Aliso Viejo, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Section 13.02.010(F) of the Aliso Viejo Municipal Code adopts the California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition, as published by the California Building Standards Commission. The City Council adopted it by Ordinance 2025-246 alongside the California Energy Code in subsection (G), and the codes as amended by Chapters 13.02 and 13.04 are on file in the office of the building official. The amendment sections in Chapter 13.02 are titled for the Building Code, the Residential Code and the Wildland-Urban Interface Code; none is titled for the Green Building Standards Code. Section 107.3, as amended, adds an expedited review and permit issuance process for EV charging stations, with simplified forms on the city's website.

The city's own energy-conservation incentive is Chapter 15.68. Homeowners who incorporate environmentally sensitive, sustainable and energy-efficient construction techniques can request expedited processing and a 25 percent waiver of building permit fees. Section 15.68.030(A) lists the qualifying measures: solar photovoltaic at one-half watt per square foot of the home, small residential rooftop solar systems, solar thermal meeting 50 percent of domestic hot water needs, a tankless water heater, replacement windows and doors covering 90 percent of glass area with a U value of 0.34 and SHGC of 0.33 or lower, air conditioning with a SEER rating of 16, and a forced air unit with an AFUE rating of 78 percent. A small residential rooftop solar system is one no larger than 10 kilowatts alternating current or 30 kilowatts thermal. When the submittal is complete and approved within counter hours, the building official issues the permit the same day, and only one inspection is required for eligible small rooftop solar systems.