Confirm the permit uses the 2025 California Electrical Code, Title 24 Part 3, effective January 1, 2026 and based on the 2023 National Electrical Code, and that the electrical general notes do not cite a different NEC edition or the 2022 CEC. Then identify which state agency’s amendments apply, because the CEC carries amendments from the Building Standards Commission, DSA, HCD, OSHPD, and the State Fire Marshal, and trace the amended topics that affect the project, such as health care, fire pumps, emergency systems, energy storage, and EV charging. AI can flag conflicts; the electrical engineer and the authority having jurisdiction decide compliance.
What does the California Electrical Code cover?
The California Electrical Code is Part 3 of the California Building Standards Code, Title 24. The commission’s free document of California-specific amendments says it is based on the 2023 National Electrical Code and lists the adopting agencies: the Building Standards Commission, the Division of the State Architect structural safety program, HCD, OSHPD, and the State Fire Marshal. A California Article 89 sets out administration and the scope of each agency’s authority ahead of the NEC articles, and the amendments touch articles including 90, 100, 110, 210, 406, 517, 620, 625, 680, 695, 700, 705, 706, and 760.
The California Building Standards Commission states that the 2025 Title 24 was published July 1, 2025 with an effective date of January 1, 2026, and lists Part 3 in the 2025 edition. Its 2024 triennial cycle page says the cycle adopts the 2024 editions of the ICC and IAPMO model codes and the 2023 edition of the NEC. The commission’s CEC amendments document says the code is based on the 2023 NEC, and HCD’s final statement of reasons discusses adopting chapters from the 2023 NEC. Checked October 19, 2026. The code in effect when the permit application is submitted is the one that applies, cities and counties may adopt local amendments with findings filed with the commission, and the commission’s 2025 intervening cycle will publish supplements effective July 1, 2027.
Model code checks are in the NFPA 70 guide. Health care facilities under OSHPD carry the most Article 517 amendments, and HCAI publishes code application notices for that article; the NFPA 99 guide covers the health care systems around it. The California page lists the other Title 24 parts and official sources.
Gather the electrical set and the agency context
Collect the electrical general notes and code references, one-line and riser diagrams, panel schedules, power and lighting plans, emergency and standby power drawings, fire pump and fire alarm power connections, EV charging and energy storage drawings if present, the electrical specifications, and the load calculations. Add the code analysis that names the occupancy and the agency with jurisdiction, such as a hospital under OSHPD, a school under DSA, or housing under HCD.
For health care work, add the HCAI code application notices you rely on, because they explain how the agency applies its Article 517 amendments.
Trace CEC decisions through the electrical set
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Edition and basis | Electrical general notes, specifications, cover sheet | Confirm the 2025 CEC is cited and that no sheet or section relies on a different NEC edition or the 2022 CEC. |
| Agency with jurisdiction | Code analysis, cover sheet, Article 89 scope | Record which agency’s amendments apply, since a hospital, school, or housing project brings a different set. |
| Health care systems | One-line, essential electrical system diagrams, panel schedules, HCAI notices | Check the branches and transfer equipment on the one-line match the panel schedules and the amended Article 517 basis the project follows. |
| Emergency and fire pump power | One-line, fire pump drawings, emergency system plans, specifications | Confirm the fire pump and emergency sources, transfer switches, and routing agree across electrical and fire protection sheets. |
| EV charging and energy storage | Site plan, EV and storage drawings, load calculations, CALGreen checklist | Match charging spaces and storage equipment to the electrical capacity shown and the CALGreen and energy documents. |
| Local amendments | City or county ordinance, general notes | Record any local electrical amendments and whether the notes cite them. |
Fire pump power continues in the fire pump specifications guide, emergency sources in the engine generator specifications guide, and energy forms in the California Energy Code guide.
Example: a medical office building on two NEC editions
Hypothetical example. A two-story outpatient building in San Diego is being permitted after January 1, 2026. The electrical general notes cite the 2022 California Electrical Code, the essential electrical system one-line labels its branches using terms from the current edition, the panel schedules use earlier branch names, and the code analysis does not say whether any part of the building falls under OSHPD.
The electrical general notes cite the 2022 CEC for a permit under the 2025 Title 24, the one-line and panel schedules use different branch names, and the code analysis does not state which agency has jurisdiction. Confirm the edition and the agency, and coordinate the one-line, panel schedules, and notes.
The electrical engineer updates the notes and schedules and confirms jurisdiction with the architect. The finding is a document conflict; the authority decides which rules apply.
Review California electrical drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Add the California Electrical Code edition the project uses from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it, and the jurisdiction’s published amendments. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the electrical general notes, one-line and riser diagrams, panel schedules, power and lighting plans, emergency and fire pump drawings, EV charging and energy storage drawings, load calculations, code analysis, and electrical specifications. Flag a cited NEC or CEC edition other than the 2025 CEC, no stated agency with jurisdiction, health care branches that differ between the one-line and schedules, emergency or fire pump sources that differ between disciplines, and EV or storage equipment the electrical capacity does not show. Use the supplied CEC and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets and documents involved. It does not calculate loads, fault currents, or voltage drop.
Document review does not certify compliance or approve a permit. Those remain with the electrical engineer and the authority having jurisdiction.