Sonoma County, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New single-family dwellings and ADUs
- Core rule
- No gas/propane plumbing on site
- Adopting section
- Sonoma County Code § 7-13(G)
- Enforced by
- Permit and Resource Management Dept.
- Applies to remodels
- Yes, subsequent work must stay compliant
Summary
Sonoma County amends the state Green Building Standards Code to require new single-family homes and their ADUs be built all-electric, with no gas or propane plumbing.
4.509.1 All-Electric Dwelling. Newly constructed single family residential dwellings, including accessory dwelling units, shall be designed and constructed as an all-electric dwelling. ... 4.509.2 Future Improvements. For single family residential dwellings subject to section 4.509.1, subsequent improvements, additions, remodels, repairs or similar work shall be consistent with 4.509.1 and the exceptions.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Under Sonoma County Code § 7-13(G), the county adopts Section 4.509 of the California Green Building Standards Code locally, requiring newly constructed single-family residential dwellings, including accessory dwelling units, to be designed and built as all-electric dwellings: no natural gas or propane plumbing anywhere within the building or its property lines, covering space heating, water heating, pool and spa systems, cooking appliances and clothes dryers. Exceptions exist for homes meeting a specific state energy-code carve-out, for natural gas or propane cooking appliances, fossil-fuel generators, and for an attached ADU that draws off an existing mixed-fuel system already serving the primary home. Subsequent additions, remodels and repairs to a covered dwelling must stay consistent with the all-electric requirement. This applies only in unincorporated Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cotati, Cloverdale and the City of Sonoma each set their own building code amendments.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD) through the building permit and inspection process; non-compliant plans are rejected at plan check and non-compliant installations fail final inspection, blocking occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still install a gas stove in a new Sonoma County home?
Does the all-electric rule apply inside the City of Santa Rosa or Petaluma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.