Lawrence, MA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Chapter 15.15 of the Lawrence Code, enacted by Doc. 313/2017 effective November 23, 2017, adopts the "Stretch Energy Code," defined as the building energy code establishing minimum design and construction requirements for energy efficiency, updated on a three-year cycle by the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards and codified as 780 CMR Appendix 115.AA of the state building code (§15.15.010). Section 15.15.020 states its purpose is "to provide a more energy efficient alternative to the base energy code applicable to the relevant sections of the building code for new buildings." Section 15.15.030 applies the code to both residential and commercial buildings, with any building outside that scope still required to comply with 780 CMR 115.AA "as indicated." Critically, §15.15.060 makes the chapter prospective only: it applies to all permits applied for or issued after July 1, 2018, and does not disturb rights, liabilities, or pending court proceedings tied to permits issued under the prior energy code.

Section 15.15.040 repeals any conflicting prior ordinance provisions outright. Because Lawrence's chapter operates by incorporating a state-promulgated appendix rather than writing independent local energy standards, builders pulling a Lawrence permit are held to whichever version of 780 CMR Appendix 115.AA is currently in force at the state level, and any future update the state issues to the Stretch Code automatically becomes the enforceable local standard without a separate city vote.