Santa Clara County Title B adopts the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen, Title 24 Part 11) plus reach-code amendments requiring all-electric new construction, EV-ready parking, and heat-pump water heating in unincorporated areas effective 2023.
Title B of the Santa Clara County Code adopts CALGreen with local reach-code amendments that took effect for permits issued after January 1, 2023, aligned with the 2022 code cycle. Mandatory residential measures include 65 percent construction-waste diversion, 20 percent reduction below baseline indoor water use, low-VOC paints and finishes, and EV-ready conduit. The county reach code goes beyond CALGreen by requiring all-electric new residential and commercial construction (no natural-gas infrastructure), heat-pump water heaters, and expanded EV-ready parking. Nonresidential additions over 1,000 sq ft trigger commissioning, daylighting, and bicycle parking minimums. The County Planning and Development Department enforces through plan check and final inspection.
Failure to provide CALGreen and reach-code documentation triggers plan-check rejection and certificate-of-occupancy holds. Post-occupancy violations such as removing required low-flow fixtures or installing prohibited gas appliances result in administrative citations under Title B.
See how Palo Alto's green building code rules stack up against other locations.
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