Contra Costa County, California building code

Contra Costa County enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC with 2 local amendments on top. The amendments are the part that gets sets corrected. The state edition is only the floor.

Current edition
2025 Title 24
Prior edition
2022 Title 24
Code authority
Contra Costa County Dept. of Conservation and Development: Building Inspection

Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2022 Title 24.

Adopted code and local amendments by discipline

Adopted code editions and local amendments by discipline
DisciplineAdopted codeLocal amendment
Building2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBCContra Costa County Ord. No. 2025-19 (adopted 2025-11-04): Title 7 Div. 74; 2025 codes w/ Ch. 74-4 seismic/concrete amendments (CBSC filing 2025-19-Partial)
Residential2025 CRC, T24 Pt 2.5 based on 2024 IRCn/a
Existing buildings2025 CEBC, T24 Pt 10 based on 2024 IEBCn/a
Fire2025 CFC, T24 Pt 9 based on 2024 IFCn/a
Electrical2025 CEC, T24 Pt 3 based on 2023 NECn/a
Mechanical2025 CMC, T24 Pt 4 based on 2024 UMCn/a
Plumbing2025 CPC, T24 Pt 5 based on 2024 UPCn/a
Energy2025 Energy Code, T24 Pt 6n/a
Green / sustainability2025 CALGreen, T24 Pt 11n/a
Accessibility2025 CBC Ch 11A/11B, T24 Pt 2n/a
Wildland-urban interface2025 CA-WUIC, T24 Pt 7 based on 2024 IWUICn/a
Historical buildings2025 CHBC, T24 Pt 8n/a
Administrative2025 CAC, T24 Pt 1n/a
ZoningNo state-adopted codeLocal zoning ordinance (city or county), subject to state preemptionLocal text supersedes the state code

Unincorporated communities Contra Costa County reviews

These communities have no city building department of their own. The county is the authority having jurisdiction, so this page's code stack is the one that applies.

Alamo · Diablo · Kensington · El Sobrante · Bay Point · Discovery Bay · Pacheco · Blackhawk · Saranap

What Contra Costa County actually amended

Quoted from the adopted ordinance. These are the provisions that differ from the state code, which is where most correction lists come from. Excerpts, not the whole ordinance. Follow the source link for the full text.

106.1.1

Information on Construction Documents. Construction documents shall include dimensions and shall be drawn to scale on suitable material. Electronic media documents may be submitted when approved in advance by the building official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and to show in detail that it will conform to this code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall include contact information for the owner and the person or persons who prepared the plans. […]

106.2.1

Construction documents. Construction documents shall include dimensions and shall be drawn to scale on suitable material. Electronic ORDINANCE NO. 2025-19 13 media documents may be submitted when approved in advance by the building official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and to show in detail that it will conform to this code and all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall include contact information for the owner and for the person or persons who prepared the plans. […]

107.2.1

Information on Construction Documents. Construction documents shall include dimensions and shall be drawn to scale on suitable material. Electronic media documents may be submitted when approved in advance by the building official. Construction documents shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature, and extent of the work proposed and to show in detail that it will conform to this code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall include contact information for the owner and the person or persons who prepared the plans. […]

1905.6.2 · Seismic design categories C, D, E, and F. Structures assigned to

Seismic Design Category C, D, E, or F shall not have elements of structural plain concrete, except as follows: 1. Reserved. 2. Isolated footings of plain concrete supporting pedestals or columns are permitted, provided the projection of the footing beyond the face of the supported member does not exceed the footing thickness. 3. Reserved. (h) Section 1906 (Footings for light-frame construction) of CBC Chapter 19 (Concrete) is deleted. (i) Section 1907.5 (Minimum Slab Provisions – General) is added to Section 1907 (Slabs- On-Ground) of CBC Chapter 19 (Concrete), to read: Section 1907.5 Minimum Slab Provisions – General. […]

