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Code Status: District of Columbia

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of District of Columbia. Information for all 50 States is also available. District of Columbia Code News.

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: 2008 D.C. Construction Codes, based on the "30% Solution" (developed to be 30% beyond the 2006 IECC), which is more stringent than the 2009 IECC.
  • Commercial Code: 2008 D.C. Construction Codes, based on ASHRAE 90.1-2007, with several greening amendments.
  • Code Change Cycle: Codes are usually reviewed every three years with the publication of the new editions of the model code. The D.C. Green Building Act of 2006 requires that updated building codes be submitted to the City Council by January 1, 2010 and again every three years thereafter. The most recent update became fully effective on December 26, 2009.
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The District of Columbia Building Code Advisory Committee (DC BCAC) advises the mayor and D.C. government on all matters pertaining to the D.C. building codes, and meets regularly throughout the year.

The District of Columbia City Council has final approval of all proposed code changes.

State Code History: On January 9, 2004, the 2000 IECC, without amendment, took effect.

On December 5, 2006, the D.C. City Council unanimously passed the D.C. Green Building Act, according to which the Mayor was to submit a comprehensive set of green building standards by January 2008. These standards were not only expected to include the provisions of the 2006 IECC; starting in 2012, they were expected to require all commercial development of 50,000 square feet or more to qualify for LEED certification. Incentives for early adopters of green building practices were envisaged for the period before 2012.

On December 2, 2008, the D.C. City Council adopted new residential and commercial building codes that incorporate many energy efficiency and green building standards. Replacing the previous code based on the 2000 IECC that became effective in January 2004, the 2008 D.C. Construction Codes have been developed from ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for commercial buildings (about 7% more stringent than the standard in place for neighboring Virginia and Maryland) and the "30% Solution" for residential buildings (30% energy savings above the 2006 IECC, or about 30% more stringent than the standard in place for Virginia and Maryland), which was a comprehensive package of amendments offered at the 2009 International Code Council hearings in September.

The new codes also contain several greening amendments recommended by the D.C. Green Building Advisory Council (GBAC), including (among others) cool roofs, on-site stormwater retention, and low-flow residential and commercial plumbing fixtures. The GBAC had recommended adoption of the energy efficiency section of ASHRAE Standard 189.1, which would have yielded a 30% increase in commercial energy efficiency requirements, but due to delays in its publication, it could not be referenced in this D.C. code edition.

The new codes were effective immediately upon publication in the D.C. Register on December 26, 2008, but contain a one-year transition period during which building permit applications may use either the new code or the previous code adopted in 2003 (based on the 2000 IECC). The D.C. Green Building Act of 2006 requires that updated building codes be submitted to the City Council by January 1, 2010 and again every three years thereafter. The Act requires that codes "shall incorporate as many green building practices as practicable."

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 33.2 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 117.5 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 150.7 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 572,059
  • Total Housing Units2: 272,636
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 1,936
    • 1 unit: 226
    • 2 units: 0
    • 3 and 4 units: 0
    • 5+ units: 1,710
    • structures of 5+ units: 20

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt
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Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

 

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