That certain document entitled "California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition," as published by the California Building Standards Commission, is hereby adopted as the Green Building Standards Code of the City of Santa Monica.
(Added by Ord. No. 2328CCS § 30, adopted 11/9/10; amended by Ord. No. 2445CCS § 47, adopted 11/12/13; Ord. No. 2527CCS § 11, adopted 11/22/16; Ord. No. 2617CCS § 3, adopted 9/24/19; Ord. No. 2778CCS, 5/14/2024; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
Notwithstanding any provisions of the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 California Energy Code, or other codes adopted by any Chapter in Article 8 of the Municipal Code to the contrary, the following local amendments shall apply.
(Added by Ord. No. 2328CCS § 30, adopted 11/9/10; amended by Ord. No. 2527CCS § 11, adopted 11/22/16; Ord. No. 2617CCS § 3, adopted 9/24/19; Ord. No. 2778CCS, 5/14/2024; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
Prior History: Former § 8.106.050, Additional definitions, derived from Ord. No. 2328CCS; Ord. No. 2390CCS; Ord. No. 2445CCS; Ord. No. 2513CCS; Ord. No. 2527CCS, and Ord. No. 2617CCS, was repealed by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
Prior History: Former § 8.106.053, Green building, derived from Ord. No. 2445CCS; Ord. No. 2527CCS, and Ord. No. 2617CCS, was repealed byOrd. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
Prior History: Former § 8.106.070, Flashing details, derived from Ord. No. 2328CCS; Ord. No. 2513CCS; Ord. No. 2527CCS, and Ord. No. 2617CCS, was repealed by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
Prior History: Former § 8.106.080, Non-residential, high-rise residential, hotel and motel solar and pool heating requirements, derived from Ord. No. 2540CCS and Ord. No. 2617CCS, was repealed by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
Prior History: Former § 8.106.100, Electric vehicle charging, derived from Ord. No. 2445CCS; Ord. No. 2527CCS; Ord. No. 2617CCS; was repealed by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
Prior History: Former § 8.106.110, Electric vehicle charging residential mandatory measures, derived from Ord. No. 2634CCS; Ord. No 2723CCS, and Ord. No. 2783CCS; was repealed by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
Prior History: Former § 8.106.120, Electric vehicle charging non-residential mandatory measures, derived from Ord. No. 2634CCS; Ord. No 2723CCS, and Ord. No. 2783CCS; was repealed by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025.
(a) 
Adoption of Local Amendments. That certain document entitled "California Green Building Standards Code, 2025 Edition," as published by the California Building Standards Commission, is hereby amended with the following local amendments.
(b) 
Definitions. Unless defined herein, all defined terms shall be those found in the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code. For the application of this section the following definitions shall apply:
Cement Limit:
The maximum allowed amount of cement in concrete at specified compressive strengths measured in pounds per cubic yards and listed on concrete mix-designs.
Concrete:
Any approved combination of mineral aggregates bound together into a hardened conglomerate in accordance with the requirements of this Code.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD):
EPDs present quantified environmental information on the life cycle of a product to enable comparisons between products fulfilling the same function. EPDs must conform to ISO 14025, and EN 15804 or ISO 21930, and have at least a "cradle to gate" scope (which covers product life cycle from resource extraction to the factory).
High Early Strength Cement:
Cement used to produce concrete with the compressive strength shown on submitted building plans within 12 hours.
Newly-Constructed Building:
A new structure that has never before been used or occupied for any purpose or removal and replacement of an existing structure, or repair, alteration, modification, addition to, or rehabilitation of an existing structure, where a demolition will occur, as defined Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.25.030, subsection A.1 or A.2.
(c) 
Scope. The requirements of this Chapter shall apply to all newly constructed buildings and swimming pools and spas as provided in Section 8.106.130 for which a building permit for construction is issued on or after 30 days following the second reading of this ordinance. Projects that do not meet the thresholds requiring plan review, as determined by the Building Official shall be exempt from this ordinance.
