2022 Building Electrification & EV Infrastructure Reach Code Initiative

Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), Alameda County, Santa Clara County and the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability (OOS) are joining together to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within their service territories by developing forward-thinking building and transportation electrification reach codes. If your city is interested in adopting a reach code please see the model reach codes and resources for building electrification and electric vehicle infrastructure below. Once you are ready to adopt a reach code, visit the City Participation section to request support from your respective community choice aggregator (CCA).

Visit us here to stay in touch and for the latest updates on reach code resources and events as we finalize our content.

City Participation & PCE/SVCE/EBCE Support

Cities are encouraged to participate and avail themselves of the technical support by completing the “Stay in Touch” section below. To learn more about PCE & SVCE’s $10,000 incentive, review the letter of intent below. Please contact Blake Herrschaft (PCE), Alero Moju (OOS) or Zoe Elizabeth (SVCE) for eligibility.

PCE: Download Letter of Intent

SVCE: Letters of Intent were sent to your City Manager’s office. Please reach out to your CCA with specific questions.

EBCE also encourages their member agencies to apply for the Municipal Electrification Assistance (MEA) program for up to $10,000 in technical assistance or gap funding. To learn more, please visit https://ebce.org/mea/ or contact energyefficiency@ebce.org.

Model Reach Codes Recommendations

The following building electrification reach code language is based on the anticipated Investor-Owned Utilities Codes and Standards Program (IOU’s C&S) cost effectiveness studies. These studies will be listed under Supporting Resources.

Do you have any feedback you would like to share on our model codes or other aspects of our Initiative? We would appreciate your input!

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Building Electrification

All-Electric
Building Code Ordinance

This model is based on an ordinance adopted by the City of Menlo Park and can be used for all Climate Zones in California. The amendment is for 2022 Title 24 Part 11 Green Building Standards (also referred to as CALGreen) and allows only electric appliances for specific end-uses. Over 30 jurisdictions adopted a similar model in California in the 2019 code cycle.

Part 11 All-Electric Building Reach Code Ordinance
Exceptions


Updated September 2022

All-Electric
Municipal Code Ordinance

This model is a municipal code ordinance that broadly requires buildings to be constructed without any natural gas lines with limited exceptions. The municipal code amendment is not tied to the building code cycle and can be adopted indefinitely. Over the last two years about 10 jurisdictions adopted some form of this ordinance.

All Electric Municipal Ordinance
Exceptions

Updated September 2022


Existing Buildings
Electrification Ordinances

Existing Building Electrification is more complex, higher cost, and has more equitable deployment considerations than new construction electrification. We encourage cities to use the below framework, model codes, and policy planning tools and reach out to our team for support when they are getting started:

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Building on the stakeholder engagement learnings of 2019 building code cycle, we offer a Zoning Code amendment that exceeds the adopted 2022 Title 24 Part 11 Green Building Standards (also referred to as CALGreen). Similar to the All-Electric Municipal Ordinance, this zoning code amendment is not tied to the building code cycle and can be adopted indefinitely. The model code enhances charging accessibility while meeting driver needs, minimizing costs, and allowing for limited exceptions. Dozens of cities adopted a similar model code in 2019 under a CALGreen building code amendment.

This code amendment has also been translated into a 2022 CALGreen building code amendment.

Updated October 2022

EV Zoning Code
Part 11 EV Reach Code

Reach Code Support Resources

Adoption Tools

Cost and Cost Effectiveness

Implementation Tools

What Are Reach Codes?

Every three years, cities and counties across the state can adopt local reach codes in line with the new Building Standards Code (Standards) or Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Cities and counties may adopt building codes more advanced than those required by the state, which are known as reach codes.

Reach codes aim to update local building codes concurrently with the state-required adoption of the 2022 Standards. The previous adoption cycle with new Standards took effect January 1, 2020. The next reach code adoption cycle, to coincide with the 2022 Title 24 Standards will go into effect January 1, 2023.

Cities may also choose to adopt municipal code amendments that transcend the building code cycle and can be adopted indefinitely.

Why Establish Reach Codes?

The benefits of greenhouse gases (GHG) free electricity can best be realized by electrification of new and existing buildings and transportation vehicles. Electrification transitions buildings and vehicles away from natural gas and gasoline to clean energy provided by PCE, SVCE and EBCE. By developing electrification reach codes, cities can save energy and reduce GHG emissions in San Mateo, Santa Clara County and Alameda County. All-electric buildings are safer and healthier to live in along with being cost effective, especially when adopted at the new construction stage.

It is most efficient for cities to coordinate adoption of reach codes with the adoption of the new 2022 building code, taking effect January 1, 2023.

Video: How Heat Pumps Work 

Video: 5 Benefits of Induction Cooking

Video: Why an Electric Home is Better

Process & Timeline

Contact PCE/SVCE/EBCE to understand resources available*

Conduct community engagement

Draft local amendments

Submit to council for review**

Application to Energy Commission***

File with Building Standards Commission

*Letter of Intent for $10,000 support grant from your local CCA

**Payment of $10,000 support grant from your local CCA

***Only required for Part 6 submissions

Policymaking Resources

Building Electrification Cost Effectiveness

Electric Vehicle Cost Effectiveness

Design Guidelines for Home Electrification

Click here to view the Design Guidelines for Home Electrification

FAQ

View our 2022 Municipal Reach Code Initiative FAQs here.

Upcoming Events

External Events

Past Events

External Events

Stay in Touch

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