HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-58 - Setting Forth Findings Based on Local Conditions Within the City of Newport Beach Which Make Certain Modifications and Changes to the International Property Maintenance Code, the CA Building Code, the CA Residential Code,RESOLUTION NO. 2025-58
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH
FINDINGS BASED ON LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH WHICH MAKE CERTAIN
MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO THE
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE,
THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE CALIFORNIA
RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL
CODE, THE CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, THE
CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE AND THE
INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE AS
REASONABLY NECESSARY BECAUSE OF LOCAL
CLIMATIC, GEOGRAPHIC, OR TOPOGRAPHIC
CONDITIONS
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 mandates that the City of
Newport Beach ("City") adopt ordinances and regulations imposing the same, modified, or
changed requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State of
California ("State") pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922;
WHEREAS, the State is mandated by Health and Safety Code Section 17922 to
impose the same requirements as are contained in the 2025 California Building Code
based on the 2024 International Building Code of the International Code Council, the
2025 California Residential Code based on the 2024 International Residential Code, the
2025 California Green Building Standards Code, the 2025 California Plumbing Code
based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing
and Mechanical Officials, the 2025 California Mechanical Code based on the 2024
Uniform Mechanical Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical
Officials and the 2025 California Electrical Code based on the 2023 National Electrical
Code of the National Fire Protection Association, the 2025 California Energy Code, the
2025 Historical Code, and the 2025 Existing Building Code (hereinafter referred to
collectively as ("Codes");
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the City to make
modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because of
local, climatic, geographic, or topographic conditions;
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City
Council, before making any modifications or changes to Health and Safety Code Section
17958.5 make express findings that such changes or modifications are needed due to
local climatic, geographic, or topographic conditions;
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 2 of 11
WHEREAS, the Building Official has recommended that changes and
modifications be made to the Codes and has advised that these changes and
modifications to the model codes are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the
City and has further advised that the remainder of said changes and modifications are
administrative or procedural in nature; and
WHEREAS, a copy of this resolution together with the ordinance adopting the
City Codes shall be filed with the California Building Standards Commission and the
California Department of Housing and Community Development by the City Clerk of the
City as required by state law.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Section 1: The City Council does hereby approve the following changes and
modifications to the 2024 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code and
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and the 2025 edition of the California
Building Code, California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California
Mechanical Code, and California Plumbing Code, and as recommended by the Building
Official, and finds that the changes are necessary due to local climatic, geographic or
topographic conditions:
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE CODE SECTION
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
Chapter 1
Reference to Newport Beach Admin.
Code
302.4 (Weeds)
Reference to Newport Beach Admin.
Code
303.2 (Enclosures)
Make consistent with the California
Building Code
CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE SECTIONS
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
105.2 (Work Exempt from Permit)
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
903.2 (Where Required)
c, d, e
903.2.8 (Group R)
a, c, d, e
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 3of11
Comply with AB2221 and SB897
amendment to Gov. Code 65852.2
903.2.8 Item 2 Exceptions #1 and #2
(a)(1)(D)(xii) and
65852.2(e)(3)
Table 1505.1 (Minimum Roof Covering
d, e, f
Classification for Types of Construction)
1505.1.2 Roof coverings within all other areas
d, e, f
other than Fire Hazard Severity Zones or a
Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI
1612.3 (Establishment of Flood Hazard Areas)
i, j
1704.2.1 (Special Inspector Qualifications)
g, h, i
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL
CODE SECTIONS
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
R115 (Existing Buildings)
a, b, h, i
R301.1.1.1 (Deletion of Section R301.1.1.1.)
