Sacramento County, CA Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2025 CA Green Building Standards Code, Title 24 Pt. 11
- Local chapter
- Sacramento County Code § 16.34 (Green Code)
- Administering official
- Building Official, Dept. of Community Development
- Appeal fee
- $500 Board of Appeals filing fee, 30-day window
- Appeal board size
- 7 members, Board of Supervisors-confirmed
- Unpermitted-work fee
- Violation fee equals building permit fee (§ 109.4)
- General code penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine / 6 months jail (§ 1.01.190)
Summary
Unincorporated Sacramento County enforces the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code as its own Green Code. County Code § 16.34.020 adopts Title 24, Part 11 of the California Code of Regulations by reference, and Chapter 16.02's building administration provisions, permits, the Building Official and the Board of Appeals, govern how the Green Code is applied and enforced on every project.
§ 16.34.020. Adoption of the California Green Building Standards Code. The 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11 of the California Code of Regulations, a portion of the California Building Standards Code as defined in the California State Health and Safety Code Sections 17922 and 18901 et seq. (hereinafter referred to as the "Green Code"), and any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
070 alongside the Building, Residential, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Swimming Pool, Property Maintenance and Sign Codes. , along with any rules and regulations issued under it. 040, the enforcement rules for every technical code, including the Green Code. 080, and administers Green Code compliance review alongside every other Title 16 code. 11 lets the seven-member board, appointed by the Building Official and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, grant modifications specifically for the Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Swimming Pool, Green, Property Maintenance, and Sign codes, provided the modification does not reduce fire protection, life-safety, accessibility or structural integrity. 6. 02, means the unincorporated area of the county, including county-owned buildings located inside the incorporated cities within Sacramento County.
Violations & Fines
Starting green-code-covered work without the required permit triggers a violation fee equal to the building permit fee under amended Section 109.4, charged in addition to, not instead of, any other penalty. No permit will issue for a property carrying an uncorrected building violation under Section 105.8, and a person who violates a Title 16 technical code provision also remains subject to the county's general misdemeanor penalty at § 1.01.190: up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both, per day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What green building standard does Sacramento County enforce?
Can a builder get relief from a Green Code requirement?
Who administers Green Code permits and inspections?
What happens if someone builds without a Green-Code-covered permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.