To ensure that all buildings are healthy, sustainable places to live, work, and learn, San Francisco Environment Code and San Francisco Green Building Code require:

  • Reduced energy and water use
  • Diversion of waste from landfill
  • Facilitation of alternate modes of transportation
  • Support for the health and comfort of building occupants in San Francisco

The City’s efforts to advance environmental goals citywide through building design began with 2006 adoption of Green Building Requirements for City Buildings the 2008 Green Building Ordinance for private sector facilities. Those groundbreaking green building requirements applied to:

  • Newly constructed residential, commercial, and public buildings
  • Major renovations to existing buildings

The Green Building Ordinance was informed by the recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force on Green Buildings to reduce impacts on the environment, local infrastructure, and public health.

California’s Building Standards Commission subsequently developed Title 24 Part 11, the California Green Building Standards Code, or “CALGreen.”  The combination of CALGreen and local requirements is referred to as the San Francisco Green Building Code (SFGBC). SFGBC is regularly updated to maintain alignment with California Green Building Standards Code, and to adopt stricter local requirements, such as:

  • All-Electric New Construction
  • Install solar electric, thermal, or green roof on new buildings
  • Provide on-site facilities for collection and conveyance of compost, in addition to recycling
  • Wire buildings to be capable of supplying electricity for electric vehicle charging
  • Meet city green building requirements tied to the LEED and GreenPoint Rated green building rating systems 

For details on these requirements -- and required permits, please visit the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. Green building regulations are found in Administrative Bulletin AB-093: Implementation of Green Building Regulations, which include tools and forms summarizing local requirements alongside related state and local codes.