Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION

Section 101 — GENERAL

2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) · 2025 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · California

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101.1 Title.

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Green Building Standards Code, may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as “this code.” It is intended that it shall also be known as the CALGreen Code. The California Green Building Stan- dards Code is Part 11 of thirteen parts of the official compilation and publication of the adoption, amendment and repeal of building regulations to the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code.

101.2 Purpose.

101.2 Purpose. The purpose of this code is to improve public health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of building concepts having a reduced negative impact or positive environmental impact and encouraging sustainable construction practices in the following categories: 1. Planning and design. 2. Energy efficiency. 3. Water efficiency and conservation. 4. Material conservation and resource efficiency. 5. Environmental quality.

101.3 Scope.

101.3 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the planning, design, operation, construction, use and occupancy of every newly constructed building or structure, unless otherwise indicated in this code, throughout the State of California. It is not the intent that this code substitute or be identified as meeting the certification requirements of any green building program. 101.3.1 State-regulated buildings, structures and applications. Provisions of this code shall apply to the following buildings, structures and applications regulated by state agencies as specified in Sections 103…

101.4 Appendices.

101.4 Appendices. Provisions contained in the appendices of this code are not mandatory unless specifically adopted by a city, county, or city and county in compliance with Health and Safety Code Sections 18930 and 18941.5, respectively, for Building Standards Law; Health and Safety Code Section 17950 for State Housing Law; and Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts. See Section 101.7 of this code.

101.5 Referenced codes and standards.

101.5 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced elsewhere in this code shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference. 101.5.1 Building. The provisions of the California Building Code, California Residential Code and California Existing Building Code, as applicable, shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.…

101.6 Order of precedence and use.

101.6 Order of precedence and use. 101.6.1 Differences. In the event of any differences between these building standards and the standard reference documents, the text of these building standards shall govern. In the event a local amendment to this code results in differences between these building standards and the amendment, the text of the amendment shall govern. 101.6.2 Specific provision. Where a specific provision varies from a general provision, the specific provision shall apply. 101.6.3 Conflicts. When the requirements of this code conflict with the requirements of any other part of…

101.7 City, county, or city and county amendments, additions or deletions.

101.7 City, county, or city and county amendments, additions or deletions. This code is intended to set mandatory minimum Green Building Standards and includes optional tiers that may, at the discretion of any city, county, or city and county, be applied. This code does not limit the authority of city, county, or city and county governments to make necessary changes to the provisions contained in this code pursuant to Section 101.7.1. The effective date of amendments, additions or deletions to this code for cities, counties, or cities and counties filed pursuant to Section 101.7.1 shall be…

101.8 Alternate materials, designs and methods of construction.

101.8 Alternate materials, designs and methods of construction. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the use of any alternate material, appliance, installation, device, arrangement, method, design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternate shall be approved on a case-by-case basis where the enforcing agency finds that the proposed alternate is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code and is at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in…

101.9 Effective date of this code.

101.9 Effective date of this code. Only those standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission that are effective at the time an application for a building permit is submitted shall apply to the plans and specifications for, and to the construction performed under, that permit. For the effective dates of the provisions contained in this code, see the appropriate application checklist and the History Note page of this code.

101.10 Mandatory requirements.

101.10 Mandatory requirements. This code contains both mandatory and voluntary green building measures. Mandatory and voluntary measures are identified in the appropriate application checklist contained in this code.

101.11 Effective use of this code.

101.11 Effective use of this code. The following steps shall be used to establish which provisions of this code are applicable to a specific occupancy: 1. Establish the type of occupancy. 2. Verify which state agency has authority for the established occupancy by reviewing the authorities list in Sections 103 through 106. 3. Once the appropriate agency has been identified, find the chapter which covers the established occupancy. 4. The Matrix Adoption Tables at the beginning of Chapters 4 and 5 identify the mandatory green building measures necessary to meet the minimum requirements of this…