| Implementing Sector | Local |
| Category | Regulatory Policy |
| State | California |
| Incentive Type | Building Energy Code |
| Web Site | SF Building Code - Green Building Ordinance |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies | Solar - Passive, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels, Daylighting, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels |
| Eligible Efficiency Technologies | Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building |
| Applicable Sectors | Commercial, Residential |
| Residential Code | Varies by building type. See table below for complete schedule. |
| Commercial Code | Varies by building type. See table below for complete schedule. |
San Francisco adopted a mandatory green building code for new construction projects in September 2008, establishing strict guidelines for residential and commercial buildings according to the following schedule:
| Building Type | Year | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Small Residential (four dwellings or fewer) | 2009 | 25 Green Points (does not need to be rated) |
| 2010 and 2011 | Must be GreenPoint Rated and building applications must demonstrate that a minimum of 50 GreenPoints will be earned | |
| 2012 | Building applications for new homes must demonstrate that at least 75 GreenPoints will be achieved | |
| Mid-size Residential | 2009 | 25 Green Points (does not need to be rated) |
| 2010 | Must be GreenPoint Rated and building applications must demonstrate that a minimum of 50 GreenPoints will be earned | |
| 2011 and 2012 | Building applications for new homes must demonstrate that at least 75 GreenPoints will be achieved | |
| High-rise Residential | 2009 | New permit applications must include documentation to achieve LEEDcertification (or 50 GreenPoints) |
| 2010 | New permit applications must include documentation to achieve LEED Silver certification (or 75 GreenPoints). A number of specific LEED standards must also be met for landscaping, water use reduction, and construction debris management | |
| 2012 | Building applications must also meet LEED standards for the use of on-site renewable energy or the purchase of renewable energy credits | |
| Mid-Size Commercial | 2009 | New permit applications don’t need to meet LEED certification requirements but must meet LEED standards for building commissioning, landscaping, water use, and construction debris management |
| 2010 | New permit applications must meet enhanced commissioning standards and tighter water use requirements | |
| 2012 | Building applications must also meet LEED standards for the use of on-site renewable energy or the purchase of renewable energy credits | |
| Large Commercial | November 2008 | New permit applications must include documentation to achieve LEED certification |
| 2009, 2010, 2011 | New permit applications must include documentation to achieve LEED Silver certification | |
| 2012 | New permit applications must include documentation to achieve LEED Gold certification |
Certain buildings will need to meet additional requirements by varying dates. See Ordinance 180-08 for the full implementation schedule. Click here for Administrative Bulletin 093, which provides more information about the implementation of the green building requirements.
Commercial Building Benchmarking Requirements
Ordinance 17-11, passed in February 2011, requires owners of commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet to annually measure their building’s energy performance and to report the findings to the San Francisco Department of Environment. The ordinance also requires owners of commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet to have an energy audit conducted every five years, and to submit a report on those findings to the Department of Environment. The Department of Environment will make certain aspects of these reports available to the public for every affected building. These requirements took effect in October 2011 for buildings over 50,000 square feet, and will be phased in for smaller buildings through 2013.
| Name | San Francisco Building Inspection Commission (BIC) Code 13C.101, et seq. |
| Date Enacted | 09/04/2008 |
| Effective Date | 11/01/2008 |
