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B26-0375 • 2025

Green Housing Coordination Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Green Housing Coordination Temporary 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
2026-02-27
Official status
Official Law
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact date of final permanent regulations is unknown as they have not yet been issued; this determines when one expiration condition triggers.

Green Housing Coordination Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This temporary law requires new housing projects in Washington, D.C., that receive funding from the Housing Production Trust Fund to be all-electric and aim for high energy standards.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires proposals for new construction receiving funds from the Housing Production Trust Fund to be designed as 'all-electric' with no combustion equipment except for emergency backup power.
  • Mandates that funded housing proposals include a requirement to obtain Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus or an equivalent standard determined by city departments.
  • Updates the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022 to require the Department of Buildings to submit reports every six months on progress toward net-zero energy regulations.
  • Amends the Green Building Act of 2006 to remove previous net-zero compliance rules for residential projects and adds a requirement to install rooftop renewable energy systems when replacing half or more of a roof, where feasible.
  • Sets an expiration date for these new requirements, ending them after final permanent regulations are issued or on September 25, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Developers and builders creating new residential or mixed-use construction projects in Washington, D.C., that receive funding from the Housing Production Trust Fund.
  • The Department of Buildings regarding reporting requirements on energy regulations.
  • Property owners replacing 50% or more of a roof area on residential buildings.

Terms To Know

All-electric
A building design that uses no combustion equipment, such as gas furnaces or stoves, except for emergency backup power systems.
Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus (EGCC)
The current Enterprise Green Communities Criteria issued by Enterprise Community Partners used to measure high environmental performance in housing projects.
Substantial rehabilitation
Major repairs or renovations defined under the Rental Housing Act of 1985, which are excluded from some new construction requirements in this law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The requirement to install rooftop renewable energy systems applies only where feasible and includes exceptions for lack of solar access, existing equipment, amenities, or structural constraints.
  • This act expires automatically after 225 days of being effective or when final permanent regulations are issued, whichever comes first.
  • The law does not apply to substantial rehabilitation projects as defined in the Rental Housing Act of 1985.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-27 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Law L26-0090, Effective from Feb 12, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 002679, Expires on Sep 25, 2026

  2. 2026-01-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0215 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000003

  3. 2025-12-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress

  4. 2025-12-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  5. 2025-12-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0215

  6. 2025-12-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Dec 29, 2025

  7. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2025-11-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0375 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  9. 2025-11-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

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

    Legislative Meeting

  11. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  12. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  13. 2025-10-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0375 Introduced by Councilmember R. White at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Green Housing Coordination Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-215
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
DECEMBER 19, 2025
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theHousingProductionTrustFundActof1988toinsertnetzeroenergyrequirementsforresidentialandmixed-useconstructionprojectsreceivingassistancefromtheHousingProductionTrustFund;toamendtheCleanEnergyDCBuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022torequireperiodicreportingonthedevelopmentofuniversalnetzeroenergybuildingcoderegulationsthatwillapplytoresidentialandmixed-useconstruction;andtoamendtheGreenBuildingActof2006toremovethosenetzeroenergycomplianceprovisionsinsertedbytheGreenerGovernmentBuildingsAmendmentActof2022thatapplytoresidentialandmixed-useprojectsandaddarequirementforaddingrenewableenergysystemswhenhalformoreofa rooftopisbeingreplacedforresidentialprojects.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“Green Housing CoordinationTemporary Amendment Act of 2025”.
Sec.2.The Housing ProductionTrustFund Act of 1988,effectiveMarch 16,1989 (D.C.
Law 7-202;D.C. OfficialCode §§ 42-2801 etseq.),isamended by addinga new section6 to
readasfollows:
“Sec.6.Net zeroenergyrequirementsforsubsidizedprojects.
“(a)Any request,excludingsubstantialrehabilitationas thatterm isdefinedinsection
103(34)of theRentalHousing Act of 1985,effectiveJuly17,1985 (D.C.Law 6-10;D.C.
OfficialCode § 42-3501.03(34)),forhousingproposalsinvolvingtheFund shallincludea
requirementthatproposalsfornew constructionreceivingFund supportmust be designedwith
theintenttoobtainEnterpriseGreen Communities CertificationPlus,as definedintheEGCC or
an equivalentstandardasdeterminedby theDepartment inconsultationwith theDepartment of
Buildings.
“(b)Any request,excludingsubstantialrehabilitationas thatterm isdefinedinsection
103(34)ofthe RentalHousing Act of 1985,effectiveJuly17,1985 (D.C.Law 6-10;D.C.
OfficialCode§42-3501.03(34)),forhousingproposalsinvolvingtheFundshallincludea
requirementthatproposalsfornewconstructionreceivingFundsupportbeall-electric.
I

