Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 7 Electric Readiness Requirements — Residential and Hotels/Motels

Add new subsections 4.106.5 through 4.106.6.2 to Section 4.106 (Site Development) of the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code to read as follows:

4.106.5 Electric readiness for single-family homes, duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and townhouses with attached garages.

4.106.5.1 Electric ready for one- and two-family dwellings. accessory dwelling units. and townhouses with attached garages — new construction. New construction one- and two-family residential dwellings and townhouse buildings with attached garages shall comply with the following and in accordance with Table 4.106.5.1:

1. Heat pump space heater ready. A system(s) using a gas or propane furnace to serve an individual dwelling unit(s) shall meet the requirements of Section 150.0(t) of Title 24, Part 6 and, in addition, include on construction drawings a designated location for a future heat pump compressor unit of a size that can serve the size of the dwelling unit(s) with either a drain installed or natural drainage provided for condensate.

2. Electric readiness requirements for any system(s) using gas or propane. Where any system(s) using gas or propane is (are) installed in a dwelling unit or common area, the construction drawings shall indicate electrical infrastructure and physical space accommodating the future installation of an electric equivalent of that appliance that serves the same function, which must be certified by a registered design professional or licensed electrical contractor, and be installed to comply with:

a. "Appliance" refers to, but is not limited to, indoor or outdoor installations of space-conditioning (heating/cooling) equipment, water-heating equipment , clothes dryer, cooking appliances, fire pits, fireplaces, and heating equipment for pools, spas, saunas: and

b. Branch circuit wiring to be electrically isolated and designed to serve a future electric appliance with the same function in accordance with the minimum in Table 4.106.5.1, unless an otherwise specified future electric appliance is proposed in accordance with manufacturer requirements and the California Electrical Code, including the appropriate voltage, phase, minimum amperage and, in all cases, an electrical receptacle or junction box must be located within three (3) feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit maybe installed in lieu of conductors; and

c. Label both ends of the unused conductors or conduit with "For Future Electrical Appliance"; and

d. Reserve a circuit breaker(s) in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled for the appliance (e.g., "Reserved for Future Electric Fireplace"), and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

e. Any connected subpanels, panelboards, switchboards, busbars and transformers shall be sized to serve the future electric appliance. The electrical capacity requirements shall be adjusted for demand factors in accordance with the California Electrical Code; and

f. Physical space for the future electric appliance(s), including equipment footprint, shall be depicted on the construction drawings. The footprint necessary for the future electric appliance(s) may overlap with non-structural partitions and with the location of currently designed combustion equipment.

Table 4.106.5.1 Minimum Requirements for Electric Ready Appliance

4.106.5.2 Electric readiness for existing one- and two-family dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and townhouses with attached garages — additions and alterations. Existing one-and two-family dwellings, accessory dwelling units, and townhouse buildings where additions or alterations are required to obtain a permit (e.g. building, plumbing, electrical , mechanical ) and where a system(s) using gas or propane is being installed (new or replacement), the construction drawings shall indicate electrical infrastructure and physical space accommodating the future installation of an electric equivalent of that appliance, as certified by a registered design professional or licensed electrical contractor, and be installed to comply with:

1. "Appliance" refers to, but is not limited to, indoor or outdoor installations of space-conditioning (heating/cooling) equipment, water-heating equipment, clothes dryers, cooking appliances, fire pits, fireplaces, and heating equipment for pools, spas, saunas; and

2. Branch circuit wiring to be electrically isolated and designed to serve a future electric appliance in accordance with manufacturer requirements for an equivalent electric appliance to the gas or propane appliance proposed, but at minimum no less than 120 volt, and per the California Electrical Code, including the appropriate voltage, phase, minimum amperage and an electrical receptacle or junction box within three (3) feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit may be installed in lieu of conductors; and

3. Label both ends of the unused conductors or conduit with "For Future Electrical Appliance"; and

4. Reserve a circuit breaker(s) in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled for the appliance (e.g., "Reserved for Future Electric Fireplace") and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

5. Physical space for future electric appliances, including equipment footprint, shall be depicted on the construction drawings. The footprint necessary for future electric appliances may overlap with nonstructural partitions and with the location of currently designed combustion equipment.

