City of Berkeley – Green Building Standards for City Owned and Operated Projects

The Berkeley City Council adopted Resolution 62284 on November 18, 2003 requiring that all city-sponsored building projects receive LEED certification. Its incorporation occurred in two phases, first requiring city-sponsored projects entering design and construction after January 1, 2004 to meet a minimum LEED Certified rating; and then requiring city-sponsored projects started after January 1, 2006 to meet a minimum LEED Silver rating. The resolution is restricted to new construction or renovation projects funded by the city or located on city-owned land of 5,000 square feet or more of occupied space, which have a construction estimate of $200,000 or more in 2003 dollars. An exception is made for buildings deemed historic under any federal, state or local law, though they are encouraged to achieve as many LEED points as feasible. The city will also grant exemptions from the resolution for building projects which can demonstrate through life-cycle cost analysis that achieving LEED Silver would defeat the purpose of the resolution or create an unreasonable burden on the construction project or the City Department.