Action Alert: Support AB 306 – Building Code Appeals Reform
AIA California is proud to sponsor AB 306 (Schultz, Wicks, and Hadwick), a newly introduced bill that would improve consistency, transparency, and accountability in California’s building code system.
The bill was recently amended into print and will soon be heard in the Legislature. As lawmakers begin considering this proposal, we encourage AIA California members to contact their State Senator and express support for AB 306.
Take action using the two easy steps below or scroll down for more information:
1. Find your State Senator Here
2. Click to Download a form support letter.
Why AB 306 Matters
California has statewide building standards, yet those standards are interpreted and applied independently by more than 540 local jurisdictions. As a result, identical code provisions can be interpreted differently from city to city, innovative materials and construction methods often require separate approvals in multiple jurisdictions, and local code amendments can create unintended barriers to housing production and adaptive reuse.
These inconsistencies create uncertainty, increase project costs, delay housing delivery, and make it more difficult to scale innovation across California.
AB 306 addresses this challenge by creating a more practical statewide framework for resolving significant building code disputes, code interpretations, and code equivalency determinations while improving transparency in code administration.
A Long-Developing Proposal
The concepts behind AB 306 have been discussed for years by housing, construction, and design stakeholders and is modeled after similar successful programs at the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Division of the State Architect. The issue was highlighted through discussions convened by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, which identified inconsistent code interpretations as a barrier to housing production and innovation. More recently, the proposal was included among the recommendations of the Assembly Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation.
Learn more:
What AB 306 Would Do
AB 306 would:
Preserving Local Authority
AB 306 does not eliminate local control or weaken California’s building safety standards. Local governments would continue to retain authority to adopt more restrictive standards where authorized by law and supported by required findings, while local building officials would maintain project-specific authority regarding alternative materials and methods.
Rather than replacing local authority, the bill creates a statewide framework for addressing issues whose impacts extend beyond a single project or jurisdiction.
Take Action
As AB 306 will soon be heard in the California State Senate, now is the time for architects and design professionals to make their voices heard.
We encourage members to contact their State Senator, share examples of inconsistent code interpretations that have created unnecessary project delays or costs, and express support for AB 306.
Together, we can help create a more transparent, predictable, and efficient building code system that supports housing delivery, adaptive reuse, and innovation while maintaining California’s commitment to public health, safety, and welfare.
1. Find your State Senator here.
2. Click to Download a Form Support Letter.
