The State Housing Law Program of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) continuously refines the building standards to make sure they are in compliance with new or changing laws and regulations and develops statewide building standards for new construction of hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, dwellings, and buildings accessory thereto.

The State Housing Law Program also develops the building standards necessary to provide accessibility in the design and construction of all housing other than publicly-funded housing. The building standards are published in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, known as the California Building Standards Code.

For affected codes and timing of changes, go to Current Developments and Proposed Building Standards for each cycle or project.

The California Code of Regulations, Title 24 is available for purchase.

The Department of Housing and Community Development’s mandatory building standards for recycled water systems for outdoor landscape irrigation in new residential construction are now invalidated. These regulations were developed during the 2016 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle and approved by the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) for inclusion into the 2016 California Plumbing Code and California Green Building Standards Code and became effective July 1, 2018.

These regulations have been declared invalid and are vacated. Please see the Peremptory Writ of Mandate (PDF) (Southern California District Council of Laborers vs. HCD et al.; Case No. BS171958) which includes Exhibit 1 identifying invalidated sections of the California Code of Regulations Title 24, 2016 California Plumbing Code (Part 5); and Exhibit 2 identifying invalidated sections in the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11).

Current Developments and Proposed Building Standards (Updated as Available)

2022 California Building Standards Code Development and Adoption Project (2022 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle)

The State Housing Law Program within the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) develops statewide building standards for new construction of hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, and one- and two-family dwelling units and accessory buildings thereto. These building standards are submitted to the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) for approval and adoption as part of the 2022 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle.

The 2022 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle will result in the 2022 Intervening Code Supplement to Title 24. The 2022 Intervening Code Supplement will become effective on July 1, 2024.

Development of Proposed Building Standards

Part 2 California Building Code, Chapter 11A (2023 CBC)

Part 11 California Green Building Standards Code (2023 CALGreen)

Department of Housing and Community Development
California Building Standards Commission

Approved Building Standards

2022 California Building Standards Code Development and Adoption Project (2021 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle)

The State Housing Law Program within the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) develops statewide building standards for new construction of hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, and one- and two-family dwelling units and accessory buildings thereto. These building standards are submitted to the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) for approval and adoption as part of the 2021 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle.

The 2021 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle will result in the 2022 California Building Standards Code books. The 2022 California Building Standards Code will become effective on January 1, 2023.

Approved Building Standards

Structural Design/Lateral Forces (SD/LF) and Building, Fire, and Other (BFO) Code Advisory Committees
Part 2 California Building Code (2022 CBC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on February 2, 2022

Part 2.5 California Residential Code (2022 CRC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on February 2, 2022

Part 10 California Existing Building Code (2022 CEBC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on February 2, 2022

Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, and Energy (PEME) Code Advisory Committee

Part 3 California Electrical Code (2022 CEC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 6, 2022

Part 4 California Mechanical Code (2022 CMC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 6, 2022

Part 5 California Plumbing Code (2022 CPC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 6, 2022

Accessibility (Access) and Green Building (Green) Code Advisory Committees

Part 11 California Green Building Standards Code (2022 CALGreen)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 6, 2022

Part 2 California Building Code, Chapter 11A (2022 CBC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on February 2, 2022

The State Housing Law Program develops statewide building standards for new construction of hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, and one- and two-family dwelling units and accessory buildings thereto. These building standards are submitted to the California Building Standards Commission for approval and adoption. The 2019 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle will produce the 2019 California Building Standards Code Supplements for the 2019 code books. These supplements became effective on July 1, 2021.

Approved Building Standards

Part 2 California Building Code (2019 CBC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on August 14, 2020.

Part 2 California Building Code (2019 CBC, Chapter 11A)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on July 13, 2020.

Part 2.5 California Residential Code (2019 CRC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on August 14, 2020.

Part 3 California Electrical Code (2019 CEC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on July 13, 2020.

Part 4 California Mechanical Code (2019 CMC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on July 13, 2020.

Part 5 California Plumbing Code (2019 CPC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on July 13, 2020.

Part 10 California Existing Building Code (2019 CEBC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on August 14, 2020.

Part 11 California Green Building Standards Code (2019 CALGreen)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on July 13, 2020.

2019 California Building Standards Code Development and Adoption Project (2018 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle)

The State Housing Law Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) develops new building standards, which are submitted to the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) as part of the 2018 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle.

The State Housing Law Program develops statewide building standards for new construction of hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, dwellings and buildings accessory thereto. The building standards are published in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, known as the California Building Standards Code.

To request a copy of the documents listed below, please contact HCD’s State Housing Law Program at (800) 952-8356. Note: Please allow ten business days for your request to be processed.

Approved Building Standards

Part 2 California Building Code (2018 IBC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 7, 2018.

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons
  • Nine Point Criteria

Part 2.5 California Residential Code (2018 IRC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 7, 2018.

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons
  • Nine Point Criteria

Part 3 California Electrical Code (2017 NEC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 15, 2019.

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons
  • Nine Point Criteria

Part 4 California Mechanical Code (2018 UMC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 15, 2019.

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons
  • Nine Point Criteria

Part 5 California Plumbing Code (2018 UPC)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 15, 2019. (Portions of the approved building standards relating to recycled water systems are now invalid and are vacated. See the Peremptory Writ of Mandate (PDF) for more information.)

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons
  • Nine Point Criteria

Part 11 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen)

Final Approved Documents: Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on January 15, 2019. (Portions of the approved building standards relating to recycled water systems are now invalid and are vacated. See the Peremptory Writ of Mandate (PDF) for more information.)

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons
  • Nine Point Criteria

2018 California Building Standards Code Emergency Regulations

The State Housing Law Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has developed emergency building standards applicable to the 2016 California Building Standards Code, specifically the 2016 California Building Code and the 2016 California Residential Code. These building standards, which were submitted to the California Building Standards Commission, are outside the normal Triennial or Intervening Code Adoption Cycles. The emergency building standards were developed in response to Chapter 786, Statutes of 2017 (Assembly Bill 932), which requires HCD to review and approve specified local jurisdiction’s emergency housing draft ordinances.

To request a copy of the documents listed below, please contact HCD’s State Housing Law Program at (800) 952-8356. Note: Please allow ten business days for your request to be processed.

Approved Emergency Building Standards

Title 24, Parts 2 and 2.5: 2016 California Building Code and 2016 California Residential Code

Emergency Housing

Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on December 7, 2018.

  • Final Express Terms
  • Final Statement of Reasons

Stakeholder Input and Helpful Links

Stakeholder Input

Stakeholder input and participation is necessary to assist HCD in developing building standards, which will continue to assure the availability of affordable housing and uniform statewide code enforcement; to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public and occupants of housing and buildings accessory thereto.  Here you will find the project information, reports, resources and ways to get involved in the process and assist HCD in this project.

Meeting Notices and Agendas

Department of Housing and Community Development

California Building Standards Commission

Please visit the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) Calendar of Events to check for upcoming building code development and adoption meetings.