TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Doug Stronsnider, Fire Marshal
PREPARED BY: Elizabeth Ellis, Administrative Assistant
SUBJECT:
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Second Reading of the 2025 Fire Code and California Wildland Urban Interface Code
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RECOMMENDATION
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Conduct a Public Hearing;
Conduct the second reading and approve 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; and
Conduct the second reading and approve 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.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On November 4, 2025, the City Council introduced and conducted the first reading of Ordinance Nos. 626-25 and 627-25 to accept the 2025 California Fire Code and CWUI Code as it was presented with the local amendments, additions, and deletions.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Maintain a high performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability and organizational efficiency.
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 that 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. The exclusion applies to 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 recommended 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 fire department’s migration to the enhanced radio communication system to align with PSEC requirements; and
• Amending fire flow requirements for projects located in High or Very High Fire Severity Zones.
Murrieta Fire and Rescue 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
The 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 it collects permit and plan check fees.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Ordinance No. 626-25
2. Proposed Ordinance No. 627-25