e, f, g, h, i, j
R301.1.3 — R301.1.3.3 (Engineered Design,
a, b, d, c, g, h, i, j
California Licensed Architect or Engineer, Wood
Frame Structures Greater than Two -Stories, and
Structures other than Wood Frame)
R301.2 (Table R301.2)
g, h, j
Table R301.2 (Footnote g)
j
R301.2.4 — R301.2.4.1 (Floodplain
h, i, j
Construction & Alternate provisions)
R317.3 (Flood Hazard Areas)
i, j
R309 (Replaced with CBC 903.2.8)
a, b, c, e, i
R308.1(Address Identification)
k, I
R306 (Adding Floodplain Management
h, i, j
Ordinance)
I, Additional reference to California
R341 (Sound Transmission)
Building Code
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 4 of 11
R401.4 (Geotechnical Investigations)
a, b, c, g, h, i, j, Additional reference
to California Building Code
R405.1 (Basement Wall Drainage)
i, j
R902 (Roof Classification)
d, e, f, Additional reference to
California Building Code
CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE
SECTIONS
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
R358.10(A) (EMT — Uses Permitted)
i, j
R358.1013 (EMT — Uses Permitted)
i, j
CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
SECTIONS
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
103.5 (Modifications)
Make consistent with the California
Building Code
107.1 (Appeals)
Make consistent with the California
Building Code
CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE SECTIONS
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
103.5 (Modifications)
Make consistent with the California
Building Code
107.1 (Appeals)
Make consistent with the California
Building Code
INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND
SPA CODE SECTION
JUSTIFICATION/EXPRESS FINDINGS
101.1 (Title)
Administrative change by Chartered
City
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 5 of 11
Administrative change by Chartered
101.2 (Scope)
City
Administrative change byChartered
102 through 114 (Delete Sections)
City
Make consistent with the California
201.3 (Terms Defined in other Codes)
Codes
Make consistent with California
202 (Definitions)
Swimming Pool Safety Act
301.1 (Scope, Application of Chapters 7 through
n
10, and Conflicts
m, Make consistent with the
302.1 (Electrical)
California Codes
Make consistent with the California
302.2 (Water Service and Drainage)
Codes
Make consistent with the California
302.5 (Backflow protection)
Codes
Make consistent with the California
302.6 (Wastewater discharge)
Codes
303.1 (Energy Consumption of Pools and
Make consistent with the California
Codes
Permanent Spas)
Make consistent with the California
303.1.1 through 303.3 (Deleted)
Codes
304.2 (Floodplain Construction)
i, j
305.1 (General)
n, Administrative change by Chartered
City
m, Administrative change by
305.2 (Swimming Pools and Spa)
Chartered City
Make consistent with California
305.2.1 Item 1 (Barrier height and clearance)
Swimming Pool Safety Act
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 6 of 11
Administrative change by Chartered
305.2.4.1 (Deleted)
City
Administrative change by Chartered
305.2.5 (Deleted)
City
Make consistent with California
305.3.3 (Latch release)
Swimming Pool Safety Act
Make consistent with the California
305.4 (Exception to Count Barrier as Drowning
Building Code
Prevention Safety Feature)
Make consistent with California
305.5 Items 1 and 2 (Pool Structure as a
Swimming Pool Safety Act
Barrier)
Additional reference to California
306.1 (General)
Codes
306.4 (Deck Steps Handrail Required)
n
Table 306.5 (Minimum Drainage Slopes for
Make consistent with the California
Building Code
Deck Surfaces)
Additional reference to California
306.9.1 (Hose Bibbs)
Codes
Additional reference to California
307.1.1 (Glazing in Hazardous Locations)
Codes
Additional reference to California
307.1.4 (Roofs or Canopies)
Codes
Additional reference to California
307.1.5 (Accessibility)
Codes
Additional reference to California
307.2.2 (Materials and Structural Design)
Codes
n, Administrative change by
311.1 (Exception #2)
Chartered City
Additional reference to California
317.4 (Installation)
Codes
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 7 of 11
Additional reference to California
317.6.1 (Installation)
Codes
Additional reference to California
319.2 (Protection of Potable Water Supply)
Codes
j, Administrative change by
321.1 (Backwash Water or Draining Water)
Chartered City
Administrative change by Chartered
321.2 and 321.3 (Deleted)
C ity
322 (General, Residential Pool and Deck
Additional reference to California
Illumination)
Codes
Chapter 4 (Deleted)
n
Chapter 5 (Deleted)
n
Chapter 6 (Deleted)
n
Additional reference to California
703.1 (General)
Codes
802.1 (Materials of Components and
Additional reference to California
Accessories)
Codes
Additional reference to California
802.2 (Structural Design)
Codes
Administrative change by Chartered
901.2 (General)
C ity
Administrative change by Chartered
903 (Added Section)
C ity
Administrative change by Chartered
904 (Added Section)
C ity
Administrative change by Chartered
905 (Added Section)
City
Administrative change by Chartered
906 (Added Section)
City
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 8 of 11
907 (Added Section) Administrative change by Chartered
City
a. The City of Newport Beach ("City") is located in an area subject to a climatic
condition of high winds. This environment is conducive to rapidly spreading fires.
Control of such fires requires a rapid response. Obstacles generated by a strong
wind, such as fallen trees, street lights and utility poles, and the requirement to
climb up flights of stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident
scene. Additionally, the amount of wind force at 60 ft. above the ground puts
rescue personnel at increased risk of injury when they are using aerial -type
firefighting apparatus above this height.
b. The City is located in a seismically active area. The public water system may be
damaged after a major seismic event. This would leave tall buildings vulnerable
to uncontrolled fires due to a lack of available water and an inability to pump
sufficient quantities of available water. A severe seismic event has the potential to
negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression activities because it is likely to
create obstacles similar to those indicated under the high wind section above.
