Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 5 Nonresidential Mandatory Measures

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

Section

99.05.100 Basic Provisions.

99.05.106 Site Development.

Energy Efficiency

• 99.05.201 General.

• 99.05.211 Renewable Energy.

• 99.05.303 Indoor Water Use.

• 99.05.304 Outdoor Water Use.

• 99.05.305 Water Reuse Systems.

• 99.05.408 Construction Waste Reduction, Disposal and Recycling.

99.05.504

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

Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is adopted by reference except as provided in this article.

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

99.05.106.5.3.1. EV Capable Spaces. [N] EV capable spaces shall be provided in accordance with California Green Building Standards Code Table 5.106.5.3.1. However, in all cases, a minimum of thirty percent of the total number of parking spaces on a building site shall be EV capable spaces, and in no case shall less than one EV capable space be provided. Calculations for EV capable spaces shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. EV capable spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following:

1. Raceways complying with the California Electrical Code and no less than 1 inch diameter shall be provided and shall originate at a service panel or a subpanel(s) serving the area, and shall terminate in close proximity to the proposed location of the EV capable space and into a suitable listed cabinet, box, enclosure or equivalent. A common raceway may be used to serve multiple EV capable spaces.

2. A service panel or subpanel(s) shall be provided with panel space and electrical load capacity for a dedicated 208/240 volts, 40-ampere minimum branch circuits for each EV capable space, with delivery of 30-ampere minimum to an installed EVSE at each EVCS.

3. The electrical system and any on-site distribution transformers shall have sufficient capacity to supply full rated amperage at each EV capable space.

4. The service panel or subpanel(s) circuit directory shall identify the reserved overcurrent protective device space(s) as “EV CAPABLE”. The raceway termination location shall be permanently and visibly marked as “EV CAPABLE”.

NOTE: A parking space served by electric vehicle supply equipment or designed as a future EV charging space shall count as at least one standard automobile parking space only for the purpose of complying with any applicable minimum parking space requirements established by an enforcement agency. See Vehicle Code Section 22511.2 for further details.

99.05.106.5.3.2. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS). EV capable spaces shall be provided with electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to create EVCS in the number indicated in California Green Building Standards Code Table 5.106.5.3.1, but in no case less than twenty percent of the total number of actual parking spaces, and in no case less than one. Calculations for spaces shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The EVCS required by Los Angeles Municipal Code Subsection 99.05.106.5.3.1 shall be provided with Level 2 EVSE or DCFC as permitted in California Green Building Standards Code Section 5.106.5.3.2.3.

One EV charger with multiple connectors capable of charging multiple EVs simultaneously shall be permitted if the electrical load capacity required by California Green Building Standards Code 5.106.5.3.11 for each EV capable space is accumulatively supplied to the EV charger.

99.05.106.5.3.3. Use of Automatic Load Management Systems (ALMS). (Amended by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.) ALMS shall be permitted for EVCS. When ALMS is installed, the required electrical load capacity specified in Los Angeles Municipal Code Subsection 99.05.106.5.3.1 for each EVCS may be reduced when serviced by an EVSE controlled by an ALMS. Each EVSE controlled by an ALMS shall deliver a minimum 30 amperes to an EV when charging one vehicle and shall deliver a minimum 3.3 kW while simultaneously charging multiple EVs.

99.05.106.5.3.4. Accessible EVCS. (Added by Ord. No. 187,719, Eff. 1/23/23.) When EVSE is installed, accessible EVCS shall be provided in accordance with the California Building Code Chapter 11B Sec. 11B-228.3.

NOTE: For EVCS signs, refer to Caltrans Traffic Operations Policy Directive 13-01 (Zero Emission Vehicle Signs and Pavement Markings) or its successor(s).

99.05.106.5.3.6. Number of Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. (Added by Ord. No. 186,485, Eff. 1/28/20.) The number of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) shall be 10% of the total number of parking spaces provided for all new nonresidential buildings. Calculations for the number of required EVCS shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The number of EVCS can be counted towards the total number of EV spaces required for the building per Section 99.05.106.5.3.3.

99.05.106.11. Hardscape Alternatives [N]. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) Use one or a combination of strategies below for 50% of site hardscape.

1. Provide shade (mature within 15 years of occupancy);

2. Use light colored materials with an initial solar reflectance value of at least .30 as determined in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards E 1918 or C 1549;

3. Use open-grid pavement system or pervious or permeable pavement system; or

4. Use solar panel arrays to create a canopy shade system.

99.05.106.13. Cool Roof for Reduction of Heat Island Effect. (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.) Roofing material shall comply with both LAMC Subsections 99.05.106.13.1 and 99.05.106.13.2, or comply with LAMC Subsection 99.05.106.13.3.

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.

