Sonoma County Green Building Ordinance

Sec. 7D1-1 Purpose

The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare, by assuring that residential, commercial, and civic development is consistent with the County’s goals of supporting and promoting a more sustainable community by incorporating green building measures into the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. The green building measures included in this Chapter are designed to achieve the following goals:

Promote water and resource conservation;
Reduce waste generated by construction projects;
Increase energy efficiency in buildings;
Provide durable buildings that are efficient and economical to own and operate;

Promote the general health and welfare of the citizens of and visitors to the County.

7D1-2 Application

(A) The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the construction of any new residential or commercial building(s) within the County, not otherwise identified as an exempt building in this Chapter, for which a building permit, as required, has been applied and accepted as complete by the County’s building division on or after the effective date of this Chapter.

(B) Neither this Chapter, nor any resolution adopted to implement the provisions of this Chapter, shall affect the permissible use of property, density or intensity of development, design or improvement standards or other applicable standards required under this Code or by state law, all of which shall continue to apply and remain in full force and effect.

(C) The following buildings or projects are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter:
(1) Any building for which a building permit application has been submitted to the County meeting the standards for building permit acceptance by the County’s Permit and Resource Management Department prior to the effective date of this Chapter, unless any such applications expire prior to issuance of a building permit; and
(2) Any repair, remodel or renovation of any building, including but not limited to tenant improvements, re-roofing of any building, repair of any structure damaged as a result of force majuer, barrier removal projects for accessibility, and seismic retrofit projects; and
(3) Swimming Pools; and
(4) Any residential addition or expansion; and
(5) Any agricultural exempt or agricultural building as defined in Chapter 7 of this Code or in the California Building Code; and
(6) Any construction for which an infeasibility exemption is granted pursuant to section 7D1-8 of this Chapter

(D) In the event that any provision in this Chapter conflicts with state law, state law shall control.

7D1-3 Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter, certain words and terms are defined as follows:
(A) “Applicant” shall mean any individual, firm or any other entity that applies to the County for the applicable permits to undertake any construction within the County.
(B) “Green Building Rater” shall mean a person or organization qualified as an approved special inspector by the County, to perform inspections and provide documentation related to the inspection and verification of buildings covered by this Chapter.
(C) “Building” shall have the meaning set forth in the California Energy Code, except that it shall not be deemed to include existing commercial or industrial buildings that are newly conditioned.
(D) “Green Building Documentation” shall mean all documentation required indicating the compliance required by the County has been achieved. Green Building Documentation includes specific requirements as set forth in this Chapter and by resolution.
(E) “Final Inspection” shall mean the final inspection and approval required by the California Building Code when a building is completed and ready for occupancy and use.
(F) “California Energy Efficiency Standard (Title 24, part 6)” refers to the most recent enforced version of the coded section of the California Building Code.
(G) “Compliance Official” shall mean the County’s Chief Building Official or his or her designee who is responsible for enforcing this Chapter.
(H) “Green Building” shall mean a whole systems approach to the design, construction, and operation of buildings and structures that helps mitigate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of construction, demolition and renovation. Green building practices recognize the relationship between natural and built environments and seek to minimize the use of energy, water, and other natural resources and provide a healthy, productive indoor environment.
(I) “Green Building Project Checklist” shall mean a checklist or scorecard developed for the purpose of calculating a green building rating.
(J) “Green Building Worksheet” shall mean a worksheet or form developed by the County that specifies information to be submitted with an application for a building permit for a building subject to this Chapter. The Green Building Worksheet will specify the form and content of the required documentation.
(K) “County Certified” shall mean a building(s) where a person certified by the county as a green building rater working with the applicant on the building(s) has submitted Green Building Documentation to the County’s Building Official to achieve compliance with the requirements of this Chapter and, following completion of the building(s), a green building rater has provided certification that the building(s) has met compliance under this Chapter.
(L) “Stop Order” shall mean a written notice to stop work, as defined in the California Building Code, which is served by the County’s Building Official on any person engaging in work contrary to the provision of this Code.
(M) “Structure” shall mean that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind or any piece of work artificially build or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner and permanently attached to the ground, as defined in the California Building Code.
(N) “LEED® Accredited Professional” shall mean any person who has earned a credential as a LEED® Accredited Professional from the U.S. Green Building Council in accordance with their standards and requirements.