C. Due to the geographic conditions of widespread development separated by
waterways and the street congestion caused by local geography, and due to the
seismic activity and the expected infrastructure damage inherent in a seismic
hazard zone, it is prudent to rely on automatic fire sprinkler systems to mitigate
extended Fire Department response time and keep fires manageable with
reduced fire flow (water) requirements for a given structure.
d. Many areas of Newport Beach have developments abutting wildland and canyons
with significant growths of vegetation of a highly combustible nature, classified as
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
e. The City, especially the foothill areas, is geographically located in an area
periodically subject to high temperature dry Santa Ana wind conditions of high
velocity. Moreover, the topographical conditions of the foothill areas and canyons
contained therein tend to accelerate the periodic high velocity winds by means of
a venturi effect. The use of non -rated or special purpose roofing materials as roof
coverings within the City of Newport Beach may create an inordinate fire hazard
during periods of high velocity winds when fire may spread across buildings with
roof coverings of non -rated combustible materials.
f. Embers from chimneys without spark arresters within the City, including the foothill
areas, coupled with the climatic, topographic and geographic conditions described
herein above, may permit the throwing of sparks, embers and cinders upon non-
rated and special purpose roofing material roofs during periods of high velocity
winds, thereby creating a fire hazard which in turn may spread throughout areas
where the roofs of structures are covered with wood shakes and shingles.
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 9 of 11
g. The City is subject to seismic activity which may result in damage to existing
structures that do not comply with current code. Repair of earthquake damage
according to California Existing Building Code requires upgrading the existing
building to a standard higher than that to which it was built, which creates a
financial hardship for the building owner to repair an earthquake -damaged
structure or strengthen it prior to a seismic event. The California Existing Building
Code provides a reasonable performance standard for strengthening and repair
of structures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA") requires
adoption of performance standards for the repair of damaged structures as a
condition of financial assistance after disasters.
h. The City is located in a seismically active area. There are earthquake faults that
run along both the northeastern and southwestern boundaries of Orange County.
The Newport -Inglewood Fault Zone (NIFZ) which runs through Orange County
was the source of the destructive 1933 Long Beach earthquake (6.3 magnitude,
hypocenter off Newport Beach coast), which took 120 lives, with areas damaged
from Laguna Beach to Marina del Rey and inland to Whittier, and poses one of
the greatest hazards to lives and property in the nation. Regional planning for
reoccurrence is recommended by the State of California, Department of
Conservation. There was also an earthquake in December 1989, with the
epicenter located near the City of Irvine. The fault on which this quake occurred
was unknown prior to this activity. The City of Newport Beach contains coastal
bluffs and hilly areas subject to landslides, earth induced landslides and it has
coastal areas subject to flooding and liquefaction.
The City has coastal and bay front areas with sandy soils and a shallow water
table at the same elevation as bay water elevation which fluctuates with the tide.
Sandy soils and high ground water level may cause the soils to liquefy during a
seismic event.
The City contains low lying coastal areas subject to flooding from sustained rain
with tides which hinder drainage to the bay. Certain other areas such as Balboa
Island are subject to water surges from drainage through back bay. Other
oceanfront areas are subject to flooding from storm -driven high waves which run
up and overtop coastal beach berms. West Newport Beach is subject to flooding
from the Santa Ana River and storm events with tides. The City of Newport Beach
participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and has adopted a
FEMA-required flood management ordinance with flood mitigation measures
including construction requirements contained in Newport Beach Municipal Code
Chapter 15.50.
k. Newport Beach is located in Southern California and can be subject to air
pollution, water and power shortages, climate change, and potential pollution of
bay water.
Due to the geographic conditions of widespread development separated by
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 10 of 11
waterways and the street congestion caused by local geography.
M. The City is a Charter City, therefore, topographical, geographical and climatic
conditions are not required to amend the administrative provisions within the code.
n. The City does not have jurisdiction over Public Pools. The enforcing agencies for
Public Pools are the California Department of Public Health and the local health
agency, County of Orange Health Care Agency, per Health and Safety Code
Sections 116050 and 131200 and Chapter 1, Division 1, Section 1.7 of the
California Building Code.
Section 2: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not
affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each section,
subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 3: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the operative part of this resolution.
Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to
the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the
activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of
the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3,
because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or
indirectly.
Resolution No. 2025-58
Page 11 of 11
Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution.
ADOPTED this 9th day of September 2025.
ATTEST: �� Flog
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Molly Perry �^
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Interim City Clerk c �t?"
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY A TORNEY'S OFFICE
Aa on C. Harp
City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss.
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH }
I, Molly Perry, Interim City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify
that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; the foregoing resolution, being Resolution
No. 2025-58 was duly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting
held on the 9th day of September, 2025, and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: Mayor Joe Stapleton, Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman, Councilmember Michelle
Barto, Councilmember Robyn Grant, Councilmember Sara J. Weber, Councilmember
Erik Weigand
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Noah Blom
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said
City this 10ffi day of September, 2025.
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A, Y, t4t-',
Moll Perr
Interim City Clerk ti.. .., .
City of Newport Beach,I�fia °'"'