Council goes over fire, building code updates

By Michael Chaldu · Wed Feb 11 2026

City also approves 2026 Community Development Block Grant recommendations

ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council spent much of a busy Feb. 10 regular meeting going over update in the Fire and Building Code from 2025.

Phil Dunsmore, Atascadero's community development director introduced the Public Hearing item, explaining that the state building and fire codes are updated on a three-year cycle. The version presented at the meeting updated the 2022 edition, with the 2025 California Codes becoming effective throughout the state on Jan. 1, 2026. Each code update cycle typically includes local amendments that are designed to reflect local conditions.

From there, Atascadero Fire Department Community Risk Reduction Battalion Chief and Fire Marshall Dave Van Son identified the four local amendments in the 2025 code:

• Roof assemblies must meet specific fire-resistant criteria to prevent ember ignition.
• Exterior walls and projections must use ignition-resistant materials and assemblies.
• Decks and accessory structures are subject to special ignition resistance requirements.
• Vents, exterior doors, glazing, and enclosures must be designed to limit ember entry and fire spread.

Van Son also pointed out that the update also works off the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone map that was heavily debated by council in May 2025 before being approved. The map replaces the city's Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Area map that had been used earlier.

As for the amendments, Councilmember Seth Peek asked about a requirement of garage doors to have a perimeter gap of less than 1/8th of an inch, to prevent any flames or smoke from coming through, and the requirement of "metal flashing," a durable, weather-resistant material used to seal gaps in walls and doors.

"'Metal flashing'? What is that?" Peek asked. "I've never seen that for garage doors."

However, Building Official Bruce St. John assured Peek and the council that the proper material would be readily available from sheet metal or garage door manufacturers.

Councilmember Susan Funk asked Van Son to elaborate on how the requirement of a Class-A roof helps the fire department fight fires. Van Son explained that a Class A roof has two-hour fire resistance, opposed to one hour for Class B.

"It gives firefighters more time to check on other, more urgent aspects inside because it takes longer to penetrate the roof," he said.

Mayor Pro Tem Mark Dariz asked if homeowners were open to violations if their home had been unaltered, but ran afoul of any new regulations. Van Son assured them that any checks for compliance would be for those who made additions or alterations to their home.

Another issue that came under debate was that any additions to a residence could not exceed 50% of the original square footage, while alterations could not exceed 75%. That number seemed rather tight for Peek.

"The first house I bought was 1,000 square feet," he said. "If I'm limited to 500 square feet on an addition, that's not very big."

Mayor Charles Bourbeau suggested a "sliding scale" of percentage if a structure was under a certain size.

"I don’t know how we would do that on a rolling scale," Van Son. "We have the current percentages, because they're easy to understand and easy to enforce."

Funk then suggested the maximum could be given as 800 square feet or 50%, whichever is greater, which got some positive feedback, but ultimately was not included in the motion to approve. Council eventually OK'd the first readings of Draft Ordinance A (fire code) and Draft Ordinance B (building code) by a 5-0 vote.

In other business, the council approved the final staff recommendations for the 2026 Community Development Block Grants in Atascadero.

The 2026 CDBG award process began in the fall of 2025, with workshops held throughout the county to solicit public comment on community needs. The county published a request for CDBG proposals, and the City of Atascadero received four applications.

The total available funding for the 2026 cycle, based on previous levels, is anticipated to be approximately $176,247, but final funding amounts are anticipated to be released by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD) this spring.

A public hearing was held by the City Council on Nov. 12, 2025, to review applications and make draft recommendations for 2026 Cycle CDBG funding, from which the final recommendations were presented in the latest meeting.

The funding recommendations approved were:

In the Public Facilities & Housing Projects category, all $114,561 of funds were given to the city for Viejo Camino Sidewalk and ADA improvements.

In the Public Services category ($26,437), $15,000 to the city for youth activities scholarships, and $11,437 to El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) for operation of the homeless shelter.

In Administration ($35,249), $22,912 went to SLO County and $12,337 to the City of Atascadero, in both cases for program administration costs.

Public Works Analyst Ryan Betz noted the whole block grant funding amount could be slightly different, and councilmembers agreed with a suggestion by city resident Geoff Auslin during Public Communication that any additional funds go to ECHO. Approval of the funding recommendations passes by a 5-0 vote.

The City Council will meet next on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m.