District of Columbia2025Active
B26-0768
Net Zero Continuity Temporary Amendment Act of 2026
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM
In one sentence
This bill temporarily exempts certain District-owned and funded projects from net-zero energy standards while updating definitions for specific building types until new regulations are issued.
What it does
- Temporarily exempts District-owned or funded residential and nonresidential projects from complying with current net-zero-energy standards.
- Adds legal definitions to the Green Building Act of 2006 for terms including 'aquatic center,' 'natatorium,' and 'Level 3 alteration.'
- Exempts police, fire, emergency response facilities, Office of Unified Communications facilities, temporary buildings, additions under 10,000 square feet, and natatoriums from specific energy standards until final regulations take effect.
- Requires the Mayor to issue final regulations by December 31, 2027, mandating that new construction or Level 3 alterations meet net-zero-energy standards.
- Prohibits on-site fuel combustion for heating in new covered buildings and large additions if permit applications are submitted after December 31, 2026.
Who it affects
- District of Columbia government agencies building or funding residential and nonresidential projects.
- Developers constructing police stations, firehouses, emergency response facilities, Office of Unified Communications facilities, or aquatic centers in the District.
- Builders planning new construction or Level 3 alterations on covered buildings after December 2026.
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not state when it will officially become law because no effective date is listed.
- Specific details for energy standards depend on final regulations that the Mayor must issue by December 31, 2027.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Net-zero-energy standard
- A rule requiring a building to obtain energy from renewable sources as required by Appendix Z, generate renewable energy on-site where feasible, and prohibit on-site fuel combustion for heating except for backup power.
- Natatorium
- A building or complex housing one or more indoor pools featuring HVAC and humidity controls to manage the environment.
- Level 3 alteration
- A major change or renovation to an existing building as defined in the District's Building Codes, replacing the previous term 'substantial improvement' for certain requirements.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Net Zero Continuity Temporary Amendment Act of 2026
Official activity
Bill history
- Under Council Review