Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 4 Residential Mandatory Measures

(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)

Section

99.04.100 Basic Provisions.

99.04.106

Energy Efficiency

• 99.04.201 General.

• 99.04.211 Renewable Energy.

• 99.04.303 Indoor Water Use.

• 99.04.304 Outdoor Water Use.

• 99.04.305 Water Reuse Systems.

• 99.04.407 Water Resistance and Moisture Management.

• 99.04.408 Construction Waste Reduction, Disposal and Recycling.

• 99.04.504 Pollutant Control.

(Amended by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.)

Chapter 4 of the California Green Building Standards Code is adopted by reference except as amended herein.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

99.04.106.2. Storm Water Drainage and Retention During Construction. Projects which disturb soil shall manage storm water drainage during construction. In order to manage storm water drainage during construction one or more of the following measures shall be implemented to prevent flooding of adjacent property, prevent erosion and retain soil runoff on the site:

1. Retention basins of sufficient size shall be utilized to retain storm water on the site;

2. Where storm water is conveyed to a public drainage system, collection point, gutter, or similar disposal method, water shall be filtered by use of a barrier system, wattle or other method approved by the Department; or

3. Compliance with City of Los Angeles’ storm water management ordinance(s).

99.04.106.5. Cool Roof for Reduction of Heat Island Effect. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.) Roofing material shall comply with both LAMC Subsections 99.04.106.5.1 and 99.04.106.5.2, or comply with LAMC Subsection 99.04.106.5.3.

EXCEPTIONS:

• 1. Roof repair as defined in Section 100.1(b) of the California Energy Code; or
• 2. Roof replacement when the roof area being replaced is equal to or less than 50% of the total roof area; or
• 3. Roof replacement where solar systems are being installed; or

4. Additions resulting in less than 500 square feet of added roof area or less than 50% of the total roof area, whichever is greater; or

5. Roof construction that has a thermal mass over the roof membrane, including areas of vegetated (green) roofs, weighing at least 25 pounds per square foot.

99.04.106.5.1. Solar Reflectance. Roofing material shall have a minimum three-year aged solar reflectance equal to or greater than the values specified in LAMC Tables 99.04.106.5.1 and 99.04.106.5.2. Solar reflectance shall be determined by testing by an approved agency in accordance with ASTM C1549, ASTM E1918 or CRRC-1. Solar reflectance values shall be based on the aged reflectance value of the roofing product or the equation in California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) Section A4.106.5.1 if aged solar reflectance values are not available. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

99.04.106.5.2. Thermal Emittance. Roofing materials shall have an emittance value equal to or greater than those specified in LAMC Tables 99.04.106.5.1 and 99.04.106.5.2. Thermal emittance shall be determined by testing by an approved agency in accordance with ASTM C1371, ASTM E408 or CRRC-1. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

99.04.106.5.3. Solar Reflectance Index. Roofing materials shall have a three-year aged Solar Reflectance Index equal to or greater than those specified in LAMC Tables 99.04.106.5.1 and 99.04.106.5.2. Aged Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) may be calculated using the SRI Calculation Worksheet (SRI-WS) developed by the California Energy Commission or in compliance with ASTM E1980-01 as specified in the 2019 California Energy Code. Solar reflectance values used in the SRI-WS shall be based on the aged reflectance value of the roofing product. Certified thermal emittance used in the SRI-WS may be either the initial value or the aged value listed by the Cool Roof Rating Council. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

TABLE TABLE 99.04.106.5.1 [LOW-RISE] (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

TABLE 99.04.106.5.2 [HIGH-RISE] (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

99.04.106.7. Reduction of Heat Island Effect for Nonroof Areas [N]. Reduce nonroof heat islands for 50% of pathways patios, driveways or other paved areas by using one or more of the methods listed.

1. Use trees or other plantings to provide shade and that mature within 15 years of planting. Trees shall be suitable in mature size and environmental requirements for the site. Tree selection and placement shall consider location and size of areas to be shaded, location of utilities, views from the structure, distance to sidewalks and foundations, overhangs onto adjacent properties and streets; other infrastructure and adjacent to landscaping. In addition, shading shall not cast a shadow, as specified, on any neighboring solar collectors pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 25981, et seq. (Solar Shade Control Act);

2. Use high albedo materials with an initial solar reflectance value of at least .30 as determined in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards E1918 or C1549;

• 3. Use open grid pavement system or pervious or permeable pavement system;
• 4. Use solar panel arrays to create a canopy shade system; or
• 5. Other methods of reducing heat island effects acceptable to the Department.

99.04.106.8. All-Electric Buildings. (Added by Ord. No. 187,714, Eff. 1/23/23.) All newly constructed buildings shall be all-electric buildings.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Application for a building permit is submitted, accepted by the Department of Building and Safety, and building permit application fees are paid prior to April 1, 2023.

