DATE: November 5, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 6 AND 11 OF THE OCEANSIDE CITY CODE TO REFLECT ADOPTION OF THE 2025 EDITIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE INCLUDING LOCAL AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTION OF EXPRESS FINDINGS SUPPORTING LOCAL AMENDMENTS
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Articles l, Il, Ill, IV, VI, XII, XIll, XVI and Chapter 11, Article Il, of the Oceanside City Code (“City Code”) to reflect adoption of the 2025 editions of the California Building Standards Code (CBSC) including local amendments and adopt a resolution of express findings supporting the local amendments.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The CBSCs are published every three years by the Building Standards Commission. On December 18, 2022, the City Council adopted an Ordinance amending Chapters 6 and 11 of the City Code and adopting the 2022 edition of the California Fire Code and the 2022 Edition of the CBSC: Building, Fire, Residential, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Energy and Green Building Codes and the 2021 Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Code. A new version, the 2025 CBSC, is mandated for use statewide starting January 1, 2026, and will be applicable for the next three years, through December 31, 2028.
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the 2025 editions of the CBSC and local amendments thereto by introducing the attached ordinance (Attachment 1) and adopting the resolution of express findings supporting the local amendments (Attachment 2). A red-lined version of the proposed changes to Chapters 6 and 11 of the City Code is provided for reference (Attachment 3). By adopting the 2025 editions of the CBSC, the City will be compliant with state law and consistent with other cities and counties throughout California.
Adoption of the 2025 editions of the CBSC also provides the City with the ability to enact certain local amendments. As the most common section for local amendments, the CBSC administrative provisions establish enforcement responsibilities for each of the codes, permit and plan check expiration timeframes, items exempt from permits, and various other similar matters necessary for effective and efficient use and application of the CBSC within the City of Oceanside.
The proposed local amendments to the technical regulations are specifically listed by code and section number in the attached resolution of express findings. In order to legally amend the technical regulations, the City must comply with California Health and Safety Code section 18941.5(b), which allows cities and counties to establish more restrictive building standards than those contained in the CBSC, if the amendment is “reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions.” This provision prevents local reductions in the requirements of the technical regulations and creates a process whereby more restrictive technical regulations must be documented and based specifically upon local climatic, geological, or topographical needs.
The Building Division as part of the Development Services Department has coordinated with multiple disciplines, including Engineering, Code Enforcement, and Fire, to prepare modifications to the 2025 CBSC. Staffs’ approach was straightforward, including incorporating updates and eliminating minor editorial errors discovered from the last code cycle. For example, the number of required participants for a Construction Interpretation Appeals Board did not match in the Resolution and corresponding Ordinance. A COVID-19 era extension of time to start a project from permit issuance was addressed. The Fire Code was heavily modified and reflects most of the Building Standards adopted in this code cycle.
Staff is proposing the following modifications to the 2025 CBSC:
• Amend Section 105.5.1 Permit Expiration: Work must commence within one year of permit issuance or the project will be considered abandoned, and the permit will expire. This would replace the three-year standard that was established during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Correct an error in the City’s 2022 Code adaptation, which inadvertently misstated the number of participants required for a Construction Appeals Board. As such, staff proposes to correct the size of the Construction Interpretation Appeals Board to five persons, with a minimum of three present for the Appeal Board Quorum.
• Establish an authority to require a fire protection plan for development within the newly modified Wildland Urban Fire Area. When required, the plan shall address the means with which compliance with applicable codes and regulations are obtained.
• Include new portion within Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations; Part 7, 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
• Modify Section 503.2.9 Secondary Access: Unless otherwise approved by the fire code official, new developments shall provide secondary access for the following:
a. Single-family developments in the Very High Fire Severity Zone, as determined by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), shall have a secondary access with 30 or more homes or units. All other single-family developments require secondary access with 50 or more homes or units.
b. Multiple-family residential developments in the Very High Fire Severity Zone, as determined by CALFIRE, require secondary access with 30 or more units. All other multiple-family developments require secondary access with over 100 units.
c. Commercial or industrial developments require secondary access when the buildings or facilities have a gross building area of more than 100,000 square feet.
d. Where two fire apparatus access roads are required, the location of each access road shall be approved by the Fire Department.
• Section 506 of the California Fire Code, Key Boxes.
• Section 507.5.1.2 Location, Type, and Number. For new development, the location, type, and number of fire hydrants shall comply with Appendix B and Appendix C or meet the following, whichever is more restrictive:
a. Single-family dwellings: Maximum spacing from one hydrant to another shall be a maximum of 500 feet.
b. Multiple family, commercial, or industrial buildings: Maximum spacing from one hydrant to another shall be a maximum of 400 feet.
• Section 510, Emergency Responder Communications Enhancements Systems.
• Section 903.3.1.5 Sprinkler Location. An exterior fire sprinkler shall be installed on covered exterior balconies and patios of new multi-family dwellings, including townhomes and condominiums.
In summary, the proposed changes to the City Code address the state-mandated triennial code update, which recognizes new construction methods and technologies and also provides minimum standards for safe and sanitary construction. Proposed modifications that are not mandated by the state are designed to improve the safety and quality of the City’s development process.
FISCAL IMPACT
Does not apply.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
end
Prepared by: Tim Kersch, Chief Building Official
Reviewed by: Darlene Nicandro, Development Service Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Ordinance
3. Resolution