7 adopted codes · 64 cities tracked
California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)
California Building Code (CBC) - Title 24 Part 2
All commercial/public buildings statewide
California Residential Code (CRC) - Title 24 Part 2.5
One- and two-family dwellings statewide
California Electrical Code (CEC) - Title 24 Part 3
Electrical installations statewide
California Mechanical Code (CMC) - Title 24 Part 4
HVAC and mechanical systems statewide
California Plumbing Code (CPC) - Title 24 Part 5
Plumbing systems statewide
California Energy Code - Title 24 Part 6
Energy efficiency ALL buildings statewide
California Historical Building Code - Title 24 Part 8
Historic building preservation and rehabilitation
California Fire Code (CFC) - Title 24 Part 9
Fire prevention and life safety statewide
California Existing Building Code - Title 24 Part 10
Alterations/additions to existing buildings
California Green Building Standards (CALGreen) - Title 24 Part 11
MANDATORY green building standards ALL new construction
California Referenced Standards Code - Title 24 Part 12
Referenced standards compilation
California WUI Code - CBC Chapter 7A
Wildland-Urban Interface fire-resistive construction
ASCE 7 - Minimum Design Loads
Structural design loads (wind, seismic, snow)
ACI 318 - Structural Concrete
Structural concrete design and construction
AISC 360 - Structural Steel
Structural steel building design
Solar PV Mandate (CEC Section 150.1(c)14)
Mandatory solar PV for new residential construction
Cool Roof Requirements (Title 24 Part 6)
Reflective roofing for energy efficiency
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures
ASCE 7-22 - Referenced for seismic, wind, snow, and flood loads
California has the MOST STRINGENT building codes in the nation. Title 24 is updated on a 3-year cycle (current: 2025 edition effective Jan 1, 2026). CALGreen is the first mandatory green building code in the US. Solar PV is mandatory on all new homes. Seismic design governs nearly all structural decisions — most of CA is SDC D-F. WUI fire zones cover millions of acres with special construction requirements. Local jurisdictions may adopt MORE restrictive codes but never less. Energy Code (Part 6) is CA-specific and significantly more stringent than IECC. Cities like SF, LA, and Berkeley often adopt CalGreen Tier 1 or Tier 2 as mandatory.