Modesto, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)

Section 9-1.101.3 does not reprint the green standards. It adopts them by reference. One copy of the California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 edition, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 11, is on file in the office of the Chief Building Official, and the section makes that document the Green Building Code of the City of Modesto. The subjects it governs are energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency, for residential and nonresidential buildings alike.

The edition history is short and dated. Ordinance 3754-C.S., effective 2-24-23, appears first in the section's history line. Ordinance 3808-C.S., effective June 11, 2026, is the latest amendment. The Article 1 editor's note records that this ordinance changed the title of Article 1 from "Adoption by Reference of the 2022 California Building Code" to the 2025 version. The same ordinance appears in the history of § 9-1.101 (the California Building Code, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2) and § 9-1.101.2 (the California Residential Code, Title 24, Part 2.5), so all three documents sit on the 2025 edition together.

The adoption carries "additions, deletions and changes, if any prescribed in this chapter." That ties the green code to the rest of Title 9, Chapter 1. Section 9-1.201 lets the whole chapter be cited as the "Green Building Code." Section 9-1.205 says the most restrictive requirement governs when sections differ, and a specific requirement beats a general one. Section 9-1.206 states that the Code does not nullify local, state or federal law.

The Building Safety Division enforces it. Under § 9-1.501, an owner or agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building must apply to the Building Official and obtain a permit first. Section 9-1.811 sends inspectors to check compliance with the California Energy Code, including envelope insulation R and U values, fenestration U value, duct system R value, and HVAC and water-heating equipment efficiency. Permit and plan check fees are set by City Council resolution (§§ 9-1.702 and 9-1.704). Starting work before the permit adds a fee under § 9-1.703, and the investigation fee under § 9-1.705 equals the permit fee itself.

Under § 9-1.411, the Building Official can grant a modification only where practical difficulties make the strict letter impractical and the change does not lessen health, accessibility, life and fire safety, or structural requirements. Section 9-1.412 allows an alternative material or method only where it is at least equivalent in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.