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Nevada City adopts updated 2025 California building standards with local amendments
Summary
On Jan. 28, 2026, Nevada City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2026-01, updating local code to incorporate the 2025 California Building Standard Codes with local amendments; council members stressed the need to pair the changes with affordability and historic-preservation supports.
Nevada City on Wednesday adopted Ordinance 2026-01, updating chapters 15.04 and 15.08 of the municipal code to align local rules with the 2025 California Building Standard Codes and related local amendments. The second reading and adoption passed by roll-call vote.
Council members and staff said the update is a required, triennial housekeeping step to keep local building and fire safety standards in step with state requirements. City staff presented the ordinance in its second reading and asked the council to adopt the code revisions that are updated every three years.
Council member Daniela Fernandez acknowledged the safety benefits of adopting modern building and fire codes but warned the council to consider affordability and preservation impacts. "A safer, greener, better regulated Nevada City that only the already resourced can inhabit is not a success for me," Fernandez said, urging fee waivers, phased compliance and historic-home alternatives to ease costs for residents and small businesses.
A member of the public with technical experience, Scott Whan, reinforced Fernandez’s view and encouraged council to exercise local authority where appropriate in mechanical, electrical and residential code choices while noting legal limits and past litigation elsewhere.
After closing the public hearing, Council Member Daniela Fernandez moved to read the ordinance by title only and adopt Ordinance 2026-01; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote. Council members voting "yes" were Gary Peterson, Daniela Fernandez and Mayor Klein.
The ordinance takes effect as specified in the municipal code; staff will implement the local amendments and continue to refine programs that reduce housing and construction cost impacts, including exploring fee waivers, historic compliance alternatives and phased compliance options.
The council then moved to the next agenda item.
