2025 California Building and Fire Codes
Summary
SCH Number
2025120315
Public Agency
City of Santa Barbara
Document Title
2025 California Building and Fire Codes
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/9/2025
Document Description
On December 2, 2025, the City of Santa Barbara adopted amendments to the Santa Barbara Municipal Code by Ordinance and by Reference the most current State Building Standards. The amendments to the Municipal Code result in the following:
• Changes the height requirement for walls requiring a building permit from 3.5’ to 5’ feet to align with zoning code change (excludes retaining and non-retain block walls)
• Adopts California Wildland-Interface Code as a stand-alone code and relocates previously amended related construction requirements from the California Residential and Building, Code to new Wildland-Interface Code.
• Establish City of Santa Barbara Wildland Fire Plan as adopted.
• Adds clarifying language for square footage calculation for determining when fire sprinklers are required on remodels and a Higher Hazard Occupancy Classification Table.
• Adds definitions for spark arrester, tracer, tracer charge, and Wildland-Urbane Interface Area.
• Updates International Code language referring to “Prevention Department”; replaces with “Fire Prevention Bureau”.
• California has adopted the 2025 edition of the California Wildland Urban Interface Code which incorporates and replaces Chapter 49 of the 2022 California Fire Code.
Contact Information
Name
Julia Pujo
Agency Name
City of Santa Barbara
Job Title
Environmental Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Tina Dye
Agency Name
City of Santa Barbara
Job Title
Chief Building Official
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Santa Barbara
Counties
Santa Barbara
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Section § 15308
Reasons for Exemption
The project is categorically exempt under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15308. Section 15308 consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
County Clerk
Santa Barbara
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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