Soledad council adopts Ordinance No. 779 to update local adoption of 2025 California building code

The Soledad City Council voted unanimously Dec. 3 to adopt Ordinance No. 779, updating the city’s locally adopted building code to align with the 2025 California Building Standards (Title 24). The council approved the ordinance following a staff presentation and a brief council exchange; no members of the public spoke during the hearing.

Adriana Mora, senior planner for the City of Soledad, told the council the ordinance implements statewide updates on a three‑year cycle and focuses on fire and life safety, accessibility, seismic resilience and energy efficiency. "Homes and businesses may now be fully electric," Mora said during her staff presentation, noting the package also includes requirements for new housing to be battery‑storage ready, higher HVAC efficiency standards and updates to the wildland‑urban interface provisions.

The ordinance largely carries forward provisions Soledad has used in concert with other Monterey County jurisdictions and, per staff, proposes no new fees; permit and fee schedules continue to be set through the city’s master fee schedule. Mora added that the city will submit any local amendments to the California Building Standards Commission for review and that a severity clause preserves the ordinance if a particular local amendment is rejected by the state.

Council members asked how the new code would apply to existing homes and what resources might be available to residents seeking retrofits. Mayor Pro Tem Cabrera raised concerns about older homes built under different codes and the cost of electrical upgrades; Mora replied that the building code applies to newly permitted work and that staff could help connect residents with energy‑program partners for retrofit or incentive information.

Fire and code consultants supporting the presentation advised that much of the ordinance’s emphasis reflects statewide prioritization of fire safety after recent major wildfires and continuing efforts to increase accessibility and seismic resilience. Staff clarified there are no new city fees in the ordinance itself and reiterated that the ordinance will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, following submission to state review.

A motion to adopt Ordinance No. 779 passed by unanimous roll call. The city clerk recorded the vote and staff said they will proceed with the required state submissions and public notifications. The council thanked staff and consultants for the report and follow‑up clarifications.