Green Building Code: Berkeley vs Sunol
How do green building code rules compare between Berkeley, CA and Sunol, CA?
Berkeley, CA
Alameda County
Berkeley enforces the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) plus local Reach Code amendments encouraging all-electric construction, after the 9th Circuit struck down the 2019 first-in-nation gas ban in 2023.
View full Berkeley rules →Sunol, CA
Alameda County
No data available yet for Sunol.
Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Berkeley | Sunol |
|---|---|---|
| Base code | CALGreen Title 24 Part 11 | - |
| Local addition | Berkeley Reach Code | - |
| Gas ban | Struck down 2023 9th Circuit | - |
| Strategy | Performance-based electrification | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Berkeley FAQ
Can Berkeley still ban gas in new construction?
Not directly. The 9th Circuit ruled in California Restaurant Association v. Berkeley that federal law preempts the 2019 ban. Berkeley now uses performance-based energy and emissions standards instead.
Are solar panels required on new homes?
Yes. California statewide rules under CALGreen and Title 24 require new low-rise residential buildings to install solar PV, with limited exceptions for shaded sites and alternative compliance paths.
Sunol FAQ
No FAQs available.
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