Mountain View Green Building and Reach Codes
New 2025 Building Codes Coming!The California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) released the new 2025 California Building Standards Code (State Code), which will become effective on January 1, 2026. The City Council approved local amendments to the State Code on September 9, 2025 (Ordinance No. 9.2025), which will also be effective on January 1, 2026 once approved by State Agencies. The Council adopted new Reach Code requirements as part of the local amendments, including:
Answers to Common Questions on the new Reach Code requirements |
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).