2. Application for a building permit for an Affordable Housing Project, as defined in the Mayor's Executive Directive 1.3, is submitted, accepted by the Department of Building and Safety, and building permit application fees are paid prior to June 1, 2023.

3. Attached accessory dwelling units using existing gas piping systems in conjunction with the primary dwelling.

4. Cooking equipment contained within kitchens located in a public use area, as defined in the California Building Code Chapter 2, such as restaurants, commissaries, cafeterias, and community kitchens provided the electrical infrastructure is installed in accordance with Section 99.04.106.8.1.

5. Gas-powered emergency life-safety systems, including emergency backup.

99.04.106.8.1. Requirements for Combustion Equipment. (Added by Ord. No. 187,714, Eff. 1/23/23.) Where required by Section 99.04.106.8, the electrical infrastructure shall be installed to accommodate the future installation of an electrical heating or cooking appliance/equipment in the following ways:

1. Branch circuit wiring, electrically isolated and designed to serve all electrical heating and cooking appliances in accordance with manufacturer requirements and the California Electrical Code, including the appropriate voltage, phase, minimum amperage, and an electrical receptacle or junction box within 5 feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit may be installed in lieu of conductors; and

2. Labeling of both ends of the unused conductors or conduit shall be with "For Future Electrical Appliance/Equipment"; and

3. Reserved circuit breakers in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled (e.g., "Reserved for Future Electric Range/Equipment"), and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

4. Connected subpanels, panelboards, switchboards, busbars, and transformers shall be sized to serve the future electrical heating appliances and equipment. The electrical capacity requirements shall be adjusted for demand factors in accordance with the California Electric Code.

99.04.201.1. Scope. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) The provisions of this division shall establish means of conserving energy.

(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)

99.04.211.4. Solar Ready Buildings. Buildings shall comply with the following:

1. All one- and two-family dwellings shall comply with Sections 110.10(b)1A, 110.10(b)2, 110.10(b)3, 110.10(b)4, 110.10(c), 110.10(d) and 110.10(e) of the California Energy Code (CCR, Title 24, Part 6).

2. All buildings, other than one- and two-family dwellings, shall comply with Sections 110.10(b) through 110.10(d) of the California Energy Code (CCR, Title 24, Part 6).

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Additions having less than 2,000 sq. ft. of new roof area.

2. Alterations.

(Amended by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.)

99.04.303.4. Water Use Reduction. (Added by Ord. No. 184,246, Eff. 6/6/16.) A 20 percent reduction in the overall use of potable water within the building shall be provided. The reduction shall be based on the maximum allowable water use per plumbing fixture and fittings as required by the Los Angeles Building Standards. The 20 percent reduction in potable water use shall be demonstrated by the following method:

99.04.303.4.1. Performance Method. A calculation demonstrating a 20% reduction in the building "water use baseline", as established in LAMC Table 99.04.303.4.1, shall be provided.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Projects with plumbing fixtures and fittings that comply with the maximum flow rate values in LAMC Table 99.04.303.4.2.

2. Additions and alterations to buildings where the new fixtures and fittings comply with the maximum flow rate values in LAMC Table 99.04.303.4.2.

3. Buildings utilizing recycled water in accordance with LAMC Subsection 99.04.305.2.

4. Replacement of plumbing fixtures and fittings.

TABLE 99.04.303.4.1 WATER USE BASELINE 4

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Fixture "Water Use" = Flow rate × Duration × Occupants × Daily uses

1. The daily use number shall be increased to three if urinals are not installed in the room.

2. Refer to Table 4-1, Chapter 4 of the California Plumbing Code, for occupant load factors.

a. Shower use by occupants depends on the type of use of a building or portion of a building. For example, the total occupant load for a health club, but only a fraction of the occupants in an office building as determined by the anticipated number of users.

b. Kitchen faucet use is determined by the occupant load of the area served by the fixture.

3. Floor-mounted urinals @ 0.5 GPF or wall-mounted urinals @ 0.125 GPF.

4. Use Worksheet WS-1 of the CALGreen Code to calculate baseline water.

TABLE 99.04.303.4.2 WATER REDUCTION FIXTURE FLOW RATES

*Kitchen faucets may temporarily increase the flow to 2.2 gpm at 60 psi, and must default to 1.5 gpm at 60 psi. This requirement does not apply to a faucet in commercial kitchens or in buildings that have water closets with a maximum flush rate of 1.06 gpf installed throughout.

(Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.)

99.04.304.3. Metering Outdoor Water Use. A landscape water meter provided by the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power shall be installed for landscape irrigation for the following:

1. New construction projects, as defined by the California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, with aggregate landscape area over 500 square feet.

2. When required by the California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.

3. Additions and alterations, with a valuation of $200,000 or more, where the entire potable water system is replaced, including all underground piping to the existing meter.

