2022 Building Electrification & EV Infrastructure Reach Code Program

Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) is committing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within its service area by developing forward-thinking building and transportation electrification reach codes. The reach codes program provides technical assistance to help cities and counties adopt and implement reach codes and offers stakeholder outreach support. Support includes answering technical questions, attending meetings, reach code customizations, reviewing staff presentations and reports, and developing implementation tools to help cities and counties enforce their reach codes.

If your city or county is interested in adopting a reach code, please see the model reach codes and resources for building electrification and electric vehicle infrastructure below. Please contact us if you are interested in adopting a reach code.

About Reach Codes

What are Reach Codes?

Every three years, cities and counties across the state can adopt local reach codes in line with the new Building Standards Code (Standards) or Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Cities and counties may adopt building codes more advanced than those required by the state, which are known as reach codes.

Reach codes aim to update local building codes concurrently with the state-required adoption of the 2022 Standards. The previous adoption cycle with new Standards took effect January 1, 2020. The next reach code adoption cycle, to coincide with the 2022 Title 24 Standards will go into effect January 1, 2023.

Reach codes can also take the form of local municipal code amendments that extend beyond the state code minimum requirements for energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. These municipal code amendments are not tied to the three-year state code cycle and can be adopted indefinitely.

Why Establish Reach Codes?

The benefits of greenhouse gases (GHG) free electricity can best be realized by electrification of new and existing buildings and transportation vehicles. Electrification transitions buildings and vehicles away from natural gas and gasoline to clean energy provided by CCCE. By developing electrification reach codes, cities and counties in CCCE’s service area can save energy and reduce GHG emissions. With improved indoor air quality and no combustion or fire risk, all-electric buildings are safer and healthier to live in along with being cost effective, especially when adopted at the new construction stage. It is most efficient for cities to coordinate adoption of reach codes with the adoption of the new 2022 building code, taking effect January 1, 2023.

Model Reach Code Recommendations

The following building electrification reach code language is based on the anticipated Investor-Owned Utilities Codes and Standards Program (IOU’s C&S) cost effectiveness studies. These studies will be listed under resources.

Building Electrification

All-Electric
Building Code Ordinance

This model is based on an ordinance adopted by the City of Menlo Park and can be used for all Climate Zones in California. The amendment is for 2022 Title 24 Part 11 Green Building Standards (also referred to as CALGreen) and allows only electric appliances for specific end-uses. Over 30 jurisdictions adopted a similar model in California in the 2019 code cycle.

PART 11 ALL-ELECTRIC BUILDING REACH CODE ORDINANCE

EXCEPTIONS

All-Electric
Municipal Code Ordinance

This model is a municipal code ordinance that broadly requires buildings to be constructed without any natural gas lines with limited exceptions. The municipal code amendment is not tied to the building code cycle and can be adopted indefinitely. Over the last two years about 10 jurisdictions adopted some form of this ordinance.

ALL ELECTRIC MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE

EXCEPTIONS

Existing Buildings Electrification Ordinances

Existing Building Electrification is more complex, higher cost, and has more equitable deployment considerations than new construction electrification. We encourage cities to use the below framework, model codes, and policy planning tools and reach out to our team for support when they are getting started:

Framework

Coming Soon

Model Codes

Time of Permit – Electric-Required
Time of Permit – Flexible Pathways – Statewide Reach Codes Program
Building Performance Standards – Institute for Market Transformation

Policy Planning Tools

Coming Soon

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

The following Zoning Code amendment exceeds the adopted 2022 Title 24 Part 11 Green Building Standards (also referred to as CALGreen). Similar to the All-Electric Municipal Ordinance, this zoning code amendment is not tied to the building code cycle and can be adopted indefinitely. The model code enhances charging accessibility while meeting driver needs, minimizing costs, and allowing for limited exceptions. Dozens of cities adopted a similar model code in 2019 under a CALGreen building code amendment.

This code amendment has also been translated into a 2022 CALGreen building code amendment.

EV ZONING CODE

PART 11 EV REACH CODE