B 26-0767 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Net Zero Continuity Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

The Net Zero Continuity Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 amends Washington, D.C.'s Green Building Act to temporarily exempt certain projects from strict net-zero energy requirements. This legislation specifically allows temporary buildings, small additions under 10,000 square feet, and critical facilities like police and fire stations to bypass energy standards until new regulations are finalized. It also clarifies definitions for specific structures, such as natatoriums and aquatic centers, and provides a grace period for projects with permits submitted before October 1, 2024. These changes aim to provide flexibility for ongoing construction while the city finalizes updated energy conservation rules.

Issues: ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics: Climate Change Conservation Energy Efficiency

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Jul 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jul 13, 2026 Signed Jul 30, 2026

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Introduction → Enrollment · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Green Building Act to exempt certain District-owned projects from strict net-zero energy standards. It expands exemptions to include temporary buildings, small additions, and specific facilities like police stations and natatoriums, while also clarifying definitions for terms like 'aquatic center' and 'natatorium'. The changes aim to provide flexibility for ongoing construction projects and specific facility types that may not be suitable for immediate net-zero compliance.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of exemptions from net-zero energy requirements to include new categories of projects (temporary buildings, small additions, specific public facilities) and clarifies the definitions of existing terms to ensure consistent application.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for temporary buildings, additions under 10,000 square feet, and specific public facilities (police, fire, emergency response, Office of Unified Communications) from net-zero energy standards.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Aquatic center' and 'Natatorium' to clarify which facilities are eligible for temporary compliance exemptions.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the lead-in language for residential projects to specify that exemptions apply only to projects for 'new construction' rather than any project that 'includes' certain features.

Repealed a requirement for residential projects to maintain net-zero-energy compliance if they included certain features, replacing it with a requirement to comply with the standard unless specific exceptions apply.

TIMELINE

Added an exemption for projects where permits were submitted before October 1, 2024, provided they were not submitted to the Green Building Advisory Committee before February 1, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the acronym from 'DCRA' (Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) to 'DOB' (Department of Buildings) in the context of residential project oversight.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Jul 14, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

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Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 14, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Jul 14, 2026

Introduced

Amendment (LGeorge)

legislature

Jul 13, 2026

Introduced

B26-0767 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors