GOVERNMENT
CITY OF DOWNEY
NOTICE AND SUMMARY OF INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCES
Notice is hereby given that on January 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., at a regularly scheduled meeting to be held at Downey City Hall (11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California), the City Council of the City of Downey will consider the adoption of four Interim Urgency Ordinances
which would adopt the portions of the California Building Standards Code and make various amendments thereto based upon local climatic, topographical, and geological conditions. The following is a summary of each of the proposed Ordinances:
• Adoption by reference of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code, including Appendix H (“Signs”), to prescribe regulations governing the construction, modification, occupancy, maintenance, and demolition of buildings and structures, and making certain additions and amendments to address seismic conditions present in the City of Downey and Los Angeles County.
• Adoption by reference of Appendix J (“Grading Regulations”) of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code, and making certain administrative amendments and additions, as well as certain amendments and additions to address climatic (e.g., high temperatures, low precipitation, extreme winds, and insufficient water supply) and seismic conditions.
• Adoption by reference of the 2025 Edition of the California Residential Code, including Appendices BB (“Tiny Houses”), BF (“Patio Covers”), BG (“Sound Transmission”) and C1 (“Swimming Pool Safety Act”), to prescribe regulations governing the construction, modification, occupancy, maintenance, and demolition of detached one- and two-family dwellings, townhomes not more than three stories, and accessory structures thereto, and making certain additions and amendments to address climatic (e.g., high temperatures, low precipitation, extreme winds, and insufficient water supply), topographical conditions (including those that inhibit and hamper response time by emergency service vehicles), and seismic conditions.
• Adoption by reference of the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, including Appendices A through O (inclusive of Appendices BB and CC) for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, and making certain administrative amendments and additions, as well as certain local amendments and additions to address climatic (e.g., high temperatures, low precipitation, extreme winds, and insufficient water supply), topographical conditions (including those that inhibit and hamper response time by emergency service vehicles), and seismic conditions.
The adoption of the local amendments set forth in these Ordinances are substantially equivalent to amendments the City adopted to the 2022 California Building Standards, and are urgently necessary in order to preserve the immediate public peace, health, safety, and general welfare, as the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code became effective on January 1, 2026, without consideration of the local conditions in Downey and Los Angeles County.
Note: The above is simply a summary of the Ordinances. To obtain a full understanding of the Ordinances (including those codes being considered for adoption by reference), they should be read in their entirety. A copy of the full text of each Ordinance is posted in the City Clerk’s office at 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241, or on the City’s website at http://www.downeyca.org.
M. Alicia Duarte, CMC
City Clerk
The Downey Patriot
1/1/26