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Sonoma Council adopts updated building code incorporating 2025 state standards
Summary
The Sonoma City Council voted unanimously to repeal and reenact Chapter 14.1O of the municipal code to adopt parts 1–12 of the 2025 California Building Standards, with staff noting the change aligns local administration to state law and makes limited local amendments where permitted.
The Sonoma City Council on Dec. 3 adopted an ordinance repealing and reenacting Chapter 14.1O of the Sonoma Municipal Code to incorporate parts 1 through 12 of the 2025 California Building Standards Code and a set of local amendments.
City Community Development Director Jennifer Gates told the council that the action is a routine adoption required periodically and that staff had returned after an initial November introduction to answer questions and finalize the text. "Before you tonight, we did come for the ordinance for the construction code adoption," Gates said during the presentation.
Council members questioned how the state's wildland-urban interface (WUI) standards and Cal Fire hazard maps would affect remodels and new construction in higher-hazard areas. Fire Marshal Trevor Smith said the city was not changing the WUI requirements at the local level and that the city would implement the state-prescribed standards for new construction in very-high and high hazard zones. "We're not amending that or changing that in any way. We're just taking the state law that they gave to us," Smith said.
The councilmember identified on the record as speaker 4 moved to adopt the ordinance and the motion was seconded. City staff conducted a roll call and the motion carried unanimously with one councilmember absent.
The ordinance will replace the prior chapter and adopt the 2025 building standards as the baseline for plan review and construction permits in Sonoma, with staff and the fire department providing guidance on implementation to property owners and builders. Staff said questions about triggers for remodels versus full replacement (for example, when roof replacement compels a class A roof) would be clarified in administrative guidance and through building-official review.
The council did not discuss any local amendments beyond those described in staff materials and instructed staff to finalize the ordinance language for publication and implementation.
