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B26-0374 • 2025

Green Housing Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Green Housing Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Energy Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
R. White
Last action
2025-12-05
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The law defines 'all-electric' but does not explicitly define the term 'net zero energy' in this text; it references certification standards instead.

Green Housing Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This law sets new energy rules for housing projects receiving District funds, requires officials to report on future building codes, and updates requirements for adding solar panels when replacing roofs.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires new construction receiving Housing Production Trust Fund support to be designed with the intent of obtaining Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus or an equivalent standard.
  • Mandates that funded new housing projects must be all-electric, meaning no combustion equipment is allowed except for emergency backup power.
  • Orders the Department of Buildings to submit reports every six months on progress toward developing universal net-zero energy building code regulations.
  • Removes previous net zero energy compliance provisions from the Green Building Act that applied to residential and mixed-use projects.
  • Requires developers replacing 50% or more of a roof area on new construction or substantial rehabilitation projects to add rooftop renewable energy systems where feasible.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Developers building new homes with support from the Housing Production Trust Fund
  • The Department of Buildings in Washington, D.C.
  • Property owners replacing large portions of roofs on residential buildings undergoing substantial rehabilitation

Terms To Know

Net zero energy requirements for subsidized projects
A rule requiring new funded construction to aim for Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus or an equivalent standard.
All-electric
A building design that includes no combustion equipment, except for emergency backup power.
Housing Production Trust Fund
The District fund providing financial assistance to housing proposals covered by this law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • These new rules will expire once final regulations are issued under the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022.
  • Solar panels do not need to be installed if there is inadequate solar access, mechanical equipment blocks the space, rooftop amenities exist, or structural constraints prevent effective generation.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0207 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 013506, Expires on Feb 22, 2026

  2. 2025-11-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-11-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0207, Expires on Feb 22, 2026

  4. 2025-11-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Dec 02, 2025

  5. 2025-11-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  6. 2025-10-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  8. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2025-10-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0374 Introduced by Councilmember R. White at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Green Housing Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-207
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NOVEMBER 24, 2025
To amend, on an emergency basis,theHousing ProductionTrustFund Act of 1988 to insertnet
zeroenergyrequirementsforresidentialandmixed-useconstructionprojectsreceiving
assistancefrom theHousing ProductionTrustFund; to amend theClean Energy DC
BuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022torequireperiodicreportingonthedevelopment
ofuniversalnetzeroenergybuildingcoderegulationsthatwillapplytoresidentialand
mixed-use construction;and to amend theGreen BuildingAct of 2006 toremove those
netzeroenergycomplianceprovisionsinsertedbytheGreenerGovernmentBuildings
‘AmendmentActof2022thatapplytoresidentialandmixed-useprojectsandadda
requirementforaddingrenewableenergysystemswhenhalformoreofarooftopisbeing
replacedforresidentialprojects.
BEITENACTEDBY THECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“GreenHousingCoordinationEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.TheHousingProductionTrustFundActof1988,effectiveMarch16,1989(D.C.Law7-202;D.C.OfficialCode§42-2801efseq.),isamendedbyaddinganewsection6toread
asfollows:
“Sec.6,Netzeroenergyrequirementsforsubsidizedprojects.
“(a)Anyrequest,excludingsubstantialrehabilitationasthattermisdefinedinsection103(34)oftheRentalHousingActof1985,effectiveJuly17,1985(D.C.Law6-10;D.C.OfficialCode§42-3501.03(34)),forhousingproposalsinvolvingtheFundshallincludea
requirementthatproposalsfornewconstructionreceivingFundsupportmustbedesignedwiththeintenttoobtainEnterpriseGreenCommunitiesCertificationPlus,asdefinedintheEGCC,oranequivalentstandardasdeterminedbytheDepartmentinconsultationwiththeDepartmentof
Buildings.
“(b)Anyrequest,excludingsubstantialrehabilitationasthattermisdefinedinsection103(34)oftheRentalHousingActof1985,effectiveJuly17,1985(D.C.Law6-10;D.C.
OfficialCode§42-3501.03(34)),forhousingproposalsinvolvingtheFundshallincludearequirementthatproposalsfornewconstructionreceivingFundsupportbeall-electric.
1

