TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Doug Strosnider, Fire Marshal
PREPARED BY: Elizabeth Ellis, Administrative Assistant
SUBJECT:
title
First Reading of the 2025 Fire Code and the California Wildland Urban Interface Code
end
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Introduce and conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 626-25 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, Adopting the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, Based on the 2024 International Fire Code Including Local Amendments and Additions;
Introduce and conduct the first reading of Ordinance No. 627-25 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council, Adopting the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Based on the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Including Local Amendments and Additions; and
Schedule a public hearing to conduct the second reading of Ordinance Nos. 626-25 and 627-25 for the November 18, 2025 City Council Meeting.
body
PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On November 15, 2022, the City Council conducted the first reading of Ordinance No. 584-22 adopting the California Fire Code 2022 Edition (Vote: 4-0-1).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
Provide a high level of innovative public safety.
BACKGROUND
The California Building Standards Code is published every three years and amends the California Code of Regulations Title 24. These Codes are commonly referred to as Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Green and Energy Codes. The 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, Part 9 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations automatically becomes effective statewide on January 1, 2026. State law permits local jurisdictions to make modifications, referred to as “local amendments”, that may be more, but in no event less, restrictive than the requirements adopted by the State. To incorporate local amendments, jurisdictions must make findings that the local amendments are reasonably necessary due to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions.
Pursuant to AB 130, which became effective June 30, 2025, a six-year moratorium on local amendments prohibits cities and counties from making changes that are applicable to residential units. This excludes changes or modifications that are substantially equivalent to changes or modifications that were previously filed and effective prior to September 30, 2025.
At the City Council’s meeting on November 4, 2025, Murrieta Fire and Rescue (MFR) is recommending that the City Council adopt the 2025 California Fire Code, along with the local amendments. These local amendments consist of the re-adoption of regulations previously approved and effective January 1, 2023, together with new modifications pertaining to the following topics:
• Amendments to clarify code language, section numbers and verbiage to meet minimum code and standard requirements;
• Definitions;
• Amending the standards for outdoor fireplaces and similar devices;
• Amending the code regarding the MFR’s migration to the enhanced radio communication system to align with Public Safety Enterprise Communication (PSEC) requirements; and
• Amending fire water flow requirements for projects located in High or Very High Fire Severity Zones.
MFR also recommends adoption of the newly established 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface code, comprised of Chapter 49 of the 2022 California Fire Code, and Chapter 7A of the 2022 California Building Code. This code will designate fire safety regulations for properties located in the High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as determined by the State of California. The severity zones are reflected in maps adopted by the City Council, which became effective on July 4, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the 2025 Fire Code and the California Wildland Urban Interface Code with the proposed local amendments has no fiscal impact on the City, as permit and plan check fees are collected to cover the cost of review and inspections of applicable projects.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance No. 626-25
2. Ordinance No. 627-25