Cool Roof Requirements
Environmental Rules
Mandatory high-reflectance roofing materials for new construction and reroofs. LA Green Building Code thresholds and Title 24 Pt 6 baseline.
How Cool Roof Requirements Rules Differ by Place
Dallas County, TX: Cool roof rules apply to county buildings only
Few RestrictionsTexas has no statewide cool roof mandate, and Dallas County applies cool roof specifications only to its own facilities through capital project standards. Private buildings follow the…
Harris County, TX: Texas has no county-level cool-roof requirement
Few RestrictionsHarris County has no cool-roof or reflective-roof mandate because Texas counties lack adopted building-code authority for unincorporated areas. The 2015 International Energy…
Travis County, TX: Cool Roof Voluntary in Unincorporated Travis
Few RestrictionsTravis County has no cool-roof mandate for private properties because Texas preempts local energy code amendments on residential construction beyond the adopted 2015 IRC baseline…
Austin, TX: Austin Energy Code Requires Cool Roof on Low-Slope Buildings
Some RestrictionsAustin Energy Code, an amended version of the 2021 IECC adopted under City Code Title 25, requires high-reflectance and high-emissivity roofing on low-slope commercial and multifamily…
Dallas, TX: Dallas Requires Reflective Roofing Under Chapter 53 Building Code
Some RestrictionsDallas City Code Chapter 53 amends the International Energy Conservation Code to require cool roofing on most low-slope commercial roofs and to set higher reflectivity standards on…
San Antonio, TX: San Antonio Energy Code Cool Roof Standards
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio adopted the IECC with local amendments through SAMC Chapter 10, requiring high-reflectance and high-emissivity roofing on low-slope commercial and multifamily roofs in…
Cities & Counties with Cool Roof Requirements Rules
8 locations
Other Environmental Rules Topics
Stormwater Management
Requirements for managing rainwater runoff on your property, including retention basins, permeable surfaces, and drainage plans.
Erosion Control
Rules to prevent soil erosion during construction and landscaping, including required sediment barriers and ground cover standards.
Coastal Development
Building restrictions near coastlines, including setbacks from the water, dune protection rules, and coastal commission permits.
Flood Zones
Building requirements for properties in FEMA flood zones, including elevation standards, flood insurance mandates, and construction limits.
Shoreline Management
Regulations for properties along lakes, rivers, and coastlines, including buffer zones, dock permits, and vegetation requirements.
Sea Wall & Bulkhead
Requirements for maintaining sea walls, bulkheads, and retaining structures on waterfront properties, including inspection schedules and repair obligations.
Mangrove Protection
Rules protecting mangrove trees and coastal vegetation, including trimming restrictions, removal prohibitions, and required setbacks from mangrove habitat.
Boat Dock Permits
Permits required to build or modify boat docks, lifts, and davits on waterfront properties, including size limits, setbacks, and environmental reviews.
Defensible Space
Mandated vegetation clearance zones around homes in fire hazard zones, including the 100-ft Zone 0/1/2 model used by California and other wildfire-prone states.
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Limits on how long heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and passenger cars may idle, including bans near schools and residential areas.
Climate Emergency Mobilization
Local climate-emergency declarations and mobilization plans, including building electrification mandates, gas-hookup bans in new construction, and reach codes.
Sustainable Procurement
City rules requiring sustainable, recycled, or low-emissions products in municipal purchasing, and how those rules trickle down to contractors and concessions.
Cool Pavement
Reflective-coating road treatments deployed by LA Bureau of Street Services to reduce surface temps; pilot streets and expansion plans under Cool Streets LA.
Heat Island Mitigation
Citywide programs to reduce urban heat, tree canopy goals, cool surfaces, shade structures at bus stops, and cooling-center requirements during heat waves.
Flood Elevation Requirements
FEMA NFIP minimum base flood elevation (BFE) construction standards for properties in mapped flood zones, including freeboard requirements above BFE.