7D1-4 Compliance

(A) The County’s Chief Building Official or designee will be charged with enforcing the provisions of this Chapter. A building permit subject to the provisions of this Chapter shall not be issued by the County’s Permit and Resource Management’s Building Division unless the required Green Building Documentation submitted with the permit application meets the requirements of this Chapter. A final inspection for a building permit subject to the requirements of this Chapter will not be approved unless the work authorized under a permit has been constructed in accordance with the plans and requirements of this Chapter.
(B) The latest adopted edition of the California Green Building Standards Code shall be the building standards used for compliance.

7D1-5 Green Building Documentation; Submission with Building Permit Application

In conjunction with an application for issuance of a building permit for any building covered by this Chapter, the applicant shall submit documents indicating how compliance with this Chapter will be achieved. The Green Building Documentation shall include the Green Building Project Checklist from a Green Building Rater providing that (i) the applicant has taken into account the requirements of this Chapter in the planning process; and (ii) if the building is built in conformance with the building plans, including the items identified in the Green Building Documentation, the building will achieve the standards required by this Chapter

7D1-6 Verification

(A) The Green Building Rater shall verify that the green building measures and provisions indicated in the Green Building Documentation are being implemented through inspections during the construction of the building. In lieu of, or in addition to visual inspections, the applicant may submit documents, such as purchase receipts, verifying that green building measures and provisions have been implemented.
(B) If at any time during the construction of a building, the Compliance Official determines that the building(s) does not comply with any portion of the Green Building Documentation, a stop-work order may be issued. At the discretion of the Compliance Official, the stop-work order may apply to the portion of the building(s) that is not in compliance or to the entire building(s). The stop-work order shall remain in effect until the Compliance Official determines that the building(s) is in compliance with the Green Building Documentation and the provisions of this Chapter.

(C) During the verification process for any building, flexibility may be exercised by the Green Building Rater in communication with the Compliance Official to substitute green building elements of the Green Building Documentation for the building with other green building elements as applicable. Substitution may occur upon the reasonable request of the applicant and when the Green Building Rater determines and documents that the originally approved green building elements are no longer feasible or the substitute green building elements are an equivalent or a superior alternative to the original green building elements. Substitution of green building elements shall in no event result in a building not achieving compliance with the California Green Building Standards Code, or result in the failure to demonstrate compliance with the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, part 6) of the California Building Code for the building in effect at the time the building permit was issued.

7D1-7 Determination of Compliance

(A) Prior to approving a final inspection for a building(s) subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the Compliance Official shall review the documentation submitted by the applicant, along with inspection records and certificates submitted by the Green Building Rater(s), and determine whether the applicant has achieved the required compliance, and demonstrate compliance with the provisions of this Chapter and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, part 6) of the California Building Code. If the Compliance Official determines the applicant has met the requirements of this Chapter, the Compliance Official shall make a final determination that the project is ready for a final inspection, provided the project has received approval of all inspections required by the California Building Code.
(B) If the Compliance Official determines that the building(s) is not in compliance with the Green Building Documentation and has failed to meet the required compliance threshold, the Compliance Official will require additional green building measures to mitigate the noncompliance of the building(s). Mitigation measures may include, but are not limited to, landscaping the project to decrease water and energy consumption, use of energy-efficient fixtures and equipment, and education of the building’s occupants and owners regarding on-going energy and resource savings techniques. If the mitigation measures are or will be implemented and appropriately documented to the satisfaction of the Compliance Official, and the building(s) fully comply with the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, part 6) of the California Building Code, a certificate of occupancy shall be issued.
(C) The Compliance Official may waive the initial review of Green Building Documentation when he or she determines that review of the Green Building Documentation can be carried out during the regular building permit plan review process, such as when multiple buildings of a subdivision are submitted at different times, but the buildings are very similar in nature.

