HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 16-25 AMENDING TITLE 15 AND ADOPTING AND AMENDING THE 2025 CA BUILDING STANDARDS CODEORDINANCE NO. 16-25
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE AMENDING TITLE 15 OF THE
ORANGE MUNICIPAL CODE ADOPTING AND
AMENDING THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODES AND
RELATED MODEL CODES, WITH APPENDICES,
RELATING TO THE BUILDING CODES
WHEREAS,the State of California adopted new Building Codes in January of 2025; and
WHEREAS, these codes are commonly known as the California Building Standards
Codes, and published in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations; and
WHEREAS, the California Health and Safety Code requires local governments to adopt
the most recent editions of the model codes related to construction; and
WHEREAS, State law provides that the model codes may be amended by local
governments with respect to local conditions, so long as those changes are not less stringent than
the State's minimum requirements; and
WHEREAS,by separate Resolution,the City Council of the City of Orange has made an
express finding that changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic,
geographic or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, local governments must update their building codes by adopting and
amending the State Codes to become effective by January 1, 2026.
NOW,THEREFORE,the City Council of the City of Orange does ordain as follows:
SECTION I:
Section 15.04.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Building Code — California Construction Codes Adopted by Reference," is hereby
amended to read as follows:
15.04.010 California Construction Codes Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for erecting, construction, enlargement, alteration,
repair, improving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, equipment use, height, and area
of buildings and structures,the following construction codes subject to the Orange Municipal Code
and modifications set forth in this chapter, including errata and supplements hereafter, are hereby
adopted: the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, based on the 2024 International Building
Code as published by the International Code Council, including Chapter 1, Division II and
Appendices C, F- J, P, and Q; the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, based on the 2024
International Residential Code, including Appendices BB, BF, CI, and CJ; the California Green
Building Standards Code, including Appendices A4,A5,A5.1,A5.2,A5.3,A5.4,A5.5, and A5.6,
2025 Edition; the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition,based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing
Code as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials,
including Appendices A,B,D,H,I,J,and R;the California Mechanical Code,2025 Edition,based
on the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code as published by the International Association of Plumbing
and Mechanical Officials, including Appendices B and C; the California Electrical Code, 2025
Edition, based on the 2023 National Electrical Code as published by the National Fire Protection
Association,including Annexes A-D;the International Property Maintenance Code,2024 Edition,
as published by the International Code Council; the Uniform Code For The Abatement of
Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Edition, as published by the International Code Council.
The provisions of these Construction Codes as amended by this chapter shall constitute the
Building Regulations of the City of Orange. Where the California Code of Regulations and State
Building Standards Code of Regulations differ from any sections of the Construction Codes, state
regulations shall prevail over the Construction Codes.
One copy of all the above codes and standards therefor are on file in the office of the Building
Official pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 18942(e)(1)and are made available for public
inspection.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the above-referenced construction codes, all fees for services
provided pursuant to the construction codes shall not take effect until a resolution for such fees is
adopted by the City Council pursuant to California Government Code Section 66016.
SECTION II:
Section 15.04.015 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Building Code — Amendments to the 2022 California Building Code", is hereby
amended to read as follows, with remaining sections unchanged:
15.04.015 Amendments to the 2025 California Building Code.
103.1 Creation of Enforcement Agency. The Building and Safety Services Division is hereby
created and the official in charge thereof shall be known as the building official. The function of
the agency shall be the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the provisions of the
code.
Section 3109.2 is revised to read as follows, with all definitions remaining unchanged:
3109.2 Construction permit; safety features required. New or remodel pools or spas, at a
private single-family home, shall have an enclosure complying with the amended California
Residential Code Appendix CI. Pool barriers which are already in the Code are scoped so as to
apply on all private swimming pools.
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SECTION III:
Section 15.04.060 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Building Code — California Building Code (CBC) Appendix," is hereby amended to
read as follows:
15.04.060 California Building Code (CBC) Appendix.
The City Council adopts by reference the following Appendices of the CBC Appendix, 2025
Edition and said Appendices are adopted in total as the law of the City except as provided for this
chapter.
Appendix C (Group U- Agricultural Buildings), Appendix F (Rodent Proofing), Appendix G
Flood-Resistant Construction), Appendix H (Signs), Appendix I (Patio Covers), Appendix J
Grading), Appendix P (Sleeping Lofts), and Appendix Q (Emergency Housing)
SECTION IV:
Section 15.05.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Residential Code — California Residential Code Adopted by Reference," is hereby
amended to read as follows:
15.05.010 California Residential Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for erecting, construction, enlargement, alteration,
repair, improving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, equipment use, height, and area
of residential buildings and structures,the following construction code subject to the modifications
set forth in this chapter, is hereby adopted: the California Residential Code, including Appendix
BB (Tiny Houses), BF (Patio Covers), Appendix CI (Swimming Pool Safety Act), and Appendix
CJ (Emergency Housing), 2025 Edition, based on the 2024 International Residential Code as
published by the International Code Council, including Division II in Chapter 1.
SECTION V:
The title of Section 15.05.015 of the Orange Municipal Code,"Buildings and Construction
California Residential Code—Amendments to the 2022 California Residential Code,"is hereby
amended to read as follows,with the remaining sections unchanged:
15.05.015 Amendments to the 2025 California Residential Code.
SECTION VI:
Section 15.05.015 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Residential Code—Amendments to the 2022 California Residential Code," Appendix
AX is hereby amended to read as follows:
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Appendix CI, Section CI100 is revised to read as follows:
a) Except as provided in Section CI100, when a building permit is issued for the
construction of a new swimming pool or spa or the remodeling of an existing
swimming pool or spa at a private single-family home,the respective swimming pool
or spa shall be equipped with item #1 below AND at least one additional following
seven drowning prevention features:
1. An enclosure that meets the requirements of CI100 and isolates the swimming
pool and spa from the private single-family home. Any walls of the residential
structure or accessory structures used to complete the isolation enclosure must have
door openings equipped with protection as required in CI100. Any such door
protection device provided for this purpose may not be used to comply with the second
drowning prevention feature requirement.