Exception: Electric ready improvement results in the upsizing of the electrical service panel that would not otherwise be required by the permit scope.

4.106.6 Electric ready for multifamily dwellings, hotels, and motels.

4.106.6.1 Electric ready for multifamily dwellings, hotels, and motels — new construction. All multi-family residential new construction with three (3) units or more and any new construction hotels and motels shall comply with Section 4.106.6.1.1.

4.106.6.1.1 Electric readiness requirements for any system(s) using gas or propane. Where any system(s) using gas or propane is (are) installed in a dwelling unit, hotel or motel room, or common area, the construction drawings shall indicate electrical infrastructure and physical space accommodating the future installation of an electric equivalent of that appliance, as certified by a registered design professional or licensed electrical contractor, and be installed to comply with:

1. "Appliance" refers to, but is not limited to, indoor or outdoor installations of space-conditioning (heating/cooling) equipment, water-heating equipment, clothes dryers, cooking appliances, fire pits, fireplaces, and heating equipment for pools, spas, saunas: and

2. Branch circuit wiring to be electrically isolated and designed to serve a future electric appliance 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 three (3) feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit may be installed in lieu of conductors; and

3. Label both ends of the unused conductors or conduit with "For Future Electrical Appliance"; and

4. Reserve a circuit breaker(s) in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled for the appliance (e.g., "Reserved for Future Electric Fireplace") and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

5. Any connected subpanels, panelboards, switchboards, busbars and transformers shall be sized to serve the future electric appliance. The electrical capacity requirements shall be adjusted for demand factors in accordance with the California Electrical Code; and

6. Physical space for future electric appliances, including equipment footprint, shall be depicted on the construction drawings. The footprint necessary for future electric appliances may overlap with nonstructural partitions and with the location of currently designed combustion equipment.

4.106.6.2 Electric ready for existing multifamily dwellings, hotels, and motels — additions and alterations. Existing multi-family residential buildings with three (3) units or more and any hotels and motels where building additions or alterations are required to obtain a permit (e.g. building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical) and where any system(s) using gas or propane is being installed (new or replacement) in a dwelling unit, hotel or motel room, or common area, the construction drawings shall indicate electrical infrastructure and physical space accommodating the future installation of an electric equivalent of that appliance, as certified by a registered design professional or licensed electrical contractor, and be installed to comply with:

1. "Appliance" refers to, but is not limited to, indoor or outdoor installations of space-conditioning (heating/cooling) equipment, water-heating equipment, clothes dryers, cooking appliances, fire pits, fireplaces, and heating equipment for pools, spas, saunas; and

2. Branch circuit wiring to be electrically isolated and designed to serve a future electric appliance in accordance with manufacturer requirements for an equivalent electric appliance to the gas or propane appliance proposed, but at minimum no less than 120 volt, and per the California Electrical Code, including the appropriate voltage, phase, minimum amperage and an electrical receptacle or junction box within three (3) feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit may be installed in lieu of conductors; and

3. Label both ends of the unused conductors or conduit with "For Future Electrical Appliance": and

4. Reserve a circuit breaker(s) in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled for the appliance (e.g.. "Reserved for Future Electric Fireplace") and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

5. Physical space for future electric appliances, including equipment footprint, shall be depicted on the construction drawings. The footprint necessary for future electric appliances may overlap with nonstructural partitions and with the location of currently designed combustion equipment.

Exception: Electric ready improvement results in the upsizing of the electrical service panel that would not otherwise be required by the permit scope.

(Ord. No. 9.2025, § 6(Exh. B), 9/9/25.)