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(c)Nothing inthissectionshallbe construedtolimittheapplicabilityofany other
environmentalstandards,includingtheGreen BuildingAct of2006,effectiveMarch 8,2007
(D.C,Law 16-234;D.C. OfficialCode § 6-1451.01etseq.).
“(d)Thissectionshallexpireupontheeffectivedateoffinalregulationspromulgated
pursuanttosection2(b)(1)of the Clean Energy DC BuildingCode Amendment Act of2022,
effectiveSeptember 21,2022 (D.C.Law 24-177;D.C. OfficialCode§ 6-1453.01(b)(1)).
“(e)Forpurposesofthissection,theterm:
“(1)“All-electric”means thatno combustionequipmentisincludedinthe
buildingproject,exceptforemergencybackuppower.
(2)“EGCC”meansthecurrentEnterpriseGreenCommunitiesCriteriaissuedbyEnterprise
CommunityPartners.”.
Sec,3.The Clean Energy DC BuildingCode Amendment Act of2022,effective
September 21,2022 (D.C.Law 24-177;69 DCR 9924),isamended by addinga new section2a
toreadas follows:
“Sec,2a.Reportonbarrierstonetzeroenergyreadyaffordablehousingdevelopment.
“(a)(1)NolaterthanMarch1,2026,andevery6monthsthereafter,theDepartmentof
Buildings(“Department”)shallsubmittotheCouncilareportdetailingitsprogresstoward
developingtheregulationsrequiredbysection2.
(2)EachreportshallincludeadiscussionofmajorquestionsthattheDepartment
needstoresolvebeforeitcanissuetheregulations,planstoresolvethosequestions,and
commentsonanyexistinglawsthatposesignificantchallengestosuccessfuldevelopmentand
implementationoftheregulations.The Department may alsoincluderecommended changesto
existinglaws thatwould allow substantialaffordablehousingdevelopmentand preservationto
continuewhilestillsecuringmeaningful,immediatereductionsinenergywaste,greenhousegas
emissions,and onsitefossilfuelcombustion.
“(b)Inpreparingeachreportrequiredunderthissection,theDepartmentshallholdat
leastonepublicmeetingwiththeDepartmentofEnergyandEnvironment,localclimate
advocacyorganizations,andhousingdevelopmentandpreservationprofessionalswith
substantialexperiencedeliveringhigh-efficiencyprojectsintheDistrict.
“(c)Nothing inthissectionshallbe construedtoestablisha new causeofactionto
challengethevalidityofany regulationsissuedpursuanttosection2(b)(1).
*(d)Thissectionshallexpireupontheeffectivedateoffinalregulationspromulgated
pursuantto section2(b)(1).”.

Sec.4.Section3(a)oftheGreenBuildingActof2006,effectiveMarch8,2007(D.C.
Law16-234;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1451.02(a)),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Paragraph(3)(C)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(C)Inthecaseofnewconstructionorsubstantialrehabilitation,asthattermis
definedinsection103(34)oftheRentalHousingActof1985,effectiveJuly17,1985(D.C.Law
2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
6-10;D.C. OfficialCode § 42-3501.03(34)),inwhich a roofreplacementor repairof 50% or
moreoftheroofareaiswithinthescopeoftheprojectinaccordancewiththeDistrictof
Columbia BuildingCode (Title12Aofthe Districtof Columbia MunicipalRegulations),the
developershallincorporaterooftoprenewableenergysystemson-sitewhereverfeasibleexcept
when:
(i)There isnotadequatesolaraccessas determinedby Chapter 13
of Title12-I[CE]of theDistrictof Columbia MunicipalRegulations;
(ii)Mechanicalequipment,HVAC systems,orotheressential
rooftopinfrastructurearepresent;
ii)Rooftopamenitiessuchaspools,decks,orrecreationalareas
exist;
(iv)Structuralconstraints,shading,or designlimitations,as
definedbyDOB orDOEE,preventeffectivesolargeneration;or
(v)Other conditionsidentifiedinregulationsissuedby DOB or
DOEE thatrenderinstallationimpracticable.”.
(b)Paragraph(6)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“shallmaintainnetzeroenergy
complianceand fulfill”and insertingthephrase“shallfulfill”initsplace.
See.5.Fiscalimpactstatement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.6,Effectivedate,
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobythe
Mayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan
ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
90 days,asprovidedforemergency actsof theCouncilof theDistrictof Columbia insection
412(a)of the Districtof Columbia Home Rule Act,approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat.788;
D.C. OfficialCode § 1-204.12(a)).
Ca
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

Distribtof Columbia
APPROVED
NOVEMBER 24, 2025

DocketNo.826-0374
[ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,
(DCACTION
1X]VOTEDATE
[DX]VOICEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result
CouncilMerHber| |Ave|Nay
ChairmanMendelson)X
Allen x
x
x
COUNCILOF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
November4,2026
‘Approved

ember
Henderson| X
LewisGeorge_|x
MeDufe x
Nadeau x
Parker x
Absent Ne

‘CERTIFICATIONRECORD