In December 2008, the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors approved a Green Building Ordinance that establishes Green Building certification requirements for most new single-family residences in the incorporated areas in Santa Clara County. The ordinance will go into effect on January 15, 2009 starting with a voluntary period and will become mandatory on August 1, 2009. 

More information about requirements and plan submittal is available through the Building Inspection Office.  For more information about certification requirements and the certification process, refer to the GreenPoint Rated and LEED for Homes websites.  

The Department of Planning and Development is presently evaluating options for expanding the Green Building Ordinance requirements to include multifamily, commercial, industrial, and institutional users.  Staff is targeting public workshops and presentations regarding the expanded ordinance in Fall 2009.

For more information regarding green building outreach or to get on the notification list regarding the expanded Green Building Ordinance, please contact Michael Alvarez at (408) 299-5738 michael.alvarez@pln.sccgov.org or Katja Irvin at (408) 299-5765 katja.irvin@pln.sccgov.org.