Los Angeles County - Green Building Program

Note: The Regional Planning Commission is considering amendments to the requirements outlined here. See the website above for the most recent information related to this process.

In November 2008, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a series of ordinances which created the Green Building Program. The ordinances included the Green Building Ordinance (2008-0065), the Drought Tolerant Ordinance (2008-0064), and the Low Impact Development Ordinance (2008-0063). These standards are updated periodically, and apply to new buildings constructed in Los Angeles County. If a reconstruction of a building exceeds 50% of its market value, it is subject to green building requirements. Registered historic sites and agricultural accessory buildings are exempt from the requirements. Requirements vary depending on the size and use of the building, as well as the date on which the building permit was filed. See above or the program web site for details.

After the adoption of Title 31 (Green Building Standards) of the County Code, the Board of Supervisors rescinded the green building ordinance and the drought tolerant landscaping ordinance in Title 22 (Planning and Zoning), effective April 28, 2016.

CalGreen, part of the California Building Standards Code, became effective on January 2, 2017. CalGreen mandates green building requirements throughout the state of California.