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Downey adopts 2025 state building and fire codes with local amendments
Summary
The council unanimously approved urgency ordinances to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and aligned local amendments to avoid enforcement gaps, with companion regular ordinances set for a Jan. 27 public hearing.
The Downey City Council on Jan. 13 unanimously adopted four urgency ordinances and introduced five companion regular ordinances to align local rules with the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Staff said immediate local adoption was necessary to avoid gaps between state standards, which became effective statewide on Jan. 1, 2026, and local enforcement.
Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Dan Rasmussen told the council the 2025 code cycle updates standards for structural loads, fire resistance, wildfire-resistant construction and energy provisions, and that local amendments were retained where reasonably necessary to reflect Downey's climatic, topographic and geologic conditions. "The actions before you tonight will align Downey with the 2025 State Building and fire codes," Rasmussen said during his presentation.
Why it matters: Adopting the 2025 codes grants local enforcement clarity and updates requirements for life-safety systems, energy efficiency and EV-ready provisions for new construction. Staff said most local amendments are substantively equivalent to prior council decisions and the adoption package reorganizes local amendments to improve usability for residents, contractors and design professionals.
Council action and next steps: The council adopted the urgency ordinances to make the local adoption effective immediately and introduced additional regular ordinances that will return for a noticed public hearing on Jan. 27, 2026. Staff said the regular ordinance process will provide another opportunity for community input and that the local amendments were drafted to remain consistent with recent state limitations on local modifications.
Public comment: There were no speakers at the urgency-ordinance hearing; staff emphasized that public outreach and a subsequent hearing are part of the adoption process.
