CALBO as a Resource

Overview

CALBO as a Resource

California Building Officials…

  • are Problem Solvers:  We work with community members and decision makers to find pragmatic solutions. 
  • are Resources:  We share our knowledge for the betterment of public safety.  Our role is not to opine on policy, our role is to assist decision makers with the practical application of building codes and standards that will safeguard the best interests of the communities we serve.  
  • are Implementers:  We enforce the regulations and statutes that are approved by regulatory bodies to ensure compliance.
  • are at your Service.  We do not seek to stand in the way of change.  Rather, we hope to help find reasonable ways to meet stated intent and policy goals.
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CALBO at A Glance

Who We Are

The California Building Officials (CALBO) is a nonprofit 501(c)6 organization dedicated to promoting public health and safety in building construction through responsible legislation, education and building code development. Founded in 1962, CALBO brings together over 600 members who lead efforts in public safety, sustainability, planning and code enforcement in their communities. 

Our members are Building Officials, along with other leaders in building, planning, and code enforcement departments. Together, they play a vital role each day in ensuring California’s built environment is safe, resilient and ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges. 

CALBO’s Leadership

Raj Patel, P.E., C.B.O. – President
Building Official, City of Pico Rivera

Mike Brinkman, C.B.O. – Vice President
Chief Building Official, City of Newman

Sara Retmier, C.B.O. – Secretary/Treasurer
Chief Building Official, City of Beaumont

Jeff Janes, C.B.O. – Immediate Past President
Building Official, JAS Pacific

Doug Hughes, C.B.O. – Director
Chief Building Official, Town of Windsor

Ian Livingston, CASp, C.B.O. – Director
Building Official, City of Guadalupe

John Weight – Director
Executive Officer, Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety

Chris Ochoa, Esq. - Advisory Council
Senior Council for Codes, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, California Building Industry Association (CBIA)

Addison Smith – Advisory Council
Chief Executive Officer, JAS Pacific

Our Mission

CALBO is dedicated to promoting public health and safety in building construction by: 

  • Supporting responsible legislation that enhances safety
  • Providing continuing education through expert-led training programs
  • Contributing to the development of practical and enforceable building codes
  • Collaborating with state agencies to guide the regulatory process

Above all, our top priority is to ensure that California’s buildings are safe, resilient and habitable. 

What is a Building Official?

A Building Official oversees safety in building design, construction and occupancy. Key duties include: 

  • Reviewing building plans
  • Issuing permits
  • Conducting inspections
  • Enforcing building codes

They ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations – and help to adapt to evolving practices. Most Building Officials have advanced education, professional certifications, along with at least four-to-five years of supervisory experience. 

California Law (AB 717, Ducheny 1995) mandates that officials, inspectors, and plan examiners complete forty-five hours of continuing education every three years, plus maintains certification by a recognized state, national or international association of building officials or construction examiners, as determined by the local agency.  

Our Code of Ethics

The protections of life, health and property is a solemn responsibility of the highest order. Recognizing the public’s trust bestowed upon individuals engaged in the administration and enforcement of building regulatory codes, the California Building Officials advocates commitment to a standard of professional behavior that exemplifies the highest ideals and principles of ethical conduct. The governing concepts embodied in this philosophy are characterized herein below, for the benefit and guidance of those so engaged, and for the enlightenment of the public so served.  

The Building Official Shall:

  • Place the public’s welfare above all other interests and recognize that the chief function of government is to serve the best interests of all the people
  • Demonstrate integrity, honesty and fairness in all transactions and constantly strive for excellence in all matters of ethical conduct
  • Recognize the continuing need for developing improved safety standards for the protection of life, health, and property, and acknowledge a professional obligation to contribute time and expertise in the development of such improvements
  • Maintain professional competence in all areas of employment responsibility and encourage the same in associates at all levels

How Are Building Departments Funded? 

Building departments are fee-funded, primarily through charges collected from building permits. 

CALBO and the Regulatory Process

CALBO supports the creation, adoption, and implementation of building codes through the state’s regulatory process. When CALBO and other stakeholders are able to collaborate with the State of California’s regulatory bodies the result is practical, prudent and enforceable codes — serving the public’s best interest to ensure consistent, and safe construction standards statewide. 

CALBO Training Institute

The CALBO Training Institute (CTI) is CALBO’s education and training division, offering year-round courses and leadership academies.  CTI equips building officials and department staff with the tools to: 

  • Stay up to date on the latest building codes 
  • Learn current safety standards and emerging technologies
  • Build additional career and technical skills
  • Enhance professional development for both personal and career growth
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AB 306 (Schultz & Rivas)
Building regulations: state building standards.

