San Juan Capistrano adopts 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments

The San Juan Capistrano City Council on Feb. 17 adopted an ordinance incorporating the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code and related statewide model codes with local amendments.

Joel Rojas, the city's Development Services Director, told the council the 2025 code updates are required and that staff recommended adopting them through the non-urgency ordinance process. Rojas highlighted notable local refinements: updated fire hazard severity zone maps and associated vegetation-management guidelines; application of the new California Wildland-Urban Interface Code with structure-hardening requirements in higher-hazard areas; exemptions for many minor structures (tents, flagpoles, etc.); clarification of submittal requirements; a revised appeals process that will allow determinations by a person with code expertise appointed by the city manager; grading that involves less than 50 cubic yards is now exempt from grading permits; and plant-check approvals now expire after one year of inactivity.

"The state updates the code every three years," Rojas said, adding that staff had already adopted the code by urgency ordinance in December and that tonight's action completes the standard adoption process. He told the council the item is "exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act."

Council member Warren moved to approve the staff recommendation, Mayor Pro Tem Taylor seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The ordinance adopts by reference multiple 2025 California codes, including the California Building Code (Title 24), the California Fire Code, California Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing codes, the California Energy Code, the Wildland-Urban Interface Code and the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, along with specified local additions and deletions and adoption of the Orange County grading and excavation code with local changes.