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La Habra Heights adopts 2025 California building and fire codes; council hears ADU, addressing and hazard‑zone concerns
Summary
Council adopted ordinances updating the city’s building and fire codes to the 2025 California standards. Public comments urged adding ADU/JADU-specific requirements and questioned whether the entire city should be designated a very‑high fire hazard severity zone; council asked staff for a future study on zone designation.
The council held public hearings and adopted two ordinances updating La Habra Heights’ local regulations to match the 2025 California Building and Fire Codes.
Rafferty Wolfridge, representing community development, briefed the council on the regular three‑year code adoption cycle and recommended adoption of Ordinance 2025‑04 (2025 California Building Standards with local amendments) and Ordinance 2025‑05 (2025 California Fire Code with local amendments).
Stephen Blagdon again urged more explicit ADU and JADU provisions be added to the building and fire code adoptions, including setback clarifications and minimum fire flow requirements for increased density; he also urged caution before designating the entire city as a very‑high fire hazard severity zone, saying blanket designation could impose unnecessary burdens in some areas.
Council discussed address‑identification language in the fire code (to help emergency response) and asked staff, the city attorney and the fire chief to prepare a report about pros and cons of dividing the city into different hazard zones rather than a single designation.
Council moved and adopted both ordinances on second reading; votes were recorded in the affirmative. The adoptions update local rules to the 2025 state standards while incorporating the city’s amendments and findings.
What happens next: the ordinances take effect according to their stated adoption schedules and the city will follow up with staff reports on whether to pursue a refined hazard‑zone designation and on possible ADU code amendments raised in public comment.
