Special Announcement

2025 California Building Standards Codes are Coming! The effective date of the New Codes is January 1, 2026. Our website will be updated as information becomes available, for now the New Codes are available for viewing from the Building Standards Commission Website. 

All applications for building permits submitted on or after January 1, 2023 and up until December 31, 2025, must comply with 2022 California Building Standards Code. Local Adoption and California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) Filing with Acceptance: Ordinance No. 604 (With CBSC Filing Acceptance) - More Information on Supplements and Errata are available at the Building Standards Commission site.

 What is New in the 2022 California Building Codes?

General

The City of La Quinta Building Division uses the following codes in the plan check process and in field inspections:

• 2022 California Building Code
• 2022 California Residential Code
• 2022 California Mechanical Code
• 2022 California Plumbing Code
• 2022 California Electrical Code
• 2022 California Energy Code
• 2022 California Green Building Standards Code

Structures are governed by the Code that was in effect at the time of application for building permit. Consequently, any building permitted or in plan review under the previous Code will be governed by that Code, provided that the application or permit does not expire. For example, applications processed between 01/01/2020 and 12/31/2022, will be governed by the 2019 California Codes.

Design Criteria

In addition, for structures in La Quinta, design for the following requirements:

• Seismic Design Category: D₂ - Residential Code; D - Building Code
• Wind Design: Special Wind Region - 110 mph (usually results in 85 mph for Allowable Stress Design); Exposure "C"
• Climate Zone: 15
• Subject to Damage from: Weathering - Negligible, Frost - N/A, Termite - Very Heavy
• Winter Design Temperature: 34°F
• Ice Barrier Underlayment Required: No
• Flood Hazards: A/AO/X - See FEMA Map
• Air Freezing Index: No Freezing Data Recorded
• Mean Annual Temperature: 72.3°F

Please Note: These are general requirements. Licensed engineers and architects are responsible for considering all site-specific conditions and code requirements in design documents.

Please call the Design & Development Department at (760) 777-7125 if you have other design questions.

Miscellaneous

The California Energy Code, supplemental material, and compliance forms are available at the California Energy Commission Web site.

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