Ventura, California building code

Ventura enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC with 3 local amendments on top. The amendments are the part that gets sets corrected. The state edition is only the floor. Ventura sits in Ventura County.

Current edition
2025 Title 24
Prior edition
2022 Title 24
Code authority
City of Ventura: Community Development Dept., Building & Safety

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 IBCVentura Municipal Code: building code adoption chapter
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
CoastalNo state-adopted codeCity of Ventura certified LCP (city issues CDPs)

What Ventura 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.

101.4.9.3 · Placards. The following are verbal descriptions of the official

101.4.9.3 Placards. The following are verbal descriptions of the official placards to be used to designate the condition for continued occupancy of buildings or structures. INSPECTED (Green) – Lawful Occupancy Permitted is to be posted on any building or structure wherein no apparent structural hazard has been found. This placard is not intended to mean that there is no damage to the building or structure. RESTRICTED USE (Yellow) – Restricted Use is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged wherein the damage has resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. […]

104.5 · Identification. The building officials shall wear official, City issued,

104.5 Identification. The building officials shall wear official, City issued, photo identification at all times when serving the public. 3. Section 105.2, Building Item 1 is replaced in its entirety to read as follows: 1. Detached Sheds. A single, one-story, detached accessory structure used as a tool or light storage shed, playhouse, and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet, and that said structure is not taller than 8'6" in maximum height measured from grade (grade is defined as the lowest point within 5'0" of the perimeter of a structure), and is located on a residential lot and R-3 Occupancy only, has no electrical, plumbing or mechanical… […]

114.5 · Notice of Non-Compliance. Whenever the Building Official

114.5 Notice of Non-Compliance. Whenever the Building Official determines that work has been done without the required permit, or has not been completed in accordance with the requirements of this Code, the Building Official may record a Notice of Noncompliance with the Office of the County Recorder and shall notify the owner of the property of such action. The Notice of Noncompliance shall describe the property, shall set forth the noncomplying conditions, and shall state that the property owner has been so notified. The Building Official shall submit a Notice of Compliance to the County Recorder when it is determined that noncomplying conditions have been corrected or removed. […]

505.1 · Address Identification

505.1 Address Identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall con trast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches (101.6 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) for single- family residences. All multi- family residentia l, commercial, and industrial occupancies shall have a minimum of 10- inch- high numbers, with a minimum 1.5-inch stroke. […]

1505.1.3 · Additions to Existing Buildings. In any 12 month period, additions

1505.1.3 Additions to Existing Buildings. In any 12 month period, additions of less than 26% of the existing roof area may be of Class B materials that match the existing roof. Additions in high fire hazard areas must meet the current high fire hazard area roofing requirements in addition to this section. 17. Table 1505.1 is amended to replace all references to Class C with Class 18. S ection 1505.6 is amended in its entirety to read as follows: Section 1505.6 Fire-retardant-treated wood Shingles and Shakes. No wooden shingles or shakes, treated or untreated, shall be used for roof covering unless specifically allowed in Sections 1505.1.2 or 1505.1.4 of this code. 19. […]

1705.3 · Concrete construction. The special inspections and verifications for

1705.3 Concrete construction. The special inspections and verifications for concrete construction shall be as required by this section and Table 1705.3. Exception: Special Inspection shall not be required for: 1. Isolated spread concrete footings of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock, where the structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, f’c, no greater than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 Mpa) regardless of the compressive strength specified in the construction documents or used in the footing construction. 2. […]

1803.6 · Reporting. Where geotechnical investigations are required, a

1803.6. Reporting. Where geotechnical investigations are required, a written report of the investigations shall be submitted to the Building Official by the permit applicant at the time of the permit application. This geotechnical report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information: 1. A plot plan showing the location of all test borings and/or excavations and location of cut to-fill “daylight line.” 2. Descriptions and classifications of materials encountered. 3. Elevation of the water table if encountered. === PAGE BREAK === 12 4. Expected total and differential settlement. 5. Location of property or site, including address or lot number and tract. 6. […]

1804.5 · Grading and fill in flood hazard areas. Grading and filling in flood

1804.5 Grading and fill in flood hazard areas. Grading and filling in flood hazard areas must comply with the City Floodplain Management Ordinance. Where the City Floodplain Management Ordinance and this code conflict relative to grading and filling, the City Floodplain Management Ordinance takes precedence. 29. Section 1807.1.4 is amended by adding the following sentence to the end of the section: Permanent wood foundation systems shall not be used for structures assigned to Seismic Design Category D, E, or F. 30. […]

3109.3.2 · Closely spaced horizontal member

3109.3.2 Closely spaced horizontal member. Where the barrier is composed of horizontal and vertical members and the distance between the tops of the horizontal members is less than 45 inches (1143 mm), the horizontal members shall be located on the swimming pool side of the fence. Spacing between the vertical members shall not be greater than 1 3/4 inches (44mm) in width. Where there are decorative cutouts within vertical members, spacing within the cutouts shall be not greater than 1 3/4 inches (44mm) in width. 35. […]

R103.3 · Existing Buildings/Structures

R103.3 Existing Buildings/Structures. Approved Automatic Sprinklers are required in the following locations: 1. In all existing residential buildings or structures, when cumulative additions are made which result in a total floor area 100% or greater than the November 6, 1991 area of the building or structure. 2. In all other existing buildings/structures, when cumulative additions are made which results in a total building/structure floor area equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet and the additions exceed the greater of the following: a. 10% of the original floor area, or b. 2,500 square feet. […]

Source: www.cityofventura.ca.gov

Overlays that can apply

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

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 Ventura use?

Ventura enforces 2025 CBC, T24 Pt 2 based on 2024 IBC, the edition adopted statewide in California, amended locally in 3 disciplines.

Does Ventura amend the California code?

Yes: building, zoning, coastal.

Where do I confirm the code edition for a Ventura 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.

Nearby jurisdictions in Ventura County

Statewide

Check a plan set against Ventura 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.