title
CC - PUBLIC HEARING: (1) FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance that Amends the California Building Code and the California Fire Code Section 1006.3.4 to Allow a Single Exit Stairway in Residential Buildings up to Six Stories in Height; and (2) Adoption of a Resolution of Express Findings Pertaining to Local Climatic, Geological or Topographical Conditions.
body
Meeting Date: September 29, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Tim Koutsouros, Building Official, Planning & Development Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5802
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (9/24/2025)
Department Approval: Mark E. Muenzer, Planning & Development Director (9/23/2025) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt an urgency ordinance amending the California Building Code (CBC) and the California Fire Code (CFC) Section 1006.3.4 to allow a single exit stairway in residential buildings up to six stories in height and adopt the required local findings related to climatic, geological or topographical conditions.
BACKGROUND
On August 11, 2025, the City Council unanimously agreed to agendize a discussion on permitting single exit stairways in residential buildings up to six stories. Staff presented the item to the City Council for discussion and direction on September 9, 2025.
At the September 9th meeting, staff highlighted that the six-year local building code amendment freeze in Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) will take effect on October 1, 2025, and that research on single exit stairways by the State Fire Marshal under Assembly Bill 835 (AB 835) is expected to be completed after the October 1, 2025 deadline (January 2026).
Fire Department staff raised concerns about exit redundancy, impacts on evacuation and firefighting operat...
Click here for full text