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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
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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
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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