Chino Municipal Code Ch. 15.45 Climate Action Plan Implementation

The city's climate action plan (CAP) incorporates a variety of reduction approaches and strategies, including mandatory measures, incentive-based measures, public outreach and education, and coordination with county, regional, and state strategies in order to accomplish emission reductions in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The purpose of this chapter is to establish CAP implementation requirements for existing buildings and new development that will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)

The 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11 ("CALGreen") contains both mandatory and voluntary green building measures. Mandatory and voluntary measures are identified in the appropriate application checklists contained in CALGreen. All new residential development shall comply with the mandatory measures of CALGreen Chapter 4, and are encouraged to implement voluntary measures to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to development. In addition to mandatory measures of CALGreen, all new residential development shall comply with the measures identified in Section 15.45.030 of this code. All new non-residential development shall comply with the mandatory measures of CALGreen Chapter 5, and are encouraged to implement voluntary measures to further reduce GHG emissions related to development. In addition to the mandatory measures of CALGreen, all new non-residential development shall comply with the measures identified in Section 15.45.040 of this code.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)

The following measures are hereby adopted as mandatory measures, applicable to all new residential development:

A. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging. Dwellings shall comply with the following requirements for future installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

1. One-and Two-family Dwellings. Install a listed raceway to accommodate a dedicated branch circuit. The raceway shall not be less than trade size 1. The raceway shall be securely fastened at the main service or subpanel and shall terminate in close proximity to the proposed location of the charging system into a listed cabinet, box, or enclosure. Raceways are required to be continuous at enclosed or concealed areas and spaces. A raceway may terminate in an attic or other approved location when it can be demonstrated that the area is accessible and no removal of materials is necessary to complete the final installation.

i. Exception: Other pre-installation methods that provide sufficient conductor sizing and service capacity to install Level 2 EVSE.

ii. Labeling Requirement. A label stating "EV CAPABLE" shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the service panel or subpanel and next to the raceway termination point.

2. Appliance Rating. Each appliance provided by the builder must be a qualified ENERGY STAR appliance if an ENERGY STAR designation is applicable for that appliance.

3. Enhanced Construction Waste Reduction. Divert to recycle or salvage at least seventy percent of nonhazardous construction and demolition debris generated at the site.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)

The following measures are hereby adopted as mandatory measures, applicable to all new non-residential development:

1. Appliance Rating. All equipment and appliances provided by the builder shall be ENERGY STAR labeled if ENERGY STAR is applicable to that equipment or appliance.

2. Enhanced Construction Waste Reduction. Divert to recycle or salvage at least seventy percent of nonhazardous construction and demolition debris generated at the site.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)

At least one model home/unit for each residential development shall offer and display energy-saving options and signage identifying standard and optional features that contribute to the overall efficiency of the home. Handout materials shall be made available in the model home describing the optional features, including costs, benefits, energy savings, etc.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)

Energy efficiency upgrades are required when a building permit is issued for any addition or alteration to non-residential buildings, or when a building permit is issued for any addition or alteration with a project valuation of sixty-five thousand dollars or more to a residential building.

In all cases of additions or alterations that trigger the requirement, compliance is required as follows:

1. Applicants will dedicate an additional amount of ten percent of project valuation toward energy upgrades, up to a maximum of twenty thousand dollars beyond the original permit valuation for the addition or alteration.

2. Energy upgrades that can be counted toward meeting this requirement include those that are part of the original addition or alteration that exceed local and state requirements, and those that are beyond the original scope of the project that meet or exceed local and state requirements.

3. The building official will have the flexibility to determine substantial compliance with this section in cases where practical difficulties make it infeasible to meet the requirements. A project proponent would need to demonstrate in writing that the requirements are financially infeasible, that they are infeasible within the project timeframe, that the products needed are not available, or that other practical difficulties exist.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)

All new development in the city shall contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by demonstrating consistency with the climate action plan by implementing one or a combination of the following three options:

1. Exceed by three percent the mandatory California Energy Code Title 24, Part 6 standards, in effect at the time of development application submittal for discretionary review; or

2. Achieve an equivalent reduction through voluntary measures in the California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11 (CALGreen) in effect at the time of development application submittal for discretionary review; or

3. Provide other equivalent GHG reductions through measures including, but not limited to, non-vehicle transportation infrastructure, transit, ZEV (zero emission vehicle) infrastructure or other incentives, waste diversion, water conservation, tree planting, renewable energy option packages, or any combination of these or other measures such that GHG emissions are reduced by 0.04 MT CO2e per residential dwelling unit per year and/or 0.11 MT CO2e per thousand square feet of commercial/industrial development per year.

Applicants that choose Option 1 described above will be required to verify that their project meets the three percent improvement above the mandatory standards through the appropriate certificate of compliance form for residential construction (CF-1R) or for commercial/industrial construction (PERF-1C). Applicants that choose Options 2 or 3 described above will be required to utilize the GHG Performance Standard Checklist developed by the city, or provide other valid documentation, such as CalEEMod or other methodologies, as verified by the director of community development to demonstrate the required GHG reductions consistent with the city's CAP.

(Ord. No. 2025-007, § 2, 2025.)