For City Council Meeting: August 26, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Christina Taylor, Community Development Director
Title
Request City Council Conduct the Public Hearing and Introduce and first reading of Ordinance No. 1702, entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIALTO, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 15.08 OF THE RIALTO MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT BY REFERENCE THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODES OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS. TO INCLUDE: 2025 CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, 2025 WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE AND 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE WITH APPENDICES AND AMENDMENTS”, reading by title only and waiving full reading thereof.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the public hearing and Introduce the attached Ordinance amending Chapter 15.08 of the Rialto Municipal Code to codify by reference the 2025 Edition of the California Building Codes and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code with appendices and amendments.
BACKGROUND
The State of California Health and Safety Code requires local governments to adopt the most recent editions of the model codes related to construction. The California Building Codes are updated every three (3) years to implement the most recent technology and standards as it relates to building requirements for new and existing structures. These revisions also update the proper methods and procedures for best maintenance and repair practices for existing structures. The State requires that California cities adopt each revision of the California Building Code every three (3) years.
On December 13, 2022, the City adopted the 2022 Building Codes along with the adoption of the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code. These are the operative building and property maintenance codes through the end of calendar year 2025.
If approved, the attached Ordinance, included as Attachment 1, will amend Chapter 15.08 of the Rialto Municipal Code by repealing references to the prior editions of the building and property maintenance codes.
The list below identifies the codes proposed for adoption by reference with appendices and amendments upon which the 2025 Edition of the California Building Codes and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code are based:
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2025 California Administrative Code |
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2025 California Building Code |
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2025 California Residential Code |
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2025 California Electrical Code |
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2025 California Mechanical Code |
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2025 California Plumbing Code |
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2025 California Energy Code |
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2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code |
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2025 California Historical Building Code |
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2025 California Existing Building Code |
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2025 California Green Building Standards |
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2025 California Referenced Standards Code |
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2024 International Property Maintenance Code |
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The proposed Ordinance amends Chapter 15.08 of the Rialto Municipal Code to allow adoption of the 2025 California Building Codes and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. Adoption of the Ordinance will comply with the state mandate.
The City will maintain copies of the adopted codes and will make them available for public review at the Community Development Department and City Clerk’s office.
Pursuant to the California Department of General Services website, Information Bulletin 25-01, is included as Attachment 2, states that all applications for a building permit submitted on or after 1/1/26 are subject to compliance with the 2025 California Building Standards Code. The 2022 California Building Standards Code remains in effect and is applicable to all plans and specifications for, and to construction performed, where the application for a building permit is received on or before 12/31/25.
This code adoption includes new individual chapters and organizational changes to Title 15, Chapter 15.08 by repealing Chapter 15.08 in its entirety, in its place, Chapter 15.08 is added to the Rialto Municipal Code to read in full as follows:
CHAPTER 15.08 - BUILDING CODES
Chapter 15.08.010 - DEFINITIONS
Chapter 15.08.020 - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Chapter 15.08.030 - BUILDING CODE
Chapter 15.08.040 - RESIDENTIAL CODE
Chapter 15.08.050 - ELECTRICAL CODE
Chapter 15.08.060 - MECHANICAL CODE
Chapter 15.08.070 - PLUMBING CODE
Chapter 15.08.080 - ENERGY CODE
Chapter 15.08.090 - WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE
Chapter 15.08.100 - HISTORICAL CODE
Chapter 15.08.110 - EXISTING BUILDING CODE
Chapter 15.08.120 - GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
Chapter 15.08.130 - REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE
Chapter 15.08.140 - PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
Chapter 15.08.150 - PARTIAL INVALIDITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The adoption of the proposed Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act, a ‘Project’ means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. A project does not include:
• Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
The Community Development Department will file a Notice of Exemption with the Clerk of the Board of San Bernardino County in accordance with CEQA upon completion of the Ordinance.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The City of Rialto General Plan establishes various guiding principles, goals, and objectives through which the City looks to improve the community and protect the quality of life for our residents by adoption of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Codes and 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. As such, it is consistent with the following City of Rialto General Plan policies:
Guiding Principle: Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the staff report and proposed Ordinance and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
Adoption of the 2025 California Building Code Series and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code will not result in any impact to the City’s operating budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Adoption of the 2025 California Building Code Series and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code does not include any development; therefore, there are no financial costs associated with the Ordinance.
Business License
Adoption of the 2025 California Building Code Series and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code will not require a business license.