(d) 
California Building Standards Code Amendments.
(1) 
Section 1901.2 of the 2025 California Building Code is hereby amended as follows:
1901.2 Plain and reinforced concrete. Structural concrete shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and ACI 318 as amended in Section 1905 of this code and Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 8.106.130.
(2) 
Section R402.2.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code is hereby amended as follows:
R402.2.1 Materials for concrete. Materials for concrete shall comply with the requirements of Section R608.5.1, as amended by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130.
(3) 
Section R404.1.3 of the 2025 California Residential Code is hereby amended as follows:
R404.1.3 Concrete foundation walls. Concrete foundation walls that support light- frame walls shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section, ACI 318, ACI 332, or PCA 100, as amended by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130. Concrete foundation walls that support above-grade concrete walls that are within the applicability limits of Section R608.2 shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section, ACI 318, ACI 332, or PCA 100, as amended by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130. Concrete foundation walls that support above-grade concrete walls that are not within the applicability limits of Section R608.2 shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of ACI 318, ACI 332, or PCA 100, as amended by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130. Where ACI 318, ACI 332, PCA 100 or the provisions of this section, as amended by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130, are used to design concrete foundation walls, project drawings, typical details and specifications are not required to bear the seal of the architect or engineer responsible for design, unless otherwise required by the state law of the jurisdiction having authority.
(4) 
Section R506.1 of the 2025 California Residential Code is hereby amended as follows:
R506.1 General. Concrete slab-on-ground floors shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section or ACI 332, as amended by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130. Such floors shall not be less than 3 1/2 inches (89mm) thick (for expansive soils, see Section R403.1.8). The specified compressive strength of concrete shall be as set forth in Section R402.2.
(5) 
Section R608.5 of the 2025 California Residential Code is hereby amended as follows:
R608.5 Materials. Materials used in the construction of concrete walls shall comply with this section, as amended by, Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130.
(6) 
Section 301 of the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code is hereby augmented with the following:
301.6 Low-carbon concrete requirements for all projects. Plain and reinforced concrete installed as part of any project subject to the application of this Code shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 8.106.130, the full text of which is herein added to this Code by reference.
(7) 
Section 5.409.3 Product GWP compliance — prescriptive path, of the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, is hereby adopted and amended as follows:
5.409.3 Product GWP compliance — prescriptive path. Each product that is permanently installed and listed in Table 5.409.3 shall have a Type III environmental product declaration (EPD), either product-specific or factory-specific. All concrete must comply with Section 5.409.3.2.
TABLE 5.409.3 PRODUCT GWP LIMITS
Buy Clean California Materials Product Category1
Maximum acceptable GWP value
(unfabricated)
(GWP allowed)
Unit of Measurement
Hot-rolled structural steel sections
1.77
MT CO2e/MT
Hollow structural sections
3.00
MT CO2e/MT
Steel plate
2.61
MT CO2e/MT
Concrete reinforcing steel
1.56
MT CO2e/MT
Flat glass
2.50
kg CO2e/MT
Light-density mineral wool board insulation
5.83
kg CO2e/1m2
Heavy-density mineral wool board insulation
14.28
kg CO2e/1 m2
5.409.3.1 Products shall not exceed the maximum GWP value specified in Table 5.409.3.
5.409.3.2 Reduction in cement use requirements. All plain and reinforced concrete installed in residential and non-residential newly constructed buildings and swimming pools and spas as provided in Section 8.106.130 for which a building permit for construction is issued on or after 30 days after the second reading of the ordinance codified in this Section, shall comply with Section 5.409.3 to reduce embodied carbon in concrete. Projects that do not meet the thresholds requiring plan review, as determined by the Building Official, shall be exempt from this Section.
5.409.3.2.1. Products shall comply with the requirements for product GWP or Cement Limit performance in accordance with Section 5.409.3 using the maximum acceptable GWP or Cement Limit value for the product category listed in Table 5.409.3.5.
