REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action on Adoption of a Resolution Establishing the Necessary Findings of Fact for Modifications to the California Energy Code and California Green Building Standards Code; Action to Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2081 amending Chapter 15.05 ("Administrative Code"), Chapter 15.15 (“Building Code”), Chapter 15.17 (“Residential Code”), Chapter 15.18 ("Property Maintenance Code"), Chapter 15.20 (“Electrical Code”), Chapter 15.30 (“Mechanical Code”), Chapter 15.35 (“Plumbing Code”), Chapter 15.36 (“Energy Code”), Chapter 15.37 (“Historical Building Code”), Chapter 15.38 (“Green Building Code”), and Chapter 15.75 ("Existing Building Code") of Title 15 (“Buildings and Construction”) of “The Code of the City of Santa Clara, California” for the adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
Report
BACKGROUND
At the October 21, 2025 Council meeting, proposed Ordinance No. 2081 was passed for the purpose of publication. Pursuant to City Charter Sections 808 and 812 and Government Code Section 50022.3, a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2081 was published in the Santa Clara Weekly on October 22, 2025 and October 29, 2025, and copies were posted in three public places.
DISCUSSION
Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code, governs the design and construction of buildings, facilities and associated equipment throughout California. The California Building Standards Commission updates the Building Standards Code on a triennial basis to improve safety, sustainability, and resiliency, and to incorporate new technology, design, and construction methods. The 2025 California Building Standards Code will become effective statewide on January 1, 2026.
After each triennial update, local jurisdictions must then adopt the California Building Standards Code to act as the governing Building Standards Code within their jurisdiction. The local adoption process provides an opportunity for each jurisdiction to make minor modifications to the Building Standards Code to align with local concerns, by making findings that local climatic, geographical, or topographical conditions justify making the modifications.
The proposed ordinance would adopt the California Building Standards Code as the Building Code for the City, with local modifications related to additional automatic fire sprinkler requirements for Group R3 occupancies, and additional requirements for safe stairway configuration and emergency exit routing to facilitate emergency egress out of multi-story buildings.
The proposed ordinance also adopts the 2025 versions of the California Energy Code and California Green Building Standards Code, with local modifications related to Photo Voltaic (PV) panels and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging that comprise the Santa Clara “Reach Code”. In general, the proposed ordinance continues the City requirements that continue to be stricter than state law, but adopts state requirements that have become more stringent than the 2022 City requirements.
On October 21, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 25-9501 making the requisite climatic, geographical, and topographical findings for the local modifications to the Building Code and the Residential Code, and a separate Resolution No. 25-9502 making findings for the Energy Code and the Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).
At the October 21 meeting, the Council voted to introduce the Ordinance with modifications to the percentages of parking spaces required to provide Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) and to be EV capable. Under the 2022 Reach Code, 35% of all parking spaces for new non-residential uses, other than motels and hotels, were required to be EV capable, and another 35% were required to have EVCS. The Council modified this requirement so that retail uses would need 15% capable / 15% EVCS under the new Code, and places of religious worship would need 10% capable / 10% EVCS.
Because the Council changed the text of the ordinance, it is necessary to adopt a new resolution justifying the revised modifications to the Energy Code and CALGreen. As such, for just the Reach Code, Council is being asked to adopt a resolution making the necessary findings for the local modifications, which supersedes Resolution No. 25-9502 adopted on October 21.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15305 in that it is a minor alteration in land use limitations that will not result in any changes in land use or density, and section 15308 in that it is an action taken by a regulatory agency as authorized by California law to assure maintenance or protection of the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the City other than administrative staff time and expense.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Building Division of the Community Development Department, Silicon Valley Power, and the Fire Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
A notice of a public hearing containing a summary of proposed Ordinance No. 2081 was published in the Santa Clara Weekly on October 22, 2025, and October 29, 2025, and copies were posted in three public places and made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office.
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Adopt a Resolution Making Findings of Fact Necessary for the Specified Modifications to the 2025 California Energy Code and 2025 California Green Building Standards Code Reflected in the Proposed Ordinance; and
2. Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 2081 amending Chapter 15.05 ("Administrative Code"), Chapter 15.15 (“Building Code”), Chapter 15.17 (“Residential Code”), Chapter 15.18 ("Property Maintenance Code"), Chapter 15.20 (“Electrical Code”), Chapter 15.30 (“Mechanical Code”), Chapter 15.35 (“Plumbing Code”), Chapter 15.36 (“Energy Code”), Chapter 15.37 (“Historical Building Code”), Chapter 15.38 (“Green Building Code”), and Chapter 15.75 ("Existing Building Code") of Title 15 (“Buildings and Construction”) of “The Code of the City of Santa Clara, California” for the adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code, including changes approved by City Council on first reading on October 21, 2025.
Staff
Reviewed by: Glen Googins, City Attorney
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Findings Resolution / Energy and CALGreen Codes Adoption 2025
2. Ordinance No. 2081 (Intro)