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(c)Nothinginthissectionshallbeconstruedtolimittheapplicabilityofanyotherenvironmentalstandards,includingtheGreen BuildingAct of 2006,effectiveMarch 8,2007
(D.C.Law 16-234;D.C. OfficialCode § 6-1451.01efseg.).
“(d)This sectionshallexpireupon theeffectivedateoffinal regulationspromulgated
pursuanttosection2(b)(1)oftheCleanEnergyDC BuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022,effectiveSeptember21,2022 (D.C.Law 24-177;D.C. OfficialCode §6-1453.01(b)(1)).
“(e)For purposesofthis section,theterm:
“(1)“All-electric”means thatno combustionequipment isincludedinthe
buildingproject,exceptforemergencybackuppower.
“(2)“EGCC™ means thecurrentEnterpriseGreen Communities Criteriaissuedby
EnterpriseCommunity Partners.”.
Sec.3,TheCleanEnergyDCBuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022,effectiveSeptember21,2022(D.C.Law24-177;69DCR 9924),isamendedbyaddinganewsection2atoreadasfollows:
“Sec.2a.Reportonbarrierstonetzeroenergyreadyaffordablehousingdevelopment.“(a)(1)NolaterthanMarch1,2026,andevery6monthsthereafter,theDepartmentofBuildings(“Department”)shallsubmittotheCouncilareportdetailingitsprogresstowarddevelopingtheregulationsrequiredbysection2.“(2)EachreportshallincludeadiscussionofmajorquestionsthattheDepartmentneedstoresolvebeforeitcanissuetheregulations,planstoresolvethosequestions,andcommentsonanyexistinglawsthatposesignificantchallengestosuccessfuldevelopmentandimplementationoftheregulations.TheDepartmentmayalsoincluderecommendedchangestoexistinglawsthatwouldallowsubstantialaffordablehousingdevelopmentandpreservationtocontinuewhilestillsecuringmeaningful,immediatereductionsinenergywaste,greenhousegasemissions,andonsitefossilfuelcombustion.“(b)Inpreparingeachreportrequiredunderthissection,theDepartmentshallholdatleastonepublicmeetingwiththeDepartmentofEnergyandEnvironment,localclimateadvocacyorganizations,andhousingdevelopmentandpreservationprofessionalswithsubstantialexperiencedeliveringhigh-efficiencyprojectsintheDistrict.“(©)Nothinginthissectionshallbeconstruedtoestablishanewcauseofactiontochallengethevalidityofanyregulationsissuedpursuanttosection2(b)(1).“(@)Thissectionshallexpireupontheeffectivedateoffinalregulationspromulgatedpursuanttosection2(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,
2

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
asthattermisdefinedinsection103(34)oftheRentalHousingActof1985,eflectiveJuly17,1985(D.C.Law6-10;D.C.OfficialCode§42-3501.03(34)),inwhicharoofreplacementorrepairof50%ormoreoftheroofareaiswithinthescopeoftheprojectinaccordancewiththeDistrictofColumbiaBuildingCode(Title12AoftheDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulations),thedevelopershallincorporaterooftoprenewableenergysystemson-sitewhereverfeasibleexceptwhen:

(@ThereisnotadequatesolaraccessasdeterminedbyChapter13ofTitle12-I[CE]oftheDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulations;(ii)Mechanicalequipment,HVACsystems,orotheressentialrooflopinfrastructurearepresent;
(iii)Rooftopamenitiessuchaspools,decks,orrecreationalareasexist;
(iv)Structuralconstraints,shading,ordesignlimitations,asdefinedbyDOBorDOEE,preventeffectivesolargeneration;or(v)OtherconditionsidentifiedinregulationsissuedbyDOBorDOEEthatrenderinstallationimpracticable.”
(b)Paragraph(6)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“shallmaintainnetzeroenergycomplianceandfulfill”andinsertingthephrase“shallfulfill”initsplace.

Sec,5.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat,2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.6.Effectivedate.
(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressional

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
reviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225 daysof itshavingtakeneffect.
é lan ila
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

DistrictofGoluimbia‘Approve!December19, 2025

COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XTACTION FirstReading
(X]VOTEDATE November4,2025
[x1VoIcevore ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
‘ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE-Result
CouncitMember[Aye[Nay[Nv[AB[Rec[Councitember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec]CouncilMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec‘ChairmanMendelson]x Henderson x Pinto xAllen x LewisGeorge| x R.Wnite xBonds x MeDutfie x T.White xFelder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB -Absent NV- Present,Not Voting Rec -Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
Je- 3SecretarytotheCounc
DocketNo.826-0575
[X]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XTACTION FinalReading,CC
[x]VOTEDATE December2,2025
[x]vocevore ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
‘ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Resut
CouncMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[RecCounciiMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[RecChairmanMendelson|X Henderson x Pinto xAllen x LewisGeorge_| x White xBonds x McDuffie x T.White xFelder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB~Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
q o — g eo be 5‘SecretarytotheCounel