Sustainable Reach Codes

The City of Millbrae City Council adopted Ordinance Number 783 on November 10, 2020. This Ordinance adopts updates to the City of Millbrae Municipal Code Title 9 "Buildings and Fire Regulations," Chapter 9.50 Energy Code and Chapter 9.35 Green Building Code including requirements for sustainable reach standards beyond the 2019 California Building Standards Code (Cal. Code Regs., Title 24) Part 6 California Energy Code and Part 11, California Green Building Standards Code baseline for residential and nonresidential new construction, additions, and alterations. These "reach codes" serve the purpose to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the City's adopted Climate Action Plan. They provide for increased energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources, and electric vehicle charging station expansion through increased requirements for building electrification, electric vehicle infrastructure, and non-residential solar photovoltaic systems.

The ordinance will become enforced on January 1, 2021 for any new building permit submittal.

The California Energy Commission officially approved the Ordinance - Resolution of Approval (PDF).

The City of Millbrae is currently suspending enforcement of all-electric requirements in light of Cal. Rest. Ass’n v. City of Berkeley, 89 F.4th 1094 (9th Cir. 2024). Millbrae's ordinance exempts restaurants, cafeterias, and non-residential kitchens from all-electric requirements.

The City has prepared the following resource documents to assist in the public's education and implementation of these new Codes:

For more information on California's Green Building Standards, visit CALGreen's website.

For additional questions please call 650-259-2330 or send an email to our Permits team.