Reach Codes
On September 3, 2019, the City Council adopted mandatory local green building and energy code amendments otherwise known as reach codes. These reach codes went into effect on January 1, 2020, concurrent with the 2019 Edition of the California Building Standards Code. The City also adopted reach codes for the 2016 Code Cycle that were in effect January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019.
Building Electrification
All-electric buildings or "building electrification" refers to buildings that have no natural gas service. All-electric buildings have electric appliances for space and water heating, clothes drying, cooking, and more. By avoiding the use of natural gas, a fossil fuel, an all-electric building has a smaller carbon footprint. This local amendment encourages building electrification by allowing for two options for the construction of new buildings, either constructing an all-electric building or constructing a mixed-fuel building that meets higher efficiency standards that exceed the State’s requirements.
Effective January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Building Type | Reach Code |
---|---|
New Single Family and Duplex buildings | Two compliance pathways: 1) Mixed fuel: Proposed Design Building shall be 2.5 EDR points less than the Efficiency EDR (roughly 15% above State Code) 2) All-electric: 0% above State Code |
New Buildings with Office Use (including mixed-use buildings) | Two compliance pathways: 1) Mixed fuel: 10% above State Energy Code 2) All-electric: 0% above State Energy Code |
All other building types including Accessory Dwelling Units | No local amendment |
Effective January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
On October 5, 2020 the City Council adopted new reach codes requiring residential buildings and office buildings be constructed all-electric.
Building Type | Reach Code |
---|---|
New Residential Buildings (including single family and duplex homes, multifamily buildings and Accessory Dwelling Units) | Required to be constructed all-electric |
New Buildings with Office Use (including mixed-use buildings | Required to be constructed all-electric |
New Residential Buildings with 100% affordable units | Two compliance pathways: 1) Mixed fuel: must exceed State Energy Code 2) All-electric: 0% above State Energy Code See ordinance for details |
Solar Installation
The 2019 Edition of the Building Standards Code will require solar installation on new construction of low-rise residential projects. The City’s reach code mandates minimum size solar photovoltaic installations on all other types of new construction. As an alternative, all projects may provide a solar hot water (solar thermal) system with a minimum collector area of 40 square feet.
Building Type | Reach Code |
---|---|
New Multifamily Buildings | Minimum 3 kilowatt photovoltaic system |
New non-residential buildings of less than 10,000 square feet | Minimum 3 kilowatt photovoltaic system |
New non-residential buildings 10,000 square feet or larger | Minimum 5 kilowatt photovoltaic system |
Electric Vehicle Readiness
The City’s amendment will require a higher number of electric vehicle (EV) Capable parking spaces than what is required by the State for new construction projects. An EV Capable space contains electrical capacity and raceway; however it is not required to contain the actual electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) installed. In addition, the City’s amendment requires new non-residential projects to install EVSE in a portion of their parking spaces.
Building Type | Reach Code |
---|---|
New One- and Two-family dwellings and Town-houses | Require complete circuit and receptacle (outlet) |
New Multifamily Buildings | 15% EV Capable spaces |
New Non-residential Buildings | 10% EV Capable spaces and 5% EVSE installed spaces |
Resources
- City of San Mateo Municipal Code Chapter 23.24 Energy Code
- City of San Mateo Municipal Code Chapter 23.70 Green Building Code
- August 19, 2019 Administrative Report for Reach Codes
- September 21, 2020 Administrative Report for Building Electrification Reach Codes
- October 5, 2020 Administrative Report for Building Electrification Reach Codes
- October 5, 2020 Enacted Building Electrification Reach Codes Ordinance
- Reach Codes for the 2016 Code Cycle