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La Habra Heights council introduces 2025 Building and Fire Code updates, schedules Nov. 10 public hearing
Summary
Council introduced ordinances to adopt the 2025 California Building and Fire Codes, including updated Wildland-Urban Interface provisions, battery-storage siting rules and new residential requirements; council requested a workshop to explain CalFire map changes and home-hardening implications.
La Habra Heights City Council on Oct. 13 voted to introduce ordinances to adopt the 2025 editions of the California Building Standards Code and California Fire Code, setting Nov. 10, 2025 for the second reading and public hearing. Staff said the updates largely reflect state changes rolled down to the local level and noted specific provisions that could affect local homeowners.
Scott Physique, the city’s building official, told the council the code cycle is on a three-year schedule and that adoptions would take effect 30 days after the second reading, making most provisions effective Jan. 1, 2026. He highlighted consolidation of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) provisions into the building code, new residential R337 exterior fire-exposure rules for new construction, allowances for sleeping loft clearances, updated guidance for building-integrated photovoltaics, and expanded requirements for battery-energy-storage systems to keep them away from openable windows and vents unless sprinklers are provided.
“Those are the big things — WUI consolidation, battery energy storage siting, and some residential clarifications,” Physique said. Chief Martin and other council members emphasized that La Habra Heights has long applied home-hardening standards across the city and urged an explanatory workshop to address resident concerns about recent CalFire map changes and insurance implications. Chief Martin said a future presentation would aim to clarify the science and regulatory effects so residents understand why the city applies protective measures.
Councilmembers unanimously moved to introduce Ordinance 2025-04 (building code) and Ordinance 2025-05 (fire code) for first reading, with the second readings scheduled for Nov. 10. The council asked staff to schedule a workshop—targeted for spring—to review map designations, home-hardening requirements, and insurance impacts.
The actions do not change state-mandated elements but allow the city to adopt local amendments based on topography and other local conditions. Staff said additional local modifications will be explained during the second-reading process and the planned community workshop.
