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Appendix A4

Section A4.601

California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

GENERAL A4.601.1 Scope. The measures contained in this appendix are not mandatory unless adopted by a city, county, or city and county as specified in Section 101.7. The provisions of this section outline means of achieving enhanced construction or reach levels by incorporating additional green building measures. In order to meet one of the tier levels designers, builders or property owners are required to incorporate additional green building measures necessary to meet the threshold of each level. A4.601.2 Prerequisite measures. Tier 1 and Tier 2 thresholds require compliance with the mandatory provisions of this code and incorporation of the required prerequisite measures listed in Section A4.601.4.2 for Tier 1 and A4.601.5.2 for Tier 2. Prerequisite measures are also identified in the Residential Occupancies Application Checklist in Section A4.602.

As specified in Section 101.7, additional prerequisite measures may be included by the enforcing agency to address specific local environmental conditions and may be listed in the Innovative Concepts and Local Environmental Conditions portions of the checklist. A4.601.3 Elective measures. In addition to the required measures, Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings must incorporate at least the number of elective measures specified in Sections A4.601.4.2 and A4.601.5.2. A4.601.4 Tier 1. To achieve Tier 1 status a project must comply with the following:

A4.601.4.1 Mandatory measures for Tier 1. The project shall meet or exceed all of the mandatory measures in Chapter 4, Divisions 4.1 through 4.5 and Chapter 7 as applicable. A4.601.4.2 Prerequisite and elective measures for Tier 1. In addition to the mandatory measures, compliance with the following prerequisite and elective measures from Appendix A4 is also required to achieve Tier 1 status:

  1. From Division A4.1, Planning and Design.

1.1. Comply with the topsoil protection requirements in Section A4.106.2.3.

1.2. Comply with the 20 percent permeable paving requirements in Section A4.106.4.

1.3. Comply with the cool roof requirements in Section A4.106.5.

1.4. Comply with the Tier 1 electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements in Section A4.106.8.

1.5. Comply with at least two elective measures selected from Division A4.1.

  1. From Division A4.2, Energy Efficiency.

2.1. For newly constructed low-rise residential buildings, comply with the energy efficiency requirements in Sections A4.203.1, A4.203.1.1, Table A4.203.1.1, A4.203.1.2 and A4.203.1.3.

  1. From Division A4.3, Water Efficiency and Conservation.

3.1. Comply with at least two elective measures selected from Division A4.3.

  1. From Division A4.4, Material Conservation and Resource Efficiency.

4.1. Comply with the 20 percent cement reduction requirements in Section A4.403.2.

4.2. Comply with the 10 percent recycled content requirements in Section A4.405.3.1.

4.3. Comply with the 65 percent reduction in construction waste in Section A4.408.1.

4.4. Comply with at least two elective measures selected from Division A4.4.

  1. From Division A4.5, Environmental Quality.

5.1. Comply with the 90 percent resilient flooring systems requirements in Section A4.504.2.

5.2. Comply with the thermal insulation requirements for Tier 1 in Section A4.504.3.

5.3. Comply with at least one elective measure selected from Division A4.5.

Note: The Residential Occupancies Application Checklist contained in Section A4.602 may be used to show which elective measures are selected.

A4.601.5 Tier 2. To achieve Tier 2 status a project must comply with the following.

Note: The measures necessary to achieve Tier 2 status are very stringent. Cities, counties, and cities and counties considering adoption of Tier 2 as mandatory should carefully consider the stringency of each measure and ensure that the measures are achievable in their location.

A4.601.5.1 Mandatory measures for Tier 2. The project shall meet or exceed all of the mandatory measures in Chapter 4, Divisions 4.1 through 4.5 and Chapter 7 as applicable.

A4.601.5.2 Prerequisite and elective measures for Tier 2. In addition to the mandatory measures, compliance with the following prerequisite and elective measures from Appendix A4 is also required to achieve Tier 2 status.

  1. From Division A4.1, Planning and Design.

1.1. Comply with the topsoil protection requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 in Section A4.106.2.3.

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

APPENDIX A4—RESIDENTIAL VOLUNTARY MEASURES

1.2. Comply with the 30 percent permeable paving requirements in Section A4.106.4.

1.3. Comply with the cool roof requirements in Section A4.106.5.

1.4. Comply with the Tier 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging requirements in Section A4.106.8.

1.5. Comply with at least four elective measures selected from Division A4.1. 2. From Division A4.2, Energy Efficiency.

2.1. For newly constructed low-rise residential buildings, comply with the energy efficiency requirements in Sections A4.203.1, A4.203.1.1, Table A4.203.1.1, A4.203.1.2 and A4.203.1.3. 3. From Division A4.3, Water Efficiency and Conservation.

3.1. Comply with at least three elective measures selected from Division A4.3. 4. From Division A4.4, Material Conservation and Resource Efficiency.

4.1. Comply with the 25 percent cement reduction requirements in Section A4.403.2.

4.2. Comply with the 15 percent recycled content requirements in Section A4.405.3.1.

4.3. Comply with the 75 percent reduction in construction waste in Section A4.408.1.

4.4. Comply with at least four elective measures selected from Division A4.4. 5. From Division A4.5, Environmental Quality.

5.1. Comply with the 100 percent resilient flooring systems requirements in Section A4.504.2.

5.2. Comply with the thermal insulation requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 in Section A4.504.3.

5.3. Comply with at least one elective measure selected from Division A4.5.

Note: The Residential Occupancies Application Checklist contained in Section A4.602 may be used to show which elective measures are selected.

APPENDIX A4-18 2022 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

DIVISION A4.6 – TIER 1 AND TIER 2—continued

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▸Contents — California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)
California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GREEN BUILDING
  4. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  5. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
  6. Chapter 6 — REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS AND STANDARDS
  7. Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
  8. Chapter 8 — COMPLIANCE FORMS, WORKSHEETS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL
  9. ▸Appendix A4
    Overview
    1. Section A4.101
    2. Section A4.102
    3. Section A4.103
    4. Section A4.104
    5. Section A4.105
    6. Section A4.106
    7. Section A4.107
    8. Section A4.108
    9. Section A4.201
    10. Section A4.202
    11. Section A4.203
    12. Section A4.301
    13. Section A4.302
    14. Section A4.303
    15. Section A4.304
    16. Section A4.305
    17. Section A4.306
    18. Section A4.401
    19. Section A4.402
    20. Section A4.403
    21. Section A4.404
    22. Section A4.405
    23. Section A4.406
    24. Section A4.407
    25. Section A4.408
    26. Section A4.409
    27. Section A4.410
    28. Section A4.411
    29. Section A4.501
    30. Section A4.502
    31. Section A4.503
    32. Section A4.504
    33. Section A4.505
    34. Section A4.506
    35. Section A4.507
    36. Section A4.508
    37. Section A4.509
    38. Section A4.601
    39. Section A4.602
    40. Section A4.602
    41. Section A4.602
    42. Section A4.602
    43. Section A4.602
    44. Section A4.602
    45. Section A4.602
    46. Section A4.602
    47. Section A4.602
    48. Section A4.602
  10. Appendix A5

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