Corte Madera Municipal Code Ch. 15.08 Energy Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1048, § 8, adopted October 21, 2025, repealed the former Ch. 15.08, §§ 15.08.010—15.08.040, and enacted a new Ch. 15.08 as set out herein. The former Ch. 15.08 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 1022, § 6, adopted Nov. 15, 2022 and Ord. No. 1040, § 3, adopted July 16, 2024.

The 2025 California Energy Code, known as Part 6, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, is hereby adopted by reference with amendments as set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1048, § 8, 10-21-2025)

Section 100.0 - SCOPE - of Subchapter 1 - ALL OCCUPANCIES - GENERAL PROVISIONS - of the 2025 California Energy Code is amended to add a new section (i) as follows:

(i) Single-Family Building Remodel Energy Reach Code. In addition to all requirements of the California Energy Code applicable to Existing Single-Family Building additions and alterations, the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric readiness measures specified in Section 150.0(w) shall be required for Covered Projects.

Section 100.1(b) - Definitions - of Subchapter 1 of the 2025 California Energy Code is amended by adding the following definition:

"Covered Project(s)" means additions or alterations, as described below, to a single-family residential building originally permitted for construction on or before December 31, 2010, which equal or exceed 500 square feet of interior conditioned space. Any addition or alteration to the same structure in the preceding 36 months shall be counted towards the 500 square feet threshold, except those additions or alterations made prior to the initial adoption of this ordinance. When any changes are made in the building, such as walls, columns, beams or girders, floor or ceiling joists and coverings (subfloor and drywall), roof rafters, roof diaphragms, foundations, piles or retaining walls or similar components, the floor area of all rooms affected by such changes shall be included in computing floor areas for the purpose of applying this definition.

This definition does not apply to project scopes that are solely limited to any of the following: the replacement and upgrading of residential roof coverings, exterior wall finishes and/or floor finishes; alterations that add no more than 75 square feet of fenestration; alterations that add no more than 16 square feet of skylight area with a maximum U-factor of 0.55 and a maximum SHGC of 0.30; or alterations that are limited to providing access for persons with disabilities. A Covered Project shall not include a project that is considered to be a newly constructed building under the California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6. The final determination of whether a project meets the definition of a Covered Project shall be made by the Building Official or designee.

The first two paragraphs of Section 150.0 of Subchapter 7 - SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS - MANDATORY FEATURES AND DEVICES - are amended to read as follows:

Single-family residential buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 150(a) through 150.0(w).

NOTE: The requirements of Sections 150.0(a) through 150.0(v) apply to newly constructed buildings. Sections 150.2(a) and 150.2(b) specify which requirements of Sections 150.0(a) through 150.0(v) also apply to additions or alterations. In addition, Covered Projects shall also be required to comply with Section 150.0(w).

Section (w) is added to Section 150.0 as follows:

(w) A Covered Project shall install a set of measures based on building vintage from the Measure Menu in Table 1B to achieve a total Measure Point Score that is equal to or greater than the Target Score in Table 1A. In addition, all mandatory measures listed in Table 1B shall be installed. Installed measures shall meet the specifications in Table 2, List of Measure Specifications.

Building vintage is the year in which the original construction permit for the building was submitted, as documented by building department records, or the permit issue date of an addition or alteration that satisfied the Performance Standards (California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6, Section 150.1(b)) that were in effect at that time, whichever is later.

Exceptions to 150.0(w):

(i) If a project is limited solely to a newly created attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) as defined in § 18.31.020, Corte Madera Town Code, the project shall be exempt from complying with this Section. A newly created ADU and JADU shall include either additions or conversions of existing space. This exception DOES NOT apply to a Covered Project of an existing ADU or JADU.

(ii) If a project occurs in a Mobile Home, Manufactured Housing, or Factory-built Housing as defined in Division 13 of the California Health and Safety 12 Code (commencing with section 17000 of the Health and Safety Code), the project shall be exempt from complying with this Section.

(iii) If, due to conditions specific to the project, it is technically or economically infeasible to achieve compliance, the Building Official may reduce the Target Score and/or waive some or all the mandatory requirements.

(iv) If the applicant demonstrates, using Commission-certified compliance software as specified by Section 10-109(c) and Section 10-116, that the Energy Budget of the Proposed Building Design would be less than or equal to the Energy Budget of the building under the project if it included any set of measures that would achieve compliance under this Section, the project shall be exempt from complying with this Section.

(v) If the applicant resides in the dwelling unit and demonstrates that they qualify for the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE), or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program, or if the applicant is the owner of the dwelling unit which is occupied by a dependent who demonstrates that they qualify for the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE), or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program, the project may comply by installing, to the specifications in Table 2, the following measures:

(a) E1: Lighting Measures; and

(b) E2: Water Heating Package.

Table 1A: Target Score

Table 1B: Measure Menu

The following conditions also apply to Table 1B:

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the requirements shall apply to the entire dwelling unit, not just the additional or altered portion.

(b) Measures from the Measure Menu in Table 1B and specified in Table 2, that already exist in the home, may be counted towards compliance with these requirements, unless otherwise specified in Table 2.

(c) Measures from the Measure Menu in Table 1B that are to be installed to satisfy requirements under the State Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6, may not be counted towards compliance with these requirements. Where these requirements conflict with other Energy Code requirements, the stricter requirements shall prevail.

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Table 2: List of Measure Specifications

(Ord. No. 1048, § 8, 10-21-2025)

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(a) Any person who commits a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, including those that have been adopted by reference herein, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, imprisonment for six months, or both.

(b) Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter, including those that have been adopted by reference herein, shall be subject to administrative citation and fines as set forth in Chapter 9.05 of Title 9 of this code or any other penalties set forth in Chapter 1.04 of this code.

(Ord. No. 1048, § 8, 10-21-2025)

By adoption of this chapter the town council does not intend to create, establish, or impose any mandatory duty or liability on the part of the town, its officers, employees, or any other person acting on its behalf, notwithstanding the use of "shall," "will," "must," or similar terms within this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1048, § 8, 10-21-2025)