7D1-8 Infeasibility Exemption

(A) If an applicant for a building permit covered by this Chapter believes that circumstances exist that make it infeasible for the building(s) to meet the requirements of this Chapter, the applicant may apply for an exemption as set forth in this section. In applying for an exemption, the burden is on the applicant to show infeasibility, and to clearly demonstrate continued compliance with the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, part 6) of the California Building Code.
(B) If an applicant for a building permit covered by this Chapter believes such circumstances exist, the applicant may apply for an exemption of one or more items on the Green Building Project Checklist at the time that he or she submits the Green Building Documentation required under section 7D-5, however the applicant may under no circumstances fail to demonstrate continued compliance with the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, part 6) of the California Building Code. The applicant shall indicate in the Green Building Documentation the green building elements he or she believes is feasible for the building(s) and the circumstances that he or she believes make it infeasible to fully comply with this Chapter. An infeasibility exemption shall be made if any one of the following conditions exist:
(1) There is a lack of available or affordable Green Building Raters; or
(2) There is a lack of commercially available green building materials and technologies; or
(3) There is conflict with the compatibility of the requirements of the California Green Building Standards Code; or
(C) If the Compliance Official determines it is infeasible for the applicant to meet the requirements of this Chapter based on the information provided, and determines that the proposed project modifications demonstrate continued compliance with the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, part 6) of the California Building Code, the Compliance Official shall return a copy of the Green Building Documentation to the applicant marked “Approved with Exemption.” If an exemption is granted, the applicant must still comply with this Chapter in all other respects and shall be required to achieve compliance.
(D) If the Compliance Official determines that it is possible for the applicant to fully meet the requirements of this Chapter, the Compliance Official shall so notify the applicant in writing. The applicant may resubmit the Green Building Documentation in full compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. Anyone may appeal the determination of the Compliance Official to grant or deny an exemption, pursuant to section 7D-9 of this Chapter.

7D1-9 Appeal

(A)  Any aggrieved applicant may appeal a determination made under this Chapter to the County’s Board of Building Appeals. An appeal is limited to the following issues: (1) compliance with this Chapter pursuant to section 7D-7 of this Chapter; (2) the granting or denial of an exemption pursuant to section 7D-8 of this Chapter; and (3) the type or scope of mitigation measures required for noncompliance pursuant to section 7D-7 (B) of this Chapter.

(B)  Any appeal must be filed in writing with the board within fifteen (15) days from the date the decision or action of the building official was mailed or delivered, whichever is earlier, to the person to whom the decision or action is addressed.   The appeal shall be in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 7-4 of this County Code. In reviewing the appeal, the board may request additional written or oral information from the applicant or the Compliance Official.

(C)  The determination by the Board of Building Appeals is final.

(D)  Any appeal filed shall be subject to payment of fees by the applicant in accordance with the County’s fee schedule in effect on the date that the appeal is filed.

7D1-10  Enforcement

(A) In addition to any other remedies provided in this article, any violation of this article may be enforced by civil action brought by the county. In any such action, the county may seek as appropriate, any or all of the following:

1) A temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunction:

2) Reimbursement for the costs of any investigation, inspection or monitoring survey which led to the establishment of the violation, and for the reasonable costs of preparing and bringing administrative action under this article;

3) Costs incurred in removing, correcting, or terminating the adverse effect resulting from the violation.

 

(B) Cumulative Remedies. The foregoing remedy shall be deemed nonexclusive, cumulative and in addition to any other remedy the County may have at law or in equity, including but not limited to injunctive relief to prevent violations of this Chapter.

7D1-11  Expiration

This Chapter shall expire upon the date that the State’s 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are no longer in effect.