Cambridge, MA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Size trigger
- 25,000 sq ft or larger
- LEED requirement
- Gold (Silver if under 50,000 sq ft GFA)
- Reviewing agency
- Community Development Department
- Other accepted programs
- Passive House, Enterprise Green Communities
- Max zoning fine
- $300 per day, per violation
- Originally adopted
- Ord. No. 1413, Dec. 9, 2019
Summary
Cambridge requires large development projects to meet a certified green building standard before they can get a permit. Projects of 25,000 square feet or larger must hit LEED Gold, or Silver if under 50,000 square feet of gross floor area, under Zoning Ordinance Section 22.20, reviewed by the Community Development Department.
This Section 22.20 is adopted to ensure that major new projects and substantially rehabilitated buildings in the City of Cambridge are planned, designed and constructed in a sustainable way so as to minimize adverse environmental impacts as they are initially constructed and as they are occupied and operated over the course of their useful lives... While the provisions of this section apply to projects of 25,000 square feet or larger, developments of all sizes are encouraged to incorporate sustainable design principles. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 22.00, the requirements of all local, state and/or federal regulations applicable to a project must be met, particularly the State Building Code, including its energy components... If the LEED Green Building Rating Program is being used, the Green Building Project shall be designed such that it would achieve a minimum "Gold" level standard, except if the Green Building Project contains less than 50,000 square feet of GFA in which case the Green Building Project shall be designed such that it would achieve a minimum "Silver" level standard.
Full Breakdown
21 encourages sustainable design at any size. S. 1). 1(a), a project using LEED must achieve at least Gold, dropping to Silver only if the project has less than 50,000 square feet of gross floor area (GFA); a Passive House project must meet that program's certification criteria. 2(b) gives a 12-month grace period to use the prior version after a new one is adopted. 25, and compliance is demonstrated to the Community Development Department (CDD). 20. This chapter was originally adopted as Ord. No. 1413 on December 9, 2019, and has since been amended by Ord. No. 2020-25 (May 3, 2021) and Ord. No. 000.
Violations & Fines
Zoning-wide enforcement in Article 9.000 governs green building noncompliance: under Section 9.12, the Superintendent of Buildings cannot issue a building permit or certificate of occupancy for construction that violates the Zoning Ordinance. Section 9.16 sets a criminal fine up to $300 per offense, or a noncriminal disposition up to $300 per violation under G.L. c. 40, Section 21D, enforced by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size project triggers Cambridge's green building code?
Which LEED level does Cambridge require?
Does Cambridge's green code replace the state building code?
What happens if a covered project doesn't comply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
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Green Building Code in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle green building code.