Manhattan Beach adopts 2025 California Building Standards by reference

The Manhattan Beach City Council adopted ordinances on Nov. 18 to incorporate the 2025 editions of the California Building Standards (including the Building, Residential, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Existing Building, Green Building and Energy codes) into the municipal code with locally carried-forward amendments intended to address region-specific climatic and seismic conditions.

Ryan Heis, the city’s building official, explained the triennial code-adoption requirement and summarized key local carry-forward amendments, such as continued undergrounding requirements, limiting permit timeframes and clarifying sprinkler requirements. Heis also summarized Assembly Bill 130, passed this year, which limits new local residential code amendments in most cases and preserves local amendments adopted before Sept. 30, 2025.

The council voted to adopt the ordinances and related resolutions, including the Fire Code adoption. City staff said the changes are largely clarifications and carry forward prior local amendments intended to reflect local geological and safety conditions.

Outcome: Ordinances adopting the 2025 California Building and Fire Codes were adopted; the council directed staff to proceed with implementation and reiterated that earlier local amendments remain and will be preserved where allowed by state law.

Speakers quoted: “Cities can amend the standards codes due to climatic, geological, or topographical justifications,” Building Official Ryan Heis said.

What’s next: The city will implement the adopted 2025 code cycle and monitor AB130’s implications for any future local amendments to residential code provisions.

Provenance: staff presentation and council votes in the public hearing recorded Nov. 18.