HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2025-44 - Amendments to 2025 California Building, Residential and Fire CodeRESOLUTION N0. 2025-44
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS OF LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL,
AND TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS SUPPORTING LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO
THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE,
THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, AND THE 2025 WILDLAND-URBAN
INTERFACE CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA HEREBY FINDS AND
DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that local
cities shall adopt ordinances and regulations imposing the same requirements, or
modified or changed requirements, as are contained in the regulations adopted by the
State pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 1 7922; and
WHEREAS, the State of California is mandated by California Health and Safety
Code Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most
recent edition of the California Building Codes; and
WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section I 7958.5(a) permits the City
to make modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because
of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the
City Council, before making any modifications or changes to the Codes, shall make an
express finding that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of
local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Economic and Development Services & Fire Departments have
recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and have advised
that certain said changes and modifications to the 2025 Edition of the California Building
Code, the California Residential Code, the California Fire Code, and the California
Wildland-Urban Interface Code are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the
City of Costa Mesa and have further advised that the remainder of said changes and
modifications are of an administrative or procedural nature, addressing subjects not
covered by the Codes or are reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within
the City of Costa Mesa.
Resolution No. 2025-44 Page 1 of 5
WHEREAS, amendments related to life and fire safety contained in Table 1505.1,
Sections 1505.1.2 & 1807.1.6, of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code, and
Table R301.2, Sections R902.1, R902.11, R902.1.2, R902.2 of the 2025 Edition of the
California Residential Code, and amendments to the following chapters: 1, 3, 5, 9,11, 12,
31, 56, 57, 58, and 80 of the 2025 California Fire Code, as recommended by the Building
Division and the Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction Division, are hereby
found to be reasonably necessary due to local climatic, geological, and topographical
conditions
A. Climatic Conditions
1. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common to all areas within the City of Costa Mesa
and Orange County in general. These winds, which can cause small fires which spread
quickly, are a contributing factor to the high fire danger in the area and create the need
for an increased level of fire protection. This added protection will supplement normal Fire
Department response and provide protection for life and safety of multiple occupants
during fires.
2. Orange County and the City of Costa Mesa are in a semi-arid Mediterranean
type of climate which predisposes all fuels, including wood shingles, to the rapid ignition
and spread of fire. Therefore, there exists a need for additional fire protection measures.
B. Geographic Conditions
1. Orange County and the City of Costa Mesa are in a high seismically active area.
There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern and southwestern
boundaries of Orange County. The Newport-lnglewood Fault Zone (NIFZ) which runs
through Orange County was the source of the destructive 1933 Long Beach earthquake
(6.3 magnitude, hypocenter off Newport Beach coast), which took 120 lives, with areas
damaged from Laguna Beach to Marina del Rey and inland to Whittier. The NIFZ currently
poses one of the greatest hazards to lives and property in the nation. Regional planning
for reoccurrence is recommended by the State of California, Department of Conservation.
There was also an earthquake in December 1989, with the epicenter located near the
City oflrvine. The fault upon which this quake occurred was unknown prior to this activity.
The October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake resulted in only one major San Francisco
fire in the Marina district, but when combined with the 34 other fires and over 500
Resolution No. 2025-44 Page 2 of 5
responses required, the local Fire department was taxed to its full capabilities. The Marina
fire was difficult to contain because water mains supplying water to the district burst during
the earthquake. If more fires had been ignited by the earthquake, it would have been
difficult for the fire department to contain them. Experts predict a major earthquake in the
Orange County area within the next 50 years. This situation creates the need for both
additional fire protection measures and automatic on-site fire protection for building
occupants since a multitude of fires may result from breakage of gas and electric lines as
a result of an earthquake. As noted by "Planning Scenario on a Major Earthquake on the
Newport-lnglewood Fault Zone, 1988, State Department of Conservation, page 59,
"unfortunately, barely meeting the minimum earthquake standards of building codes
places a building on the verge of being legally unsafe";
2. Peak hour traffic and circulation congestion in the City of Costa Mesa contribute
to potential response delays in the Fire & Rescue Department's travel time to fire and
rescue emergency occurrences. This condition will be exacerbated by any major
emergency, including a natural or manmade disaster, wherein damage to the City's critical
infrastructure or the highway system's under and overpasses may create impenetrable
barriers. Additionally, responding to existing outlying areas and future development sites
will likely be delayed. This condition makes the need for additional on-site protection of
property and occupants necessary.
3. Untreated wood roofs cause or contribute to serious fire hazard and to the rapid
spread of fires when such fires are accompanied by high winds. Pieces of burning wooden
roofs become flying brands and are carried by the wind to other locations and thereby
spread fire quickly. Past Grand Jury Report findings support this concern.
Code Section Findinqs in Section I
Chap 1, Div II Administrative
Table 1505.1 (CBC)A-1 , 2, B-1 , 2, 3
1505.1.2 (CBC)A-1 , 2, B-I , 2, 3
1807.1 .6 (CBC)B-1
Resolution No. 2025-44 Page 3 of 5
Table R301.2 (CRC)Administrative
R902.1 (CRC)
R902.1.1 (CRC)
R902.1 .2 (CRC)
R902.2 (CRC)
A-1 , 2, B-1 , 2, 3
A-I , 2, B-1 , 2, 3
A-I , 2, B-1 , 2, 3
A-I , 2, B-1 , 2, 3
Amended
Chapter
CFC Chapter 1
CFC Chapter 3
CFC Chapter 5
CFC Chapter 9
CFC Chapter 11
CFC Chapter 12
CFC Chapter 31
CFC Chapter 56
CFC Chapter 57
CFC Chapter 58
CFC Cha ter 80
App cab e F ndmgs
Admm A I A 2 B I B-2 B-3
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA
HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council hereby approves Resolution No. 2025-44.
Section 2. The City Council hereby authorizes the Building Official, or the City
Manager's designee, to file copies of Resolution No. 2025-44 and Ordinance No. 2025-
08 with the California Building Standards Commission and Department of Housing and
Community Development as required by Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7.
Resolution No. 2025-44 Page 4 of 5
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4'h day of November, 2025.
{{kr; Stephens, Mayor
ATTEST:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE )
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Ki berly Hal
1, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY
that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 2025-44 and was duly
passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting
held on the 4kh day of November, 2025, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES:COUNCIL MEMBERS: BULEY, GAMEROS, MARR, PETTIS, REYNOLDS,
CHAVEZ, AND STEPHENS.
NOES:COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE.
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 5'h day of November 2025.
m'Rh CLERK
Resolution No. 2025-44 Page 5 of 5