La Habra city council on Monday approved first-reading introductions or codifications for four ordinance items covering building codes, noise-control enforcement, special-event permitting and mulch procurement for organic materials.

The council unanimously carried motions to: (1) introduce an ordinance and adopt a companion resolution to incorporate the 2025 California building and related codes (including the new Wildland Urban Interface Code) into the La Habra Municipal Code; (2) amend Chapter 9.32 (noise control) to reflect current city enforcement practice and replace obsolete county references; (3) adopt a zone change to add Chapter 18.65 establishing small and large special-event permits (and to keep the previous application windows of 90 days for large events and 45 days for small events); and (4) add a municipal code section to allow limited procurement-credit use of mulch consistent with SB 1383 and subsequent state bills (AB 2902 and AB 2346). Each motion passed unanimously with no recorded dissents.

Why it matters: The building-code update brings state-adopted 2025 standards into local code and adds the Wildland Urban Interface rules that affect construction in higher fire-hazard areas; the noise-code cleanup localizes enforcement to city inspectors and police; the special-event code formalizes a permitting practice staff has administered and sets thresholds and submittal windows for events; the mulch code gives the city another compliance option for state organics procurement rules by allowing limited credit for contractor-produced mulch under specified safety standards.

Key details

- 2025 California building standards: Deputy Director Miranda Col Corona presented the staff report describing statewide adoption of the 2025 building, residential, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, green building and energy codes and the newly consolidated Wildland Urban Interface Code. Staff recommended introducing the ordinance; the council voted to introduce the ordinance and adopt Resolution CC 2025 (findings of local conditions) and set a second reading for Nov. 3, 2025. The ordinance applies primarily to new construction and permitted renovations beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

- Noise-code amendments: Director Susan Kim told the council the proposed amendments remove obsolete references to county ordinances and transfer certain enforcement authorities to city code-enforcement staff and police officers, with the director retaining variance authority and the planning commission hearing appeals of director decisions. The council approved first reading.

- Special-event permits (Zone Change ZC25-003 / Chapter 18.65): Planning Manager Sonya Louie said staff codified longstanding departmental practice and created two permit tracks: ministerial review for small events and discretionary (public hearing) review for large events. The draft defined large events as those with 250 or more attendees, events lasting five or more days, use of more than 25% of on-site parking, closure of public streets, or inflatable devices larger than 200 square feet; large-event applications were set at a 120-day submittal recommendation in the draft, but the council agreed to retain prior windows of 90 days for large events and 45 days for small events. The ordinance allows up to 12 small event approvals per property per year (from prior practice of four) with discretionary alternatives for exceptions.

- Mulch procurement (SB 1383 / AB 2902 / AB 2346): Senior management analyst Jeff Henderson explained the state’s organics procurement regime and that the 2024 bills allow the city to obtain a limited portion (capped at 10%) of its procurement credit from mulch produced from contractor tree work if the city codifies where the mulch can be produced and specifies contamination/pathogen controls. Council introduced the ordinance to codify the city’s prior August 18, 2025 resolution and to preserve the option.

Votes and procedure: Each item was moved and seconded and recorded as “Motion carried unanimously.” Roll call at the meeting recorded all council members present. For items introduced tonight, the ordinance adoption process includes a required second reading and, for the building-code item, a scheduled second-reading hearing on Nov. 3, 2025.

What was not decided: These were first-reading introductions or codifications in most cases; final adoption (second reading or subsequent approval) is required for certain ordinances. No new fees or specific implementation contracts were approved tonight beyond the actions listed above.

Ending: The council completed the public-hearing items and moved on to community calendar items and public comments.