Building Codes Information/Updates

Where can I find newly adopted or emergency State regulations?

You can find the information from the Building Standards Commission website at www.bsc.ca.gov.  Sometimes, the proposed emergency ordinance can be found from the website of the State agency that proposed the ordinance.  Their websites are:

• Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD):www.hcd.ca.gov
• Division of the State Architect (DSA):www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov
• Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD):www.oshpd.ca.gov
• Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM):osfm.fire.ca.gov

What are emergency State regulations or ordinances?

Usually every year, a number of California bills that affect State regulations are enacted through the legislative process.  Examples are Senate Bill (SB) 1025 which changes regulations on accessibilities, and AB (Assembly Bill) 1216 which requires the State Fire Marshal to propose fire protection regulations for urban wildland community.  The adopting State agency has to provide finding of an emergency when proposes the emergency ordinance to the Building Standards Commission (BSC) for approval.  The regular rulemaking process for adopting changes to the California Code of Regulations does not have to follow for emergency ordinances.  But, after BSC approves the emergency ordinance, the adopting State agency has 120 days to go through the regular rulemaking process and brought the emergency ordinance back to BSC for final approval to maintain the effectiveness of the change.

After the emergency ordinance became permanent regulation, it will be published as part of the California Code of regulations.  Every jurisdiction will usually receive a copy of the new regulation.

How are the California Building Standards Codes adopted?

The California Building Standards Codes include the California Building Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code and the California energy Code.  The usual code adoption cycle is once every three years after the publication of the new national model codes, but it has been delayed for the last two cycles because of the decision to adopt the International Building Code. The national model codes can be adopted without changes, or with amendments proposed by State agencies (HCD, DSA, OSHPD, SFM), and with modifications to include all mandated state statures.

Proposed amendments from the State agencies are reviewed by the BSC ‘s Code Advisory committees conduct in public meetings.  The public comments together with the proposed changes are published in monographs.   Further public comments can be submitted to the State agencies during the public review period.  The final proposed amendments are then submitted to the BSC for approval and adoption.  The new regulations will be enforced by local jurisdictions 180 days after the publication of the new California Code.