Lodi Council Adopts 2025 California Building Code Updates

The Lodi City Council voted to adopt updates to the California Building Standards Code at its Dec. 17 meeting, moving the city to the 2025 triennial edition of Title 24 and instructing staff to implement corresponding local amendments to Chapter 15 of the Lodi Municipal Code.

Chief Building Official Derek Poe, who said the California Building Standards Commission adopted the 2025 code and set Jan. 1, 2026, as the effective date, reviewed the adoption process and highlighted substantive changes. "Every three years, the California Building Standards Commission updates our building code," Poe told council, noting new provisions on lithium-ion battery storage, wildfire interface (WUI) fire protections, seismic changes and inspector certification updates now appearing in residential code.

Poe said the city’s usual adoption steps include staff review of potential local amendments, training for building staff, and an outreach program to contractors and developers. He told council that staff planned outreach materials, counter flyers and online notices to ensure the local development community is informed of changes.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about the application of the State Historic Building Code and about targeted outreach to contractors. Councilwoman Lisa Craig emphasized contractor outreach, noting local contractor and developer databases would be used to notify affected parties.

The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers; council moved to approve adoption of the 2025 building code updates and the motion passed unanimously (4–0). The adopted changes carry the statewide effective date and the city will finalize local ordinance language and public-facing training and materials as part of implementation.

City staff said they will return to council with the finalized ordinance language and an outreach schedule as they complete local amendment review and internal training.