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B26-0585 • 2025

Net Zero Modification and Preservation Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Net Zero Modification and Preservation Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Energy Housing
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Lewis George
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is contingent on Mayoral approval or a veto override; the specific calendar day of effect is not provided in the text excerpt.

Net Zero Modification and Preservation Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This emergency law changes building rules in Washington, D.C., to exempt certain nonresidential projects from net-zero energy requirements and updates the definition of major renovations.

What This Bill Does

  • Exempts temporary buildings, additions under 10,000 square feet, police stations, fire stations, emergency response facilities, Office of Unified Communications facilities, natatoriums, and specific older permit applications from maintaining net-zero energy compliance.
  • Replaces the term 'substantial improvement' with 'Level 3 alteration' in both the Green Building Act of 2006 and the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022.
  • Updates definitions for terms including aquatic center, natatorium, temporary building, Level 3 alteration, gross floor area, existing building, construction documents, addition, and building codes to match current Building Codes.
  • Requires that renewable energy be generated at the building site whenever feasible under new net-zero standards.
  • Prohibits on-site fuel combustion for thermal energy in buildings covered by these rules, except when used for backup power generation.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Owners and developers of nonresidential projects in Washington, D.C., that are constructing new buildings or performing Level 3 alterations.
  • Entities building temporary structures, small additions, police stations, fire stations, emergency response facilities, Office of Unified Communications facilities, or natatoriums (indoor pool complexes).
  • The District Department of Buildings (DOB), which replaces the former DCRA in enforcement roles mentioned in this act.

Terms To Know

Net-zero energy compliance
A standard requiring a building to produce as much renewable energy on-site as it consumes annually, subject to specific exemptions and feasibility rules outlined in the law.
Level 3 alteration
A specific type of major renovation defined in the District's Building Codes that triggers new energy requirements, replacing the old term 'substantial improvement'.
Natatorium
A building or complex housing one or more indoor pools featuring HVAC and humidity controls to manage the environment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act is an emergency measure that remains in effect for no longer than 90 days after approval by the Mayor.
  • The law states it expires on June 4, 2026, unless extended or replaced by other legislation.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0275 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 003779, Expires on Jun 04, 2026

  2. 2026-03-09 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2026-03-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0275, Expires on Jun 04, 2026