99.04.304.4. Exterior Faucets. Locks shall be installed on all publicly accessible exterior faucets and hose bibs.

EXCEPTION: Single family dwellings.

99.04.304.5. Swimming Pool Covers. For one- and two-family dwellings, any permanently installed outdoor in-ground swimming pool or spa shall be equipped with a cover having a manual or power-operated reel system. For irregular-shaped pools where it is infeasible to cover 100 percent of the pool due to its irregular shape, a minimum of 80 percent of the pool shall be covered.

EXCEPTION: Additions or alterations to existing swimming pools and spas with a building valuation not exceeding $25,000.

Note: Safety pool covers installed pursuant to the exception to LAMC Subsection 91.3109.4 shall meet the requirements of ASTM F 1346. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

(Added by Ord. No. 184,246, Eff. 6/6/16.)

99.04.305.1. Recycled Water Supply to Fixtures. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) When City-recycled water is available for use within 200 feet of the property line, 100 percent of water for water closets, urinals, floor drains, and process cooling and heating in that building shall come from City-recycled water. Recycled water systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with the Los Angeles Plumbing Code.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Additions that use any part of the existing plumbing system.

2. Alterations that do not include replacing all of the potable water piping.

3. Where City-recycled water quality has been deemed non-suitable for a particular fixture or equipment, connection to the City is not required. The fixture and/or equipment shall be dual-plumbed to allow for future connection.

99.04.305.2. Graywater Ready. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) Waste piping shall be arranged to permit the discharge from the clothes washer, bathtub, showers and bathroom/restroom washbasins to be used for a future graywater irrigation system(s). The flow from the fixtures shall be piped separately, and, at a minimum, be adequate to supply the irrigation demand as determined by the California Department of Water Resources' Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). The point(s) of connection between graywater piping and other waste piping shall be accessible (as defined in LAMC Section 99.02.202) and provided with signage that is satisfactory to the Department.

EXCEPTIONS:

• 1. Buildings with a graywater, rainwater harvesting, or other water reuse system.
• 2. Sites with landscape areas not exceeding 500 square feet.
• 3. Projects where graywater systems are not permitted due to geological conditions.
• 4. Additions and alterations that use the existing building drain.

99.04.305.3. Cooling Towers [N]. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Cooling towers shall comply with LAMC Subdivision 99.04.305.3.1 or 99.04.305.3.2.

99.04.305.3.1. Buildings 25 Stories or Less. Buildings of 25 stories or less shall comply with one of the following:

1. Cooling towers shall have a minimum of 6 cycles of concentration (blowdown); or

2. A minimum of 50 percent of makeup water supply to cooling towers shall come from non-potable water sources, including treated backwash.

99.04.305.3.2. Buildings Over 25 Stories. Buildings over 25 stories shall comply with all of the following:

1. Cooling towers shall have a minimum of 6 cycles of concentration (blowdown); and

2. 100 percent of makeup water supply to cooling towers shall come from non-potable water sources, including treated backwash.

EXCEPTION: Where the amount of graywater produced by the plumbing system is insufficient to meet the total makeup water demand, as determined by the Department, potable water can be used to compensate for the deficiency.

99.04.305.4. Groundwater Discharge [N]. Where groundwater is being extracted and discharged, a system for onsite reuse of the groundwater shall be developed and constructed. Alternatively, the groundwater may be discharged to the sewer.

99.04.407.3. Flashing Details. Provide flashing details on the building plans which comply with accepted industry standards or manufacturer’s instructions at the following locations:

• 1. Around windows and doors;
• 2. Roof valleys;
• 3. Chimneys to roof intersections.

99.04.407.4. Material Protection. Protect building materials delivered to the construction site from rain and other sources of moisture.

(Amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)

99.04.408.1. Construction Waste Management. Comply with LAMC Section 66.32, et seq., of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 186,486, Eff. 1/28/20.)

99.04.504.6. Filters. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.) Mechanically ventilated buildings shall meet the air filtration requirements of the California Energy Code.

Tables 4.504.1, 4.504.2, and 4.504.3 of the California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11 are not adopted. The following tables shall apply instead:

TABLE 99.04.504.1

ADHESIVE VOC LIMIT 1, 2

Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds in Grams per Liter

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

1. If an adhesive is used to bond dissimilar substrates together, the adhesive with the highest VOC content shall be allowed.

2. For additional information regarding methods to measure the VOC content specified in this table, see South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1168.

TABLE 99.04.504.2

SEALANT VOC LIMIT

Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds in Grams per Liter

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

TABLE 99.04.504.3

VOC CONTENT LIMITS FOR ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS 2, 3

Grams of VOC per Liter of Coating Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

1. Grams of VOC per liter of coating, including water and including exempt compounds.

2. The specified limits remain in effect unless revised limits are listed in subsequent columns in the table.

3. Values in this table are derived from those specified by the South Coast Air Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113. More information is available from the SCAQMD.