Mountain View Green Building and Reach Codes
Upcoming Proposed Code AmendmentsIn accordance with Council direction in June 2024, City staff is currently developing new electrical prewiring requirements (prewiring) for all new construction, in response to the City's Resolution No. 18881 suspending the natural gas appliance prohibition. "Prewiring" refers to installing electrical infrastructure necessary to accommodate a future electric appliance/equipment when a new gas or propane appliance/equipment is installed. This includes installing the electrical line, outlet/ outlet cover, labeling for future use, dedicating space on the electrical panel and, in some cases, ensuring adequate space or drainage on-site for future electric equipment. These requirements are to prepare the Mountain View community for an all-electric future, including regional and state prohibitions already in place for gas equipment starting as soon as 2026. Draft code amendments are being presented to City Council for consideration of adoption on October 22, 2024 in the Council Chambers at 500 Castro Street, with an anticipated effective date of January 1, 2025. The Council agenda, staff report and materials, as well as ways to participate in-person or online at the hearing, are available online. The new prewiring requirements being considered go beyond the minimum requirements in the 2022 California Building Code and include:
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All project submitted on or after January 1, 2023 are subject to the Mountain View Green Building Code and Reach Code requirements per Chapter 8, Division III of the Mountain View City Code.
Submitting for Permits with MVGBC and Reach Codes
The Mountain View Green Building Code (MVGBC) amends the State-mandated California Green Building Code (CalGreen) to include local green building standards and requirements for private development. The MVGBC applies green building requirements per building type and threshold to new construction, residential additions and commercial/industrial tenant improvements and includes energy efficiency standards that exceed the current Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
The MVGBC does not require formal certification from a third-party organization. Instead, projects will be required to be designed and constructed to “meet the intent” of a third-party rating system.
If you are planning to submit an application for a construction permit in the City of Mountain View, you will be required to meet the MVGBC requirements by including a completed worksheet below (based on project type):
- 2022 MVGBC and Reach Code Worksheet - Residential (in PDF or Excel)
- 2022 MVGBC and Reach Code Worksheet - Commercial/Mixed-Use (in PDF or Excel)
Other Information and Resources
The City of Mountain View and Silicon Valley Clean Energy (Peninsula Reach Codes) has prepared the following to assist anyone seeking answers on how the Mountain View Green Building and Reach Codes may affect proposed construction projects:
CSCDA California First
Mountain View businesses can now take advantage of low-cost financing to make “green” improvements to their properties, i.e. be green and save green!
The CaliforniaFIRST program offers low-cost, long-term financing for commercial energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation upgrades that are permanently affixed to a building. Property owners agree to repay the cost of improvements through a line item on their property tax bill over the life of the upgrade, up to 20 years. Eligible non-residential properties include commercial, industrial, and multi-family (5 or more units).