For City Council Meeting October 14, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Christopher P. Jensen, Acting Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to Set a Public Hearing for October 28, 2025, to Consider the Adoption of an Ordinance to Adopt by Reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code and Certain Appendices, Amendments, Deletions, and Additions, and Amending Chapter 15.28 of the Rialto Municipal Code.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council Set a Public Hearing on October 28, 2025, to consider the Adoption of an Ordinance to adopt by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code and Certain Appendices, Amendments, Deletions, and Additions, and amending Chapter 15.28 of the Rialto Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND
This is the routine triannual update of the California Fire Code. The proposed Ordinance adopts by reference the latest version of the California Code of Regulations Title 24 Part 9, California Fire Code: specifically, the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments and certain appendices. State law mandates that the California Fire Code become effective statewide on January 1, 2026, with or without local amendments. The public hearing is scheduled for the first reading of the Ordinance at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council, which is scheduled for October 28, 2025, introducing and holding a public hearing to consider adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code by reference per Government Code Sections 50022.1 through 50022.11.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
California Code of Regulations Title 24 Part 9, the California Fire Code, is published on a three-year cycle. The California Building Standards Commission publishes the triannual code, and State law mandates that this code become effective throughout California 180 days after the publication date, which occurred on July 1, 2025. This is done to foster uniformity in fire prevention and construction standards statewide. Local jurisdictions are permitted to amend the published codes based on local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The proposed ordinance contains local amendments, deletions, and additions that have been carried over from previous years. An update to the City Municipal Code Chapter 15.28 contains amendments that reflect the amendments, deletions, and additions to code sections of the California Fire Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed actions do not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(b), a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The proposed adoption is consistent with the following goals of the 2010 Rialto General Plan:
Goal 5-3: Increase the City’s fire protection capabilities and implement fire prevention regulations and standards that minimize potential fire hazards and fire losses.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
The adoption of the California Fire Code has no impact on the City’s General Fund.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Approval of this action does not require a Business License application and payment of a Business License tax.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Notice of Public Hearing