Green Building Requirements
Berkeley has several green building requirements that need to be considered during the design phase for new buildings and major additions.
Berkeley’s green building requirements are helping reduce our community’s dependence on fossil-fuels. They are designed to transition our community to carbon-free building materials and operation, with requirements for renewable energy and efficient use of energy, water, and building materials. See this presentation, handout, and the information below for more detail.
Natural gas prohibition
Applies to: All new buildings
Berkeley prohibits natural gas infrastructure (i.e. gas hookups) in new buildings of all types. It does not impact existing buildings, additions, or alterations, including accessory dwelling units that are built inside or attached to an existing home. It allows for limited specific exceptions and a public interest exemption. Read the full text of the law in BMC 12.80.
LEED Gold certification
Applies to: New buildings and additions of more than 20,000 square feet in the C-DMU (Downtown Mixed Use) Zoning District
All new buildings and additions of more than 20,000 square feet in the Downtown Mixed Use Zoning District must obtain a LEED Gold or a GreenPoint Rated Silver certification or higher. Read the full text of the law in BMC 23.204.130(G).
Water efficient landscaping requirements
Applies to:
- New construction projects with a total landscape area greater than 500 square feet
- Rehabilitations of existing landscape with a total landscape area greater than 2,500 square feet
Projects with a new landscape area of 500 square feet or greater, and renovations with a landscape area of 2,500 square feet or greater, are required to comply with:
- State of California’s Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (WELO)
- EBMUD Section 31: Water Efficiency Requirements
- Bay-Friendly Basics Landscape Checklist
Learn more about the State of California’s Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (WELO) and EBMUD’s Section 31.
Mandatory solar PV systems
Applies to: New nonresidential (3 habitable stories or fewer) and new residential and hotel/motel buildings (10 habitable stories or fewer)
Most new buildings must install solar energy systems at time of construction, subject to exceptions for tall buildings and other specific conditions. New low-rise residential building solar energy systems sizing requirements vary based on the specific features of the proposed building design. High-rise multifamily buildings, hotel/motel occupancies, and nonresidential buildings must either have solar panels covering at least 15% of the total roof area (solar zone) or a minimum solar system output of 1 watt/sq ft of roof area (DC power rating). Read the full text of the law in BMC 19.36.
All-electric readiness
Applies to: All new buildings
New buildings of all types must either:
- Be all electric (e.g., not use natural gas), or
- Meet energy efficiency and electrification readiness requirements
Read the full text of the law in BMC 19.36.
Electric Vehicle charging
Applies to: All new buildings
Single Family Homes, Duplexes, and Townhomes
- At least one parking space per dwelling unit with on-site parking must be equipped with raceway, wiring, and power to support a future Level 2 EV charging station
Multifamily Buildings
- 20% of parking spaces must be equipped with raceways, wiring, and power to support future Level 2 EV charging stations
- 80% of parking spaces must be equipped with connecting raceways (no additional electric service capacity required)
Non-Residential Buildings (when 10 or more parking spaces are constructed) and Hotel/Motels
- 10% of parking spaces must have Level 2 charging stations installed (a DC Fast Charge station may be installed in place of 10 required Level 2 stations)
- 40% of parking spaces must be equipped with connecting raceways (no additional electric service capacity required)
Read the full text of the law in BMC 19.37.
Low carbon concrete
Applies to: All construction projects subject to CALGreen
Construction projects are required to reduce amount of cement used in concrete by at least 25%. Low-carbon replacements for cement include fly ash, slag, silica fume, or rice hull ash. Some exceptions apply; read the full text of the law in BMC 19.37.
Waste diversion
Applies to:
- All nonresidential projects
- Residential additions, alterations valued over $100,000, and demolitions valued over $3,000
Construction projects meeting the criteria above must recycle or salvage for reuse:
- 100% of excavated soil and land-clearing debris
- 100% of concrete
- 100% of asphalt
- Minimum of 65%of the nonhazardous construction and demolition waste
Read the full text of the law in BMC 19.37.
Permit Application Documentation
Berkeley’s requirements extend the California State Green Building Code (CALGreen) and California Energy Code (local amendments to the Energy Code are known as a reach code). Document your compliance by submitting the appropriate checklists below with your building permit application:
Related Documents
News
