Santa Clara County Environmental Rules: Heat Island Mitigation Rules (2026)

Santa Clara County climate adaptation work maps heat exposure across 1.9 million residents, identifying equity zones in inland communities like East San Jose, Alum Rock, Gilroy outskirts, and Morgan Hill fringes. Mitigation strategies include cool-roof reach codes (Title B), cool-pavement pilots (Roads and Airports), urban tree canopy expansion through Our City Forest and county Parks, and green-stormwater infrastructure that doubles as shade. Cooling centers — typically county libraries, senior centers, and community centers — open under the Operational Area Heat Plan when National Weather Service forecasts highs at or above 95 degrees for 48 hours, or 100 degrees for any single day. The Office of Emergency Management coordinates with Public Health to publicize locations and VTA transit access.