Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
ACT 26-280
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARCH 20, 2026
Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theGreenBuildingActof2006toexemptcertainnonresidentialprojectsfrommaintainingnetzeroenergycomplianceandtomodifynetzeroenergycompliancerequirementsfornonresidentialprojects;andtoamendsection2oftheCleanEnergyDC BuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022tomodifythedefinitionofnet-zero-energystandardsandthetypesofprojectsforwhichthenet-zero-energystandardsapply.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“NetZeroModificationandPreservationTemporaryAmendmentActof2026".
Sec.2.TheGreenBuildingActof2006,effectiveMarch8,2007(D.C.Law16-234;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1451.01efseq.),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:“(2A)“Aquaticcenter”meansastructureintendedforswimmingorrecreationalbathingthatcontainswaterover24inchesdeepandincludesthepool,decks,surroundingstructure,lockerrooms,electricalandmechanicalrooms,andITcontrolsthatsupportthepool.”(4)A newparagraph(3A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“@A)“BuildingCodes”meanstheportionsoftheConstructionCodesdesignatedastheBuildingCodeandtheExistingBuildingCode.”.
(5)Paragraphs(6)and(7)areamendedtoreadasfollows:(6)“ConstructionCodes”shallhavethesamemeaningasinsection2(2)oftheConstructionCodesApprovalandAmendmentsActof1986,effectiveMarch21,1987(D.C.Law6-216;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1401(2)).“()“Constructiondocuments”shallhavethemeaningascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”. (6)Paragraph(8)isrepealed.
(7)Paragraph(14)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
1
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(14)“Existingbuilding”shallhavethemeaningascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”.(8)Paragraph(22)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
(22)“Grossfloorarea”shallhavethemeaningascribedtoitintheBuildingCodes.”.(9)A newparagraph(31B)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(1B)“Level3alteration”shallhavethemeaningascribedtoitintheBuilding
Codes.”.
(10)A newparagraph(32C)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(32C)“Natatorium”meansa buildingorcomplexhousingoneormoreindoorpoolsfeaturingHVAC andhumiditycontrolstomanagetheenvironment.”.
(11)Paragraph(40A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(40A)“Temporarybuilding”meansa:
“(A)Trailer;or
“(B)Structurethatisusedorintendedforsupportingorshelteringanyuseoroccupancy on a non-permanenttimeframeforan interimuse duringconstructionofa permanent
structure”.
(b)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”andinsertingasemicoloninitsplace.
(B)Subparagraph(D)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(D)Maintainnetzeroenergycomplianceunlesstheprojectisfortheconstruction of:
“(i)A temporarybuilding;
“(ii)Anadditionlessthan10,000squarefeet;
“(iii)A police,fire,emergencyresponse,orOfficeofUnifiedCommunicationsfacility;provided,thatthefacilityneednotcomplywithenergyconservationandobtainmentstandardsotherwiserequiredbysection2(a)(3)(A)and(B)oftheCleanEnergyDCBuildingCodeAmendmentActof2022,effectiveSeptember21,2022(D.C.Law24-177;D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(2)(3)(A)and(B))(“CleanEnergyDC BuildingAct”),untiltheeffectivedateofthefinalregulationsissuedbytheMayorpursuanttosection2(b)(1)oftheCleanEnergyDCBuildingAct(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(b)(1));
“(iv)A natatorium;provided,thattheaquaticscenterinwhichthe
natatoriumislocatedneednotcomplywithenergyconservationandobtainmentstandardsotherwise
requiredbysection2(a)(3)(A)and(B)oftheCleanEnergyDC BuildingAct(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(a)(3)(A)and(B)),untiltheeffectivedateofthefinalregulationsissuedbytheMayorpursuanttosection2(b)(1)oftheCleanEnergyDC BuildingAct(D.C.OfficialCode§6-1453.01(b)(1));or
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
“(v)A projectforwhichallpermitsnecessarytobeginconstructionwere submitted beforeOctober 1,2024, and thatwas not submitted to GBAC beforeMarch 1,2026;
and”.
(C)A newsubparagraph(E)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(E)Maintaincompliancewithsection2(a)(3)(D)oftheCleanEnergyDCBuildingAct(D.C,OfficialCode§6-1453.01(a)(3)(D)).”.(3)Paragraph(3)(B)isamendedbystrikingtheacronym“DCRA”andinsertingtheacronym“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)AbuildingobtainsenergyfromrenewableenergysourcesintheamountthatwouldberequiredbythemostrecentversionofAppendixZ;”.
(C)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,thatnothinginthisparagraphshallbeconstruedtoprohibittheon-sitecombustionoffossilfuelsforbackuppowergenerationinbuildingsthatareessentialtoprotectingpublichealthandsafety.”andinsertingaperiodinitsplace.
(c)Subsection(c)(1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“newlyconstructedorsubstantiallyimprovedcoveredbuildings”andinsertingthephrase“coveredbuildingsthatwerenewlyconstructedorunderwentLevel3alterations”initsplace.
Sec.4.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OficialCode§1-301.47a).
3
TROLLED ORIGINAL.
Sec.5.Effectivedate.
(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C,OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
Vs fie‘hairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
istrictofColumbiaPROVEDMARCH 20, 2026
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA,
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
DocketNo.826-0586
[TITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[XTACTION FirstReading
{x}voTEparE: February3,2026
[x]VolcevoTe ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[TROLLCALLVOTE~Result
eT SW
= : eo neh
nh coco
X-IndicateVote ‘AB~Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
Seer Xe nae
ontpncanewoweonseueasanaee ——ee mane[X] VOICE VOTE Approved
[ROLLCALLVOTE-Result
CouncilMember |Aye| Nay ‘CounciiMember_|Aye |Nay[Nv. ‘CouncilMember_|Aye |Nay|NVAB| Rec.
ChairmanMendelson)x Feumin x Pinto
‘Allen x Henderson| x R.White
Bonds x LewisGeorge_| x Tite
Craword x Nadeau x
Felaer x Parker x
X-IndicateVote ABAbsent NV:Present,NotVoting Ree-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
a4 MeseretarytotheGouna Bate