R602.10.4.5

Limits on methods GB and PCP. Method GB is not permitted, but gypsum board is permitted to be installed on the opposite side of the studs from other types of braced wall panel sheathing. The use of Method PCP is limited to one-story dwellings and accessory structures. (e) Appendix BB, Appendix BF, Appendix BJ, and Appendix CI of the CRC are incorporated into the County building code. (Ords. 2025-19 § 3, 2022-35 § 3, 2019-31 § 3, 2016-22 § 3, 2013- 24 § 3, 2011-03 § 3.) 74-4.006 Amendments to CGBSC. The 2025 California Green Building Standards Code ("CGBSC") is amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and Division 72. […]

SECTION II. · Section 74-2.002 (Adoption) of Division 74 (Building Code) of the County

Ordinance Code is amended to read: 74-2.002 Adoption. (a) The building code of this county is the 2025 California Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2), the 2025 California Residential Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2.5), the 2025 California Energy Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6), the 2025 California Historical Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 8), the 2025 California Existing Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 10), and the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11), as amended by the changes,… […]

SECTION VII. · Section 72-6.212 of the County Ordinance Code is amended to read:

72-6.212 Expiration of permit. (a) A permit issued by the county building official becomes void if either of the following occur: (1) The work authorized by the permit is not commenced within 12 months after the permit issuance date. Evidence that work has commenced consists of at least one approved inspection. (2) The work authorized by the permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 12 consecutive months after the work is commenced. Work is deemed suspended or abandoned for a period of 12 consecutive months if no approved inspection occurs during that time. (b) A permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply to the county building official for a permit extension. […]

SECTION III. · Chapter 74-4 (Modifications) of Division 74 (Building Code) of the County

Ordinance Code is amended to read: Chapter 74-4 MODIFICATIONS 74-4.002 Amendments to CBC. The 2025 California Building Code (“CBC”) is amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter and Division 72. Section numbers used in this section are those of the 2025 California Building Code. (a) CBC Chapter 1 (Administration) is amended by the provisions of Division 72 of this code and as follows: (1) Sections 103 and 113 of CBC Chapter 1 are deleted. (2) In Section 105.2 (Work exempt from permit) of CBC Chapter 1 (Administration), subsection 4, is amended to read: 4. […]

SECTION IV. · Section 76-2.002 (Adoption) of Division 76 (Electrical Code) of the County

Ordinance Code is amended to read: 76-2.002 Adoption. (a) The electrical code of this county is the 2025 California Electrical Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3) (“CEC”), as amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this division and Division 72. (b) The 2025 California Electrical Code, with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in Chapter 76-4 and Division 72, is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth in this division. (c) At least one copy of this electrical code is now on file with the building inspection division, and the other requirements of Government Code section 50022.6 have been and shall be complied with. […]

SECTION VI. · Section 710-2.002 (Adoption) of Division 710 (Mechanical Code) of the County

Ordinance Code is amended to read: 710-2.002 Adoption. (a) The mechanical code of this county is the 2025 California Mechanical Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 4), as amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in Division 72. (b) The 2025 California Mechanical Code, with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in Division 72, is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth in this division. (c) At least one copy of this mechanical code is now on file with the building inspection division, and the other requirements of Government Code section 50022.6 have been and shall be complied with. […]

Source: contra-costa.legistar1.com

Overlays that can apply

Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Contra Costa County. 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

Sources

Common questions

What building code does Contra Costa County use?

Contra Costa County enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC, the edition adopted statewide in California, amended locally in 2 disciplines.

Does Contra Costa County amend the California code?

Yes: building, zoning.

Where do I confirm the code edition for a Contra Costa County permit?

With the county building department that will review the permit. Adoption ordinances are amended on a local schedule, and a set submitted days apart can fall under different editions during a changeover.

Nearby jurisdictions in Contra Costa County

Statewide

Check a plan set against Contra Costa County 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.