(A) Newly constructed buildings shall be all-electric buildings as defined in § 15.05.030.
(1) Exception: Natural gas infrastructure may be permitted in a newly constructed building if the applicant establishes that it is not physically feasible to construct the building without natural gas infrastructure. For purposes of this exception, "physically feasible" to construct the building means either an all-electric prescriptive compliance approach is available for the building under the Energy Code or the building is able to achieve the performance compliance standards under the Energy Code using commercially available technology and an approved calculation method.
(2) Exception: The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to development projects that have obtained vested rights prior to the effective date of this chapter pursuant to a preliminary affordable housing project application in accordance with Cal. Gov’t Code § 65589.5(o), a development agreement in accordance with Cal. Gov’t Code § 65866, a vesting tentative map in accordance with Cal. Gov’t Code § 66998.1, or pursuant to the ruling in Avco Community Developers Inc. v. South Coast Regional Communication (1976) 17 Cal.3d 785, or pursuant to other applicable statutory or case law.
(B) To the extent that natural gas infrastructure is permitted, it shall be permitted to extend to any system, device, or appliance within a building for which an equivalent all-electric system or design is not available.
(C) Newly constructed buildings shall nonetheless be required at a minimum to have sufficient electric capacity, wiring and conduit to facilitate future full building electrification.
(D) The requirements of this chapter shall be deemed objective planning standards under Cal. Gov’t Code § 65913.4 and objective development standards under Cal. Gov’t Code § 65589.5.
(Ord. 856, passed 9-1-2021)