further guidance to the public on the revised permit thresholds.

Next steps: ordinance codification as Article 8 of the municipal code and public information on the effective date and the limited local amendments.