Los Angeles, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- Permits applied for on/after April 1, 2023
- Affordable housing grace period
- June 1, 2023
- Gas cooking exception
- Restaurants and commercial kitchens (with pre-wired electrical infrastructure)
- ADU exception
- Attached ADUs using existing gas piping of primary dwelling
- Plan check surcharge
- 10% of permit fee for green building compliance
- Code authority
- Los Angeles Green Building Code, LAMC Article 9, Chapter IX; adopts 2022 CALGreen with local amendments
Summary
The Los Angeles Green Building Code requires all newly constructed buildings to be all-electric, with no gas piping or combustion equipment, effective for permits applied for on or after April 1, 2023.
99.04.106.8. All-Electric Buildings. (Added by Ord. No. 187,714, Eff. 1/23/23.) All newly constructed buildings shall be all-electric buildings.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Application for a building permit is submitted, accepted by the Department of Building and Safety, and building permit application fees are paid prior to April 1, 2023.
2. Application for a building permit for an Affordable Housing Project, as defined in the Mayor's Executive Directive 1.3, is submitted, accepted by the Department of Building and Safety, and building permit application fees are paid prior to June 1, 2023.
3. Attached accessory dwelling units using existing gas piping systems in conjunction with the primary dwelling.
4. Cooking equipment contained within kitchens located in a public use area, as defined in the California Building Code Chapter 2, such as restaurants, commissaries, cafeterias, and community kitchens provided the electrical infrastructure is installed in accordance with Section 99.04.106.8.1.
5. Gas-powered emergency life-safety systems, including emergency backup.
Full Breakdown
LAMC § 99.04.106.8 (residential) and § 99.05.106.14 (nonresidential) were added by Ord. No. 187,714 (effective 1/23/23) and mandate that all newly constructed buildings be 'all-electric buildings', meaning no gas piping, combustion equipment, or fuel gas for any use including heating, water heating, cooking, or drying. Exceptions allow gas for: restaurant/commercial kitchen cooking equipment (with electrical infrastructure pre-installed), gas-powered emergency life-safety systems, and attached ADUs that use existing gas piping of the primary dwelling. Projects that applied and paid permit fees before April 1, 2023 (June 1, 2023 for affordable housing) are also exempt. Where exceptions apply, the code requires installation of pre-wired branch circuits and labeled reserved circuit breakers for future electric appliances.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliance is a misdemeanor under LAMC § 99.01.102.10. The Department may stop work on any project not complying with the all-electric mandate. Green building plan check fee: 10% surcharge on all building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and grading application fees (LAMC § 99.01.107.1).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a gas stove in a newly built house in Los Angeles?
Does the all-electric rule apply to ADU construction?
What if someone builds gas infrastructure anyway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles to another location·View the California building safety overview
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Green Building Code in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle green building code.