City of L.A. Green Building Program

City of Los Angeles Adopts the Green Building Program

On April 22, 2008, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined City Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmembers Jan Perry, Ed Reyes and Bill Rosendahl to sign the Green Building Program into law. The Program is expected to reduce the City's carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons by 2012, or the equivalent of taking 15,000 cars off the road.

The ordinance establishes a series of incentives and requirements for developers to meet USGBC LEED® standards. Effective May 29, 2008, the Standard of Sustainable Excellence gives builders voluntarily committing to pursue LEED Silver certification or higher priority processing through the Department of City Planning and Expedited Services through the Bureau of Engineering. These incentives are in addition to the existing Priority Plan Check processing through the Department of Building and Safety and Priority Service Planning through the Department of Water and Power. The project team must include a LEED AP, demonstrate how the project will achieve LEED Silver certification or higher, register with the USGBC, and attain formal certification.

Effective November 1, 2008, the Standard of Sustainability applies to non-residential projects 50,000 square feet or above and residential projects 50,000 square feet or above and seven stories or more. These projects must meet the intent of LEED at the Certified level. After May 1, 2009, residential projects 50,000 square feet or above, 50 units or more, and six stories or less must also meet the intent of LEED at the Certified level. The project team must include a LEED AP and demonstrate how the project meets the intent of LEED at the Certified level, but is not required to register with the USGBC.

The Green Building Program also establishes the Green Building Team. This cross-departmental Team fosters conversation between developers and City staff regarding policy-related issues posing obstacles to building green. Regular public meetings occur on the first Wednesday of every month. The Team will conduct public outreach, provide policy recommendations, train City staff, review the Standards, and produce an annual Green Building Report Card.

More information is available online at EnvironmentLA.org.