Hampton, VA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Required for
- Public projects; city land sales
- Standard
- LEED-ND, Silver or higher
- Private development
- Encouraged, not mandatory
- Applies to
- Buckroe Bayfront BB districts only
Summary
In Buckroe Bayfront, Hampton requires LEED-ND Silver for public projects and land sold by the city, and encourages it for private development.
(6)Green design.(a)In an effort to set the standard in a highly visible area, green design should be included in all public projects, including private development resulting from the sale of public land. Green design is also encouraged for private development on privately owned land.(b)Where green design is required, projects shall be designed and constructed to comply with green design standards prescribed for neighborhoods designed in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) green neighborhood development rating system, published by the United States Green Building Council, to achieve a LEED silver or higher rating. (Ord. No. Z16-15, 9-14-2016)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
The zoning ordinance's Buckroe Bayfront (BB) district provisions set a green-building standard tied to the neighborhood's public redevelopment role: green design 'should be included in all public projects, including private development resulting from the sale of public land,' and is merely 'encouraged' for private development on privately owned land elsewhere in the district. Where green design is required, the project must meet the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) rating system published by the U.S. Green Building Council and achieve at least a Silver rating. This is a Hampton-specific requirement layered onto the Buckroe Bayfront (BB-1 through BB-5) districts, not a citywide green building code. As amended through November 2025.
Violations & Fines
A public project or development on city-sold land in Buckroe Bayfront that fails to achieve LEED-ND Silver certification does not satisfy site plan approval conditions under Chapter 8, Article IV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hampton require LEED certification for new homes?
Is green design required for private homes in Buckroe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
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