California building code
California has adopted 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the California cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2025 Title 24
- Prior edition
- 2022 Title 24
- Code authority
- California Building Standards Commission (BSC)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2022 Title 24.
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2025 CRC, T24 Pt 2.5 based on 2024 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2025 CEBC, T24 Pt 10 based on 2024 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2025 CFC, T24 Pt 9 based on 2024 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2025 CEC, T24 Pt 3 based on 2023 NEC | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2025 CMC, T24 Pt 4 based on 2024 UMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2025 CPC, T24 Pt 5 based on 2024 UPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2025 Energy Code, T24 Pt 6 | n/a |
| Green / sustainability | 2025 CALGreen, T24 Pt 11 | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2025 CBC Ch 11A/11B, T24 Pt 2 | n/a |
| Wildland-urban interface | 2025 CA-WUIC, T24 Pt 7 based on 2024 IWUIC | n/a |
| Historical buildings | 2025 CHBC, T24 Pt 8 | n/a |
| Administrative | 2025 CAC, T24 Pt 1 | n/a |
| Zoning | No state-adopted code | Local zoning ordinance (city or county), subject to state preemptionLocal text supersedes the state code |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for California. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
State law that overrides local zoning here
When one of these applies, the state statute governs over a conflicting local standard. This is the most common reason a local rule someone quotes you turns out not to be enforceable against a project.
- Gov. Code 66310 et seq.
State ADU law preempts local zoning that would preclude a conforming ADU/JADU.
Applies when: project includes an ADU or JADU
- Gov. Code 65915
State Density Bonus Law concessions/waivers override local development standards.
Applies when: project requests a density bonus
- Gov. Code 65852.21 / 66411.7
SB 9 urban lot split / two-unit ministerial approval preempts conflicting local standards.
Applies when: project is an SB 9 lot split or two-unit development
Local amendments in California
77 jurisdictions on record amend the state code. Local amendments are what plan check actually reviews against. The state edition is the floor, not the whole answer.
Counties
- Alameda County2 amend.
- Contra Costa County2 amend.
- Los Angeles County3 amend.
- Marin County2 amend.
- Napa County2 amend.
- San Mateo County2 amend.
- Santa Clara County2 amend.
- Solano County2 amend.
- Sonoma County2 amend.
- Ventura County4 amend.
Cities
- Agoura Hills2 amend.
- Alhambra2 amend.
- Arcadia2 amend.
- Artesia2 amend.
- Avalon3 amend.
- Azusa2 amend.
- Berkeley2 amend.
- Beverly Hills2 amend.
- Bradbury2 amend.
- Burbank2 amend.
- Calabasas2 amend.
- Cerritos2 amend.
- Commerce2 amend.
- Covina2 amend.
- Cudahy2 amend.
- Culver City2 amend.
- Duarte2 amend.
- El Monte2 amend.
- El Segundo3 amend.
- Gardena2 amend.
- Glendale2 amend.
- Glendora2 amend.
- Hawaiian Gardens2 amend.
- Hermosa Beach3 amend.
- Hidden Hills2 amend.
- La Cañada Flintridge2 amend.
- Lakewood2 amend.
- Lawndale2 amend.
- Lomita2 amend.
- Long Beach4 amend.
- Los Angeles8 amend.
- Malibu9 amend.
- Manhattan Beach3 amend.
- Monrovia2 amend.
- Montebello2 amend.
- Monterey Park2 amend.
- Ojai2 amend.
- Oxnard3 amend.
- Palmdale2 amend.
- Palo Alto2 amend.
- Palos Verdes Estates3 amend.
- Paramount2 amend.
- Pasadena2 amend.
- Petaluma2 amend.
- Pomona2 amend.
- Port Hueneme3 amend.
- Rancho Palos Verdes4 amend.
- Redondo Beach3 amend.
- Rolling Hills2 amend.
- Rosemead2 amend.
- San Francisco3 amend.
- San Gabriel2 amend.
- San Marino2 amend.
- Santa Clara3 amend.
- Santa Clarita2 amend.
- Santa Monica3 amend.
- Sierra Madre2 amend.
- Signal Hill2 amend.
- Simi Valley2 amend.
- South El Monte2 amend.
- South Pasadena2 amend.
- Temple City2 amend.
- Torrance3 amend.
- Ventura3 amend.
- West Covina2 amend.
- West Hollywood2 amend.
- Westlake Village2 amend.
Sources
Common questions
What building code does California use?
California uses 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC. It is administered by the California Building Standards Commission (BSC). The prior edition was 2022 Title 24.
Do cities in California amend the state code?
Yes. 77 California jurisdictions have local amendments on record, including Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Artesia, Avalon. A local amendment can be stricter than the state code, replace it outright, or add requirements on top.
Which edition applies to a permit already in review in California?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2022 Title 24.
Check a plan set against California code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
Your first check is free, no card required.
Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.