Malibu enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC with 9 local amendments on top. The amendments are the part that gets sets corrected. The state edition is only the floor. Malibu sits in Los Angeles County.
Current edition
2025 Title 24
Prior edition
2022 Title 24
Code authority
City of Malibu: Community Development Dept., Building Safety Division
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
Discipline
Adopted code
Local amendment
Building
2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC
MMC Ch. 15.04, adopts LA County Title 26 (CBC) + city amendments, Ord. 531Stricter of state or local governs
Residential
2025 CRC, T24 Pt 2.5 based on 2024 IRC
MMC Title 15, LA County residential code by reference + city amendmentsStricter of state or local governs
Existing buildings
2025 CEBC, T24 Pt 10 based on 2024 IEBC
n/a
Fire
2025 CFC, T24 Pt 9 based on 2024 IFC
MMC Title 15, fire code w/ VHFHSZ amendmentsStricter of state or local governs
Electrical
2025 CEC, T24 Pt 3 based on 2023 NEC
MMC Title 15, LA County electrical code by referenceStricter of state or local governs
Mechanical
2025 CMC, T24 Pt 4 based on 2024 UMC
MMC Title 15, LA County mechanical code by referenceStricter of state or local governs
Plumbing
2025 CPC, T24 Pt 5 based on 2024 UPC
MMC Title 15, LA County plumbing code by referenceStricter of state or local governs
Energy
2025 Energy Code, T24 Pt 6
n/a
Green / sustainability
2025 CALGreen, T24 Pt 11
MMC Ch. 15.24, Green Building Standards CodeStricter of state or local governs
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
Malibu LCP, Land Use Plan + Local Implementation PlanLocal text supersedes the state code
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.
5.106.5.3.1 · 5.106.5.3.1
Climatic
The County of Los Angeles is a densely populated area with elevated
levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed modification to
increase the number of EV charging spaces and stations will help to
promote the use of electric vehicles and significantly reduce local air and
noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby improving the
health of the County's residents, businesses, and visitors.
5.106.11,
5.106.11.1,
5.106.11.2,
5.106.11.3,
Table 5.106.11
Climatic
Environmental resources in the County of Los Angeles are scarce due to
varying, and occasionally immoderate, temperatures and weather
conditions. […]
220.41 · 220.41
Climatic
The County of Los Angeles is a densely populated area with varying and
occasionally immoderate temperatures and weather conditions. This
creates the need for highly efficient buildings to reduce demand on the
electrical grid and, in turn, reduce the use of fossil fuels and improve air
quality. The proposed amendment will provide a costeffective means for
homeowners to increase energy savings and reduce the demand on the
electrical grid by requiring the installation of an energy storage system
for current or future use, with minimal need for additional construction
and modification of the existing electrical system. […]
1807.3.1 · 1807.3.1
Climatic
Geological
No substantiating data has been provided to show that wood foundation
systems are effective in supporting buildings and structures during a
seismic event while being subject to deterioration caused by the
combined detrimental effects of constant moisture in the soil and wood-
destroying organisms. Wood foundation systems not properly treated
and protected against deterioration have performed very poorly and
have led to slope failures. […]
1905.1.11 · 1905.1.11
Geological
These amendments are intended to carry over critical provisions for the
design of concrete columns in moment frames from the Uniform Building
Code (UBC). Increased confinement is critical to the integrity of such
columns and these modifications ensure that it is provided when certain
thresholds are exceeded. In addition, this amendment carries over from
the UBC a critical provision for the design of concrete shear walls. It
essentially limits the use of very highly gravity-loaded walls from being
included in the seismic load resisting system, since their failure could
have a catastrophic effect on the building. […]
2304.10.3.1 · 2304.10.3.1
Geological
The overdriving of nails into the structural wood panels still remains a
concern when pneumatic nail guns are used for wood structural panel
shear wall nailing. Box nails were observed to cause massive and
multiple failures of the typical 3/8-inch thick plywood during the 1994
Northridge Earthquake. The use of clipped head nails continues to be
restricted from use in wood structural panel shear walls where the
minimum nail head size must be maintained in order to minimize nails
from pulling through sheathing materials. […]
2308.6.5.2 · 2308.6.5.2
Geological
The SEAOSC and the Los Angeles City Joint Task Force that
investigated damage to buildings and structures during the 1994
Northridge Earthquake recommended reducing allowable shear values
in wood structural panel shear walls or diaphragms that were not
substantiated by cyclic testing. That recommendation was consistent
with a report to the Governor from the Seismic Safety Commission of the
State of California recommending that code requirements be "more
thoroughly substantiated with testing." The allowable shear values for
wood structural panel shear walls or diaphragms fastened with staples
are based on monotonic testing and do not take into consideration that
earthquake forces… […]
2308.6.8.1 · 2308.6.8.1
Geological
With the higher seismic demand placed on buildings and structures in
this region, interior walls can easily be called upon to resist over half of
the seismic loading imposed on simple buildings or structures. Without a
continuous foundation to support the braced wall line, seismic loads
would be transferred through other elements such as non-structural
concrete slab floors, wood floors, etc. The purpose of this amendment is
to limit the use of the exception to structures assigned to Seismic Design
Category A, B, or C where lower seismic demands are expected. […]
R301.2.2.11 · R301.2.2.11
Geological
Los Angeles County is prone to seismic activity due to the existence of
active faults in the Southern California area. Due to the high geologic
activity in the Southern California area and the necessary higher level of
performance required for buildings and structures, this local amendment
limits the potential anchorage and supporting frame failure resulting from
additional weight. There is no limitation for weight of mechanical and
plumbing fixtures and equipment in the International Residential Code.
Requirements from ASCE 7 and the International Building Code would
permit equipment weighing up to 400 lbs. […]
R1001.3.1 · R1001.3.1
Geological
Los Angeles County is prone to seismic activity due to the existence of
active faults in the Southern California area. The performance of
fireplaces/chimneys without anchorage to the foundation has been
observed to be inadequate during major earthquakes. The lack of
anchorage to the foundation results in overturn or displacement.
Appendix AZ
AZ101.1,
AZ102.1,
AZ103.1,
AZ103.4,
AZ107.1
Administrative,
Voluntary
Appendix
Climatic
Geologic
Topographical
Adoption of this appendix is necessary because strict compliance with
state and local standards and laws would prevent, hinder, or delay the
mitigation of the effects of a declared shelter crisis or other emergency. […]
R602.10.2.3 · R602.10.2.3
Geological
The greater Los Angeles region is a densely populated area having
buildings and structures constructed over and near a vast array of fault
37
18
ATTACHMENT 2
ADMINISTRATIVE & OTHER CODE AMENDMENTS
CODE
SECTION
CONDITION
EXPLANATION
systems capable of producing major earthquakes, including, but not
limited, to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Plywood shear walls with
high aspect ratio experienced many failures during the Northridge
Earthquake. […]
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Los Angeles 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.
California Coastal Zone
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FEMA mapped flood hazard area
Liquefaction hazard zone
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
Pub. Res. Code 30000 et seq.
Coastal Act / certified LCP governs coastal-zone land use; a CDP is required.
Applies when: site is inside the Coastal Zone
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
Malibu enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC, the edition adopted statewide in California, amended locally in 9 disciplines.
Does Malibu amend the California code?
Yes: building, residential, fire, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, green / sustainability, zoning, coastal. For building, the rule is: stricter of state or local governs.
Where do I confirm the code edition for a Malibu permit?
With the city 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.
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.
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.