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ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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A RESOLUTION
26-243
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
November 4, 2025
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Housing
Production Trust Fund Act of 1988 to insert net zero energy requirements for large
residential and mixed-use construction projects receiving assistance from the Housing
Production Trust Fund; the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022 to
require periodic reporting on the development of universal net zero energy building code
regulations that will apply to residential and mixed-use construction; and the Green
Building Act of 2006 to remove those net zero energy compliance provisions inserted by
the Greener Government Buildings Amendment Act of 2022 that apply to residential and
mixed-use projects.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Green Housing Coordination Emergency Declaration Resolution
of 2025”.
Sec. 2. (a) Under the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022, effective
September 21, 2022 (D.C. Law 24-177; 69 DCR 9924), the Mayor is required to promulgate
rules by the end of calendar year 2026 that will impose a net zero energy standard, including a
prohibition of onsite fossil fuel combustion, on most new construction and major renovation
projects.
(b) On January 12, 2023, Mayor Bowser signed into law the Greener Government
Buildings Amendment Act of 2022, effective March 10, 2023 (D.C. Law 24-306; 70 DCR 658)
(“GGBA”), which, among other things, compels District government agencies to achieve net
zero energy compliance in most new or substantially improved government-owned and
government-funded buildings.
(c) The Council funded the GGBA as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
(d) In light of earlier legislation, the effect of the net zero energy compliance provisions
of the GGBA was to accelerate the existing net zero mandate specifically for government-owned
and government-funded buildings.
(e) The Council, in consultation with the executive, affordable housing providers, and
local environmental advocates, has determined that the timing and scope of net zero standards
for residential and mixed-use construction projects should be adjusted.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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(f) Large new-construction residential and mixed-use projects that receive funding
through the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Consolidated Request for
Proposals process should still be held to strong environmental standards, but these standards
should be applied through the solicitation and award process rather than through the building
permit process.
(g) The District of Columbia Housing Authority (“DCHA”) is also pursuing
comprehensive energy improvements to DCHA properties whenever fiscally possible via the
Enterprise Green Communities certification and on-site renewable energy systems. These
improvements will largely be implemented via rehabilitation projects, with smaller repairs being
made to properties within stabilization and preservation phases. DCHA is focused on delivering
repairs that prioritize resident health and well-being, in a timely manner. Additional time added
to project timelines, that may derive from the net zero energy exemption review process, could
cause delays in providing residents with the necessary capital improvements for their homes.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute an emergency, making it necessary that the Green Housing
Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.