Laserfiche WebLink
Page 4 of 11 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />Commercial Codes <br />o Electrification and expanded solar and battery storage mandates <br />o Required EV charging infrastructure scaled by occupancy <br />o Stricter seismic design and anchoring of equipment <br />o Taller Wood Buildings (Mass Timber) <br />o Improved accessibility standards <br />Another key update to the new 2025 Building Code is the implementation of a Wildland-Urban Interface <br />(WUI) Code instead of the previous Wildfire Building Code. The new 2025 California Wildland-Urban <br />Interface Code consolidates all wildfire safety rules from the California Building Code and Residential <br />Code. It simplifies compliance and strengthens California’s wildfire resilience for new and existing <br />developments in fire-prone areas. This initiative proactively limits building materials that are more prone <br />to fire and minimizes fire risk. <br />Additionally, staff propose to amend the following articles in Chapter 9 (Buildings) that are not part of the <br />Building Code but relate to the Building Code to: <br />Identify the Building Official or their designee as the administrator of the codes in Chapter 9 <br />Incorporate an amendment to the Residential Code that requires address numbers be illuminated and <br />visible in the dark <br />The amendments and additions recommended are necessary to address local climatic, geographical, and <br />topographical conditions in Redwood City. The California Building Code incorporates updated United <br />States Geological Survey (USGS) Risk-Targeted Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCER) values as part <br />of its seismic design updates. Since Redwood City is located in an area prone to severe seismic activity, <br />soil liquefaction, and excessive settling, this requirement is recurring and necessary in every code update. <br />Multiple jurisdictions within San Mateo County have this requirement. <br />Building Code Public Outreach <br />On Thursday, August 14, City staff held an outreach webinar with local developers, builders, and residents <br />over Zoom. The following questions and concerns were discussed: <br />1. Impact of State-mandated “freeze” of Residential Codes and its effect on the local code adoption <br />process [Response provided at the webinar but also incorporated in the Background section of this <br />report.] <br />2. Clarification on the maximum heights allowed for Mass Timber construction under the new Code <br />[A Mass Timber building’s maximum height, including the eighteen-story limit, depends on its <br />specific use (occupancy group), construction type, and sprinkler system. Additionally, the City <br />Zoning Code may also limit overall height.] <br />The Board of Building Review met on August 20, 2025, to review staff recommendations. The Board voted <br />3-0 (two members absent) in favor of the recommended changes to local Building Code and Municipal <br />Code amendments discussed earlier in this report and shown in detail within the draft ordinance exhibits <br />attached to this report. In addition to their support for the proposed amendments the Board provided the <br />following comments: <br />10.B. - Page 4 of 64 <br />244