SECTION VII:
Section 15.12.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Mechanical Code — California Mechanical Code Adopted by Reference," is hereby
amended to read as follows:
15.12.010 California Mechanical Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for mechanical equipment design, construction,
installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating,
cooling, refrigeration systems, incinerators, and other miscellaneous heat producing appliances
within the city the following construction code subject to the modifications set forth in this chapter,
is hereby adopted: the California Plumbing Code, 2025 Edition, based on the 2024 Uniform
Plumbing Code as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials.
SECTION VIII:
Section 15.16.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Plumbing Code — California Plumbing Code Adopted by Reference," is hereby
amended to read as follows:
15.16.010 California Plumbing Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for plumbing equipment construction,alteration,repair,
improving, conversion and demolition, the following construction code, subject to the
modifications set forth in this chapter, is hereby adopted: the California Plumbing Code, 2025
Edition,based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code as published by the International Association
of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.
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SECTION IX:
Section 15.17.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Green Building Code — California Green Building Standards Code Adopted by
Reference,"is hereby amended to read as follows:
15.17.010 California Green Building Standards Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for green building erecting, construction, alteration,
repair, improving, conversion and demolition, the following construction code subject to the
modifications set forth in this chapter,is hereby adopted: the California Green Building Standards
Code (CALGREEN), 2025 Edition, as published by the California Building Standards
Commission.
SECTION X:
The title of Section 15.17.015 of the Orange Municipal Code,"Buildings and Construction
California Green Building Code—Amendments to the 2022 California Green Building Standards
Code,"is hereby amended to read as follows:
15.17.015 Amendments to the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code.
SECTION XI:
Section 15.24.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Electrical Code—California Electric Code Adopted by Reference,"is hereby amended
to read as follows,with the remaining sections unchanged:
15.24.010 California Electrical Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for electrical equipment construction, alteration,repair,
improving, conversion and demolition, the following construction code, subject to the
modifications set forth in this chapter, is hereby adopted: the California Electrical Code, 2025
Edition, based on the 2023 National Electrical Code as published by the National Fire Protection
Association.
SECTION XII:
Section 15.52.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Building Security Standards—Scope,"
is hereby amended to include Section 15.52.010(E) as follows:
E. The provisions of Chapter 15.52 shall apply to all activities for which a building permit is
required, without limitation as to occupancy classification. Accordingly, the enforcing
agency expressly reserves the authority to impose and enforce the residential building
security requirements set forth in Section 15.52.080 upon commercial projects and to
impose and enforce the non-residential building security requirements set forth in Section
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15.52.090 upon residential projects. Such enforcement is necessary and proper to ensure
uniform application of building security standards, to promote public safety, and to
effectuate the intent of this Chapter.
SECTION XIII:
Section 15.53.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Existing Building Code— California Existing Building Code Adopted by Reference."
is hereby amended to read as follows:
15.53.010 California Existing Building Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for existing building seismic strengthening, the
following construction code, subject to the modifications set forth in this Chapter, is hereby
adopted: the California Existing Building Code, 2025 Edition, based on the 2024 International
Existing Building Code.
SECTION XIV:
Section 15.54.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Energy Code—California Energy Code Adopted by Reference,"is hereby amended to
read as follows:
15.54.010 California Energy Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for building energy compliance, the following
construction code, subject to the modifications set forth in this Chapter, is hereby adopted: the
California Energy Code, 2025 Edition, as published by the California Energy Commission.
SECTION XV:
Section 15.55.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
International Property Maintenance Code—International Property Maintenance Code Adopted by
Reference,"is hereby amended to read as follows, with the remaining sections unchanged:
15.55.010 International Property Maintenance Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for building maintenance the following construction
code subject to the modifications set forth in this chapter, is hereby adopted: the International
Property Maintenance Code, 2024 Edition, as published by the International Code Council.
SECTION XVI:
Section 15.57.010 of the Orange Municipal Code, "Buildings and Construction —
California Historic Building Code—California Historic Building Code Adopted by Reference,"is
revised to read as follows:
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15.57.010 California Historic Building Code Adopted by Reference.
For the purpose of prescribing regulations for historic building regulations, the following
construction code is hereby adopted: the California Historic Building Code, 2025 Edition, as
published by the California Building Standards Commission.
SECTION XVII:
If any section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for
any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance, and each section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase thereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one(or more) section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase had been declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION XVIII:
The City Clerk is hereby directed to certify the adoption of this Ordinance and cause the
same to be published as required by law. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days from
and after the date of its final passage.
ADOPTED this 12th day of November, 2025.
Daniel R. Slater, Mayor, City of Orange
ATTEST:
Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CS)660
Nathalie Adourian, City ey, City of Orange
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE )
CITY OF ORANGE
I, PAMELA COLEMAN, City Clerk of the City of Orange, California, do hereby certify
that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced at the regular meeting of the City Council held on the
14th day of October, 2025, and thereafter at the regular meeting of said City Council duly held on
the 12th day of November, 2025, was duly passed and adopted by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bilodeau, Barrios, Dumitru, Tavoularis, Gutierrez, Slater
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Gyllenhammer
Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
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