  4. 2026-02-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 10, 2026

  5. 2026-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2026-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-02-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0585 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Net Zero Modification and Preservation Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-275
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARCH 6, 2026
To amend, on an emergency basis,theGreen BuildingAct of 2006 to exempt certainnonresidential
projectsfrom maintainingnetzero energy complianceand tomodify netzeroenergy
compliancerequirementsfornonresidentialprojects;andtoamendsection2oftheClean
Energy DC BuildingCode Amendment Actof 2022 tomodify thedefinitionof net-zero-
energystandardsandthetypesofprojectsforwhichthenet-zero-energystandardsapply.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That thisact
may be citedasthe “Net Zero Modificationand PreservationEmergency Amendment Actof 2026”.
Sec.2.TheGreenBuildingActof2006,effectiveMarch8,2007(D.C.Law16-234;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1451.01etseq.),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Section2(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1451.01)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
(1)“Addition”shallhavethemeaningascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”.
(2)Existingparagraph(2A)isredesignatedasparagraph(2B)
(3)A newparagraph(2A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
(A) “Aquaticcenter”meansastructureintendedforswimmingorrecreationalbathingthatcontainswaterover24inchesdeepandincludesthepool,decks,surroundingstructure,lockerrooms,electricalandmechanicalrooms,andITcontrolsthatsupportthepool.”.
(4)A newparagraph(3A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(3A)“BuildingCodes”meanstheportionsoftheConstructionCodesdesignatedastheBuildingCodeandtheExistingBuildingCode.”.
(5)Paragraphs(6)and(7)areamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(@)“ConstructionCodes”shallhavethesamemeaningasinsection2(2)oftheConstructionCodesApprovalandAmendmentsActof1986,effectiveMarch21,1987(D.C.Law6-216;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1401(2)).
“(7)“Constructiondocuments” shallhave themeaning ascribedto itintheBuilding
Codes.”.
(©Paragraph(8)isrepealed.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(7)Paragraph(14)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(14)“Existingbuilding”shallhave themeaning ascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”.
(8)Paragraph(22)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
(22) “Gross floorarea”shallhave themeaning ascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”.
(9)A newparagraph(31B)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(31B) “Level 3 alteration”shallhave themeaning ascribedto itintheBuilding
Codes.”.
(10)A newparagraph(32C)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(32C)“Natatorium”meansabuildingorcomplexhousingoneormoreindoorpools
featuringHVAC and humiditycontrolstomanage theenvironment.”.
(11)Paragraph(40A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(40A)“Temporarybuilding”meansa:
“(A)Trailer;or
“(B)Structurethatisusedorintendedforsupportingorshelteringanyuseor
occupancyon a non-permanenttimeframeforan interimuseduringconstructionofa permanent
structure.”.
() Section3(a)(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1451.02(a))isamendedasfollows:
(1)Thelead-inlanguageofparagraph(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase
“substantialimprovement”andinsertingthephrase“Level3alterations”initsplace.
(2)Paragraph(2)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(C)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;and”and
insertingasemicoloninitsplace.
(B)Subparagraph(D)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(D)Maintainnetzeroenergycomplianceunlesstheprojectisforthe
constructionof:
“i A temporarybuilding:
“Gi)An additionlessthan10,000squarefeet;
“Gii)A police,fire,emergencyresponse,orOfficeofUnified
Communicationsfacility;provided,thatthefacilityneednotcomplywithenergyconservationand
‘obtainmentstandardsotherwiserequiredbysection2(a)(3)(A)and(B)oftheCleanEnergyDC
BuildingCode Amendment Act of 2022, effectiveSeptember 21,2022 (D.C.Law 24-177;D.C.
OfficialCode § 6-1453.01(a)(3)(A)and (B))(“CleanEnergy DC BuildingAct”),untiltheeffective
dateofthefinalregulationsissuedbytheMayorpursuanttosection2(b)(1)oftheCleanEnergyDC
BuildingAct(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(b)(1));
“(iv)A natatorium;provided,thattheaquaticscenterinwhichthe
natatoriumislocatedneednotcomplywithenergyconservationandobtainmentstandardsotherwise
requiredby section2(a)(3)(A)and(B)of theClean Energy DC BuildingAct (D.C.OfficialCode § 6-
1453.01(a)(3)(A)and (B)),untiltheeffectivedateof thefinalregulationsissuedby theMayor
2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
pursuanttosection2(b)(1)oftheCleanEnergyDC BuildingAct(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(b)(1));of
“(v)A projectforwhichallpermitsnecessarytobeginconstructionweresubmittedbeforeOctober1,2024,andthatwasnotsubmittedtoGBACbeforetheeffectivedate
oftheNetZeroModificationandPreservationEmergencyAmendmentActof2026,passedonemergencybasisonFebruary3,2026(EnrolledversionofBill26-585);and”.
(C)Anewsubparagraph(E)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(E)Maintaincompliancewithsection2(a)(3)(D)oftheCleanEnergyDCBuildingAct(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(a)(3)(D)).”.(3)Paragraph(3)(B)isamendedbystrikingtheacronym“DCRA”andinsertingthe
acronym“DOB”initsplace.
Sec.3.Section2oftheCleanEnergyDC BuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022,effectiveSeptember21,2022(D.C.Law24-177;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Subsection(a)isamendedasfollows:
(1)A newparagraph(2A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(2A)“Level3alteration”shallhavethemeaningascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”.
(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(A)isamendedbystrikingthephrase; and”andinsertingasemicoloninitsplace.
(B)Subparagraph(B)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(B)A buildingobtainsenergyfromrenewableenergysourcesintheamountthatwouldberequiredbythemostrecentversionofAppendixZ:”.
(3)Newsubparagraphs(C)and(D)areaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(C)Renewableenergyshallbegeneratedatthebuildingsitewhereverfeasible;and
“(D)On-sitefuelcombustionshallnotbepermittedfortheprovisionofthermalenergytothebuildingexceptforbackuppowergeneration.”
(b)Subsection(b)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Paragraph(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“substantialimprovements”andinsertingthephrase“Level3alterations”initsplace.
(2)Paragraph(2)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;except,thatnothinginthis,paragraphshallbeconstruedtoprohibittheon-sitecombustionoffossilfuelsforbackuppowergenerationinbuildingsthatareessentialtoprotectingpublichealthandsafety”andinsertingaperiod
initsplace.
(c)Subsection(c)(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“newlyconstructedorsubstantially
3
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
improved coveredbuildings”and insertingthephrase“coveredbuildingsthatwere newly constructed
or underwent Level3alterations”initsplace.
Sec. 4.Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof theBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpact
statementrequiredby section4aof the GeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.5.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
Chairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

Districtof Colulnbia
APPROVEDMARCH 6, 2026
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

DocketNo.26-0585
[JITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR.
[XTACTION

FinalReading
[<qVOTEDATE February3,2026
{X]VOICEVoTE Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE—Result

Councilember [aye[Nay[NV[AB[Ree]ColneMember Ree
CharmanMendelson.x Frumin
‘Alen x Henderson
Bonds x LonisGeorge
Doni x Nadeau
Felder x Parker
IndicateVoto AB—Absent NV-Present,NotVoting= Reo*Rocusod CERTIFICATIONRECORD
Sai e DS-1O- 36Tar9WeCoun Bate