City of West Hollywood
Home MenuOur Approach to Green Building
Why Build Green?
High-performing green buildings have multiple benefits, including reduced environmental impacts to the surrounding area, increased occupant health, productivity, and well-being, lower long-term operational and maintenance costs, and a higher return-on-investment (ROI).
The building sector, as the second largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California, offers great potential to reduce GHG emissions through the sustainable construction, operation, and renovation of new and existing buildings. California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan (AB 32) identifies several actions to reduce GHG emissions from the building sector, including progressively increasing the stringency of building codes and standards, pursuing voluntary efforts to go beyond code, and completing existing building retrofits.
According to the City’s 2011 Climate Action Plan (CAP), buildings in West Hollywood account for 32% of citywide GHG emissions. The City’s Green Building Program is one of many measures in the CAP that reduces the adverse impacts of climate change. By updating its local green building ordinance, the City is closer to achieving the goals set in the CAP.
Updated Green Building Program
On August 16, 2019, the West Hollywood City Council adopted a comprehensive update to its Green Building Program. The updated program builds upon state requirements, integrates locally-specific mandatory requirements that align with the City’s environmental goals, and incorporates new features that respond to the local environment. The image below provides a brief overview of these features and how this program can be used alongside state requirements. Click on the image to enlarge it.
For more information about the ordinance, please refer to the links below:
- Green Building Program Staff Report (July 15th City Council Meeting)
- Ordinance No 19-1072 (effective January 1, 2020)
- Summary of Local Code Changes
- New Program Features At-A-Glance (Table Format)
Please view this LINK for more information on the City’s process to update its Green Building Ordinance.
Related Codes and Ordinances At-A-Glance
California requires applicable projects to meet the California Green Building Code Mandatory Provisions ("CALGreen Mandatory") found in Title 24, Part 11. "CALGreen Mandatory" includes green building thresholds in the areas of site planning and design, water efficiency, energy efficiency, green materials, and indoor air quality. The California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6, is also referenced within the California Green Building Code. Use the links below to find more information on new State requirements and resources:
- 2019 California Green Building Standards Code – Effective January 1, 2020
- 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards – Effective January 1, 2020
The City also has several ordinances related to its Green Building Program in effect. Links to these ordinances are provided below and referenced throughout the City’s green building program and compliance materials.
- 2007 Green Building Ordinance - Effective July 15, 2007 through December 31, 2019
- EV Charging Readiness Ordinance - Effective July 11, 2018 through present
- Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance – Effective July 15, 2015 through present
- Solar Streamlined Permitting Ordinance for Small Residential Rooftop Installations - Effective January 1, 2015 through present