GREEN BUILDINGS COMMITTEE

Building Electrification Policy Tracker

An all-electric requirement for new buildings is one of the most cost-effective and impactful actions a city can take to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. There has been a lot of momentum for local building electrification policies within Los Angeles County in 2022. This page is our attempt to put everything in one place.

Updated January 28, 2022

Agoura Hills

Agoura Hills passed an all-electric reach code for new construction on January 25, 2023 for implementation on February 25. The policy covers all building types, with the exceptions of attached ADUs, swimming pools and spas, laboratories, commercial cooking equipment, and the rebuilding of existing residential units after a natural disaster. The policy also included new EV charger requirements in new construction.

Burbank

Burbank recently adopted a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan that calls for electrification of 100% of new construction by 2023 and electrification of 10% of existing buildings by 2030 (100% by 2045). The City is expected to make public a proposal to to implement the new buildings goal in February or March. Ultimate passage would likely take place in the Summer. Our chapter is part of a new coalition that has formed to advocate for as strong a policy as possible.

Culver City

Culver City adopted a framework for banning gas in new buildings with additional efficiency requirements on October 10, 2022. The direction for council was for a strong policy with minimal exceptions. City staff have not yet come back with policy language, however. Climate Reality is part of a coalition fighting to prevent the policy from being watered down.

Glendale

Glendale passed a package of three building code updates at its October 25 meeting. The package includes: building electrification for all new buildings; increased EV charging requirements for new buildings; and increased solar photovoltaic requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. The new policies went into effect on January 1, 2023. Read the Glendale Building Electrification Working Group’s fact sheet for more details.

City of Los Angeles

The City Council passed an all-electric new buildings ordinance on December 7 (signed by Mayor Garcetti on 12/10). The policy goes into effect on April 1, 2023. The main exemption is for cooking equipment in commercial kitchens. But commercial kitchens will require electrical wiring and panel capacity to be installed for future conversion. Attached ADUs are also exempted.

Los Angeles is also working on a plan to electrify existing buildings. Details are expected later this year.

Los Angeles County

The County Board of Supervisors passed a motion in 2022 to have staff develop recommendations for banning gas in new buildings and transitioning existing buildings to be all-electric.

Pasadena

On August 8, 2022, the City Council voted to enact phase one of the building electrification policy, applying to most multifamily, commercial, and mixed use buildings. The City Council also committed to review the policy for possible expansion to new single-family homes and ADUs within a year. Visit the Pasadena Building Electrification Coalition webpage to learn more.

Santa Monica

The City Council voted to adopt a Zero Emission Building Code, to go into effect for new buildings on January 1, 2023. The policy includes substantial remodels but excludes cooking appliances in commercial kitchens (although they are required to be electric-ready). The city also passed an EV Charger Reach Code to require additional EV charging capabilities for new buildings, to go into effect at the same time.

Join Our Committee

As of January 2023, our Green Buildings work is under the Legislative and Policy committee. To keep up with our building electrification work and learn about opportunities to advocate for green buildings in your community, please sign up using the form below. Note, this also opts you into the chapter’s email list, if you are not already on it.