CALBO Position: Oppose
CALBO’s Opposition Letter: Click Here

Location: Dual Referral:  Senate Housing & Senate Local Government Committees 

Bill Summary: The California Building Standards Law establishes the California Building Standards Commission (commission) within the Department of General Services. Current law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code (code). The State Housing Law establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Current law requires, among other things, the building standards adopted and submitted by the department for approval by the commission, as specified, to be adopted by reference, with certain exceptions. Current law authorizes any city or county to make changes in those building standards that are published in the code, including to green building standards. Current law requires the governing body of a city or county, before making modifications or changes to those green building standards, to make an express finding that those modifications or changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. This bill would, from June 1, 2025, until June 1, 2031, inclusive, prohibit a city or county from making changes that are applicable to residential units to the above-described building standards unless a certain condition is met, including that the commission deems those changes or modifications necessary as emergency standards to protect health and safety. By requiring a city or county to take certain actions relating to building standards, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (Based on 03/05/2025 text)

CALBO’s Opposition:

  • Unnecessary bill.  AB 306 has been characterized as a necessity to rebuild the Los Angeles area post-wildfires, but local government already has the authority to permit previous versions of the code to be applied and permitted.  
  • Complicated application and enforcement.  AB 306 would change the current codes that apply to different types of development.  Residential construction would be built to a different standard than commercial, which would make it very difficult to apply the current (questionable) codes and standards to redevelopment and new construction projects.  
  • Political motivation.  This bill would roll back recent (10+) years of energy and sustainability code changes that “softly” kill progressive movement towards California’s declared efforts towards carbon offsets and neutrality.  
  • Public Safety.  Changing the building codes on a routine (36 month) basis ensures that the latest technologies and innovations are applied to new construction.  “Taking us back” to previous versions of the code does nothing in the name of public safety.  Codes evolve with time, with good reason – because situations and disasters occur, and we respond accordingly with new public safety code provisions.  
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AB 253 (Ward & Quirk-Silva)
California Residential Private Permitting Review Act: residential building permits.

CALBO’s Position: Oppose
CALBO’s Opposition Letter: Click Here

Location:  Dual Referral:  Senate Housing & Senate Local Government Committees 

Bill Summary: The State Housing Law establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Current law authorizes a county’s or city’s governing body to prescribe fees for permits, certificates, or other forms or documents required or authorized under the State Housing Law. This bill, the California Residential Private Permitting Review Act, would require a county’s or city’s building department to prepare a residential building permit fee schedule and post the schedule on the county’s or city’s internet website, if the county or city prescribes residential building permit fees. (Based on 01/15/2025 text).  Further, for any projects that will take longer than 30 days to permit, the measure allows the applicant to engage with a private third-party consultant, of their choice, to plan check.

CALBO’s Opposition:

  • Public safety concerns.  AB 253 is based upon a model approved for accessory-dwelling unit (ADU) permitting (AB 1332, 2023).  The residential occupancy standards for much smaller structures, ADUs, are drastically different than larger, complex single and multi-family residential projects.  Carbon/smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, exiting, etc.
  • No oversight on private-party consultants.  AB 253 allows permit applicants to self-select third parties to check their plans.  Without proper public sector oversight and approval of competent plan check review firms, there is minimal consumer protection or assistance. 
  • Unintended consequences.  AB 253 is meant to accelerate housing, but given the lack of public sector oversight and input on the competency of self-selected consultants, delays will likely occur on the approval of plans by local jurisdictions.  This will slow approvals down, not accelerate housing.    
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AB 6 (Ward, D)
Residential developments: building standards: review.

CALBO’s Position: Oppose
CALBO’s Opposition Letter: Click Here

Location: Assembly Appropriations (May 14)  

Bill Summary: The California Building Standards Law establishes the California Building Standards Commission within the Department of General Services and sets forth its powers and duties, including approval and adoption of building standards and codification of those standards into the California Building Standards Code (code). Current law requires the commission to publish, or cause to be published, editions of the code in its entirety once every 3 years. Current law requires the building standards and rules and regulations to impose substantially the same requirements as are contained in the most recent editions of specified international or uniform industry codes, including the International Residential Code of the International Code Council. Current law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development (department) in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and requires the department to submit an annual report to the Governor and both houses of the Legislature on the operations and accomplishments during the previous fiscal year of the housing programs administered by the department. This bill would require the department to convene a working group no later than December 31, 2026, to research and consider identifying and recommending amendments to state building standards allowing residential developments to be built, as specified. The bill would require the department, no later than December 31, 2027, to provide a one-time report of its findings to the Legislature in the annual report described above. (Based on 12/02/2024 text)

CALBO’s Opposition:

  • More than just a one-time report.  Although the current version of AB 6 simply convenes a working group to submit a report to the legislature, this is an effort to change the definition of “multi-family residential construction.”  
  • Public safety concerns.  Provisions for multi-family residential construction are complex due to the occupancies involved with these projects.  There are many lives under one roof, which makes the provisions deliberately different than small projects.  Lessening these standards to accelerate housing jeopardizes public safety.  
  • Unintended consequences.  California is in a full-fledged housing crisis, but changing the definition of multi-family construction to a lesser standard to accelerate housing supply simply leads to a greater propensity for disaster.  
  • Leave it to the code officials.  The national code development process is an open, transparent, public consensus process that takes place every 18-36 months.  Leave it to the trained experts to assess if this is a safe, sustainable, and prudent practice.
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Organizational Resources

CALBO Links
– About Us
– News & Updates
– Resources
– Professional Development
– CALBO Policy Committees 
– CALBO Partners
– CALBO’s Wildfire Recovery Hub

Legislative
– CALBO Legislation Homepage
– CALBO Legislative Briefing – April 2025
- Legislation of Interest – Bill Report
- Six-Point Policy

Additional Resources
– California Fire Prevention Officers
– Additional California ICC Chapters

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