5.409.3.3 Project Based Compliance. A weighted average of the maximum GWP or Cement Limit for all concrete mixes installed in the project shall be less than the weighted average maximum GWP or Cement Limit allowed per Table 5.409.3.5 using Project Based Equation 5.409.3.3A or 5.409.3.3B Calculations shall be performed with consistent units of measurement for the material quantity and the GWP or Cement Limit value. For the purposes of this exception, industry wide EPD's are acceptable.
Project Based GWP Equation 5.409.3.3A:
GWPn < GWPallowed
Where
GWPn = Σ (GWPn)(vn) and GWPallowed = Σ (GWPallowed)(vn)
And
n = each concrete mix installed in the project
GWPn = the GWP for concrete mix n per concrete mix EPD, in kg CO2e/m3
GWPallowed = the GWP potential allowed for concrete mix n per Table 5.409.3.5 vn = the volume of concrete mix n installed in the project, in m3
Project Based Cement Limit Equation 5.409.3.3B:
Cemproj < Cemallowed
Where
Cemproj = ΣCemnvn and Cemallowed = ΣCemlim v n
and
n = the total number of concrete mixtures for the project
Cemn = the cement content for mixture n, kg/m3 or lb/yd3
Cemlim = the maximum cement content for mixture n per Table 5.409.3.5
kg/m3 or lb/yd3
vn = the volume of mixture n concrete to be placed, yd3 or m3
Applicant can use yd3 or m3 for calculation, but must keep same units throughout.
5.409.3.4. Verification of compliance. The Acknowledgement Worksheet signed by the design professional of record shall be provided on the construction documents during plan review. Updated EPDs or Mix Designs, and a batch receipt from the concrete supplier for products used in construction shall be provided to the owner at the close of construction and to the City upon request. The City requires inspection and inspection reports in accordance with Sections 702.2 and 703.1 during and at completion of construction to demonstrate substantial conformance. Inspection shall be performed by the design professional of record or third party acceptable to the City.
TABLE 5.409.3.5
Concrete GWP and Cement Limits
Note: Acceptable supplementary cementitious materials used to replace cement in concrete mix designs include, but are not limited to:
1.
Fly ash conforming to ASTM C618.
2.
Slag cement (GGBFS) conforming to ASTM C989.
3.
Silica fume conforming to ASTM C1240.
4.
Natural pozzolan conforming to ASTM C618.
5.
Blended supplementary cementitious materials conforming to ASTM C1697.
6.
Ultra-fine fly ash (UFFA) conforming to ASTM C618.
7.
Metakaolin conforming to ASTM C618.
8.
Ground-glass pozzolan per ASTM C1866/C1866M.
9.
Other materials with comparable or superior environmental benefits, as approved by the Engineer of Record and enforcing authority.
Concrete, Ready-Mixed
Minimum specified 28 day compressive strength f'c, psi
Cement Limits
Global Warming Potential (GWP) Limits
Maximum cement content, lbs/yd3
Maximum Global Warming Potential (GWP) kg CO2e/m3
up to 2500
362
260
3000
410
289
4000
456
313
5000
503
338
6000
531
356
7000
594
394
7001 and higher
657
433
up to 2499 light weight
512
500
Up to 3499 light weight
571
546
Up to 4499 light weight
629
594
Notes:
(1)
For concrete strengths between the stated values, use linear interpolation to determine cement and/or GWP limits.
(2)
Cement of any type per ASTM C150, ASTM C595.
(3)
Project applicants can choose to comply using the Maximum Cement limits OR the Maximum Global Warming Potential limits.
5.409.3.6 Allowable Increases.
1.
Cement or GWP limits shown in Table 5.409.3.5 can be increased by 30% for concrete demonstrated in writing to the Building Official or for Public Works Projects, the City Engineer, as requiring high early strength. Such concrete could include precast, prestressed concrete; beams and slabs above grade; shotcrete; and other applications as demonstrated in writing by the