By 2026, all new buildings and substantial renovations in D.C. will have to be net-zero construction under legislation passed unanimously by the D.C. Council in July 2022. The legislation does not itself create the new net-zero building codes, but rather instructs the mayor to do so by no later than Dec. 31, 2026. Buildings will be prohibited from using “on-site fuel combustion” for furnaces or water heaters. There is an exemption to the fuel combustion ban for backup power generators in “buildings that are essential to protecting public health and safety.”
The net-zero building codes will cover all commercial buildings, condo and apartment buildings, as well as single family homes taller than three stories. The bill also requires audits every three years, starting in 2029, to report what percentage of new buildings are complying with the net-zero requirements.