Stoyan Bumbalov head shot

Stoyan Bumbalov joined the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) as its Executive Director on May 1, 2024. Stoyan has over 15 years of experience using and developing building codes and standards. He started in 2008 as a building inspector and plans examiner in the City of Fortuna, California, and then began his state service with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in 2010. At HCD, he was part of the team responsible for the development and adoption of the provisions in the California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (Title 24) related to residential buildings and structures. He also acted as a subject matter expert in projects associated with Title 24 development and other rulemaking activities.

In 2017, he promoted to a State Housing Law program manager position at HCD, where he oversaw development of residential regulations for Title 24. He was also responsible for providing training and education for inspectors and plans examiners, local enforcing agencies, design professionals and other code users.

In 2019, Stoyan launched his own consulting firm to share his building code expertise—particularly related to state and federal accessibility requirements. Then, in 2020, he was selected to be the Managing Director of the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC), a state program very similar to CBSC. In that role, he directed the technical and administrative functions of the council, including:

  • Adopting and amending the Washington state building codes, including the residential and commercial energy codes.
  • Developing state building regulations
  • Working with the state’s administration and state Legislature.
  • Monitoring and providing technical expertise on proposed legislative bills
  • Representing the SBCC to the media and public
  • Interacting with industry stakeholders and associations

…and myriad other leadership duties.

Stoyan has earned multiple certifications within the building industry, including Certified Access Specialist (CASp) and eight International Code Council inspector certificates. He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria.

Stoyan is happy to be back in California and is looking forward to working with the CBSC team to administer the process of developing Title 24 effectively and efficiently.

Stoyan enjoys all forms of outside activities, including gardening. In the last ten years, he has invested a significant amount of time in organic winemaking, but his biggest achievement is a 5-gallon container with home-made vinegar. A retired boxer, he loves punching his boxing bag because the bag doesn’t punch him back. An important part of his evenings is arguing with the family husky and going for a walk with his wife.