99.05.106.13.1. Solar Reflectance. Roofing material shall have a minimum three-year aged solar reflectance equal to or greater than the values specified in LAMC Table 99.05.106.13. 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 CALGreen Section A4.106.5.1 if aged solar reflectance values are not available. (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

99.05.106.13.2. Thermal Emittance. Roofing materials shall have an emittance value equal to or greater than those specified in LAMC Table 99.05.106.13. Thermal emittance shall be determined by testing by an approved agency in accordance with ASTM C1371, ASTM E408 or CRRC-1. (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

99.05.106.13.3. Solar Reflectance Index. Roofing materials shall have a three-year aged Solar Reflectance Index equal to or greater than those specified in LAMC Table 99.05.106.13. 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. (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

TABLE 99.05.106.13 (Added by Ord. No. 187,208, Eff. 11/5/21.)

99.05.106.14. 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. Cooking equipment contained within kitchens located in a public use area, as defined in the California Building Code Chapter 2, such as restaurants, commissaries, and cafeterias provided the electrical infrastructure is installed in accordance with Section 99.05.106.14.1.

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

4. Gas-powered process equipment in I-2, F and L Occupancy Groups provided the electrical infrastructure is installed in accordance with Section 99.05.106.14.1.

99.05.106.14.1. Requirements for Combustion Equipment. (Added by Ord. No. 187,714, Eff. 1/23/23.) Where required by Section 99.05.106.14, 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 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"; 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. The electrical capacity requirements shall be adjusted for demand factors in accordance with the California Electric Code.

99.05.201.1. Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall establish means of conserving energy.

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

99.05.211.1. Solar Ready Buildings. Comply with California Energy Code Section 110.10.

EXCEPTIONS:

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

2. Alterations.

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

99.05.303.1.1. New Buildings or Additions in Excess of 50,000 Square Feet. Separate submeters or meters shall be installed as follows:

1. For each individual leased, rented, or other tenant space within the building projected to consume more than 100 gallons per day (380 L/day).

2. Where potable water is used for industrial/process uses, for water supplied to the following subsystems:

a. Makeup water for cooling towers where flow through is greater than 500 gpm (30 L/s).

b. Makeup water for evaporative coolers greater than 6 gpm (0.04 L/s).

c. Steam and hot-water boilers with energy input more than 500,000 Btu/h (147 kW).

3. For each building that uses more than 100 gallons per day on a parcel containing multiple buildings.

99.05.303.2. Water Use Reduction. Each building shall demonstrate a 20% overall reduction in potable water use. The reduction shall be based on the maximum allowable water use per plumbing fixture and fittings as required by the LAMC. To comply with this subsection, a calculation demonstrating a 20% reduction in the building "water use baseline", as established in LAMC Table 99.05.303.2.2, shall be provided.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Projects with plumbing systems having fixtures and fittings that comply with the maximum flow rate values shown in LAMC Table 99.05.303.2.3.

2. Additions and alterations to buildings with fixtures and fittings complying with the maximum flow rate values shown in LAMC Table 99.05.303.2.3. This provision shall apply only to new fixtures.

3. Buildings utilizing recycled water in accordance with LAMC Subsection 99.05.305.2.

4. Replacement of plumbing fixtures and fittings.

TABLE 99.05.303.2.2 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 use.

TABLE 99.05.303.2.3 WATER REDUCTION FIXTURE FLOW RATES

* Not required if using nonwater or hybrid urinals throughout the project.

** 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.

99.05.303.6. Standards for Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings. Plumbing fixtures and fittings shall be installed in accordance with the Los Angeles Plumbing Code, and shall meet the applicable standards referenced in California Plumbing Code Table 1701.1 and in Chapter 6 of CALGreen. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,198, Eff. 11/22/17.)

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

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

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

99.05.305.1. Recycled Water Supply to Fixtures. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,488, Eff. 12/27/19.) When City-recycled water is available 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.

99.05.305.2. 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 shall, 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 (46.45 m 2 ).
• 3. Projects where graywater systems are not permitted due to geological conditions.
• 4. Additions and alterations that use the existing building drain.

• 99.05.305.3. Cooling Towers [N]. Cooling towers 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 shall come from non-potable water sources, including treated backwash.

99.05.305.4. 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.

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

99.05.408.1. Construction Waste Diversion. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Comply with LAMC Section 66.32 et seq.

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

Tables 5.504.4.1, 5.504.4.2, and 5.504.4.3 of the California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11 are not adopted. The following tables shall apply instead:

TABLE 99.05.504.4.1

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 (SCAQMD) Rule 1168.

TABLE 99.05.504.4.2

SEALANT VOC LIMIT

Less Water and Less Exempt Compounds in Grams per Liter

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

TABLE 99.05.504.4.3

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.