City Council Adopted 2025 California Building Code

The Bellflower City Council has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments through Ordinance No. 1449 and Urgency Ordinance No. 1450, following a public hearing on September 22, 2025. The updated building standards, which is revised every three years, will officially take effect January 1, 2026. Projects submitted before that date may still follow the 2022 Building Codes, provided that all permits are obtained by March 30, 2026. After this date, any plans not yet permitted will need to be revised to comply with the 2025 Codes. Projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026, must immediately meet the new code requirements.

The 2025 Building Codes include various updates across several areas of construction and safety. Among these are enhanced standards for solar roofing products, which encourage renewable energy integration; fire sprinkler protection requirements to improve safety in residential and commercial structures; updated regulations for Class B roofing materials to ensure higher fire resistance; more stringent requirements for outdoor heated pools and spas; and new provisions for electric-ready commercial kitchens, supporting the shift toward electrification in food service facilities. Also of note are updated automatic sprinkler system requirements for certain occupancies where battery systems and EV charging and storage systems may be located. Builders, property owners, and contractors are strongly encouraged to review the new codes now, plan accordingly, and submit projects early to avoid the potential for costly redesigns or delays. The Ordinances can be viewed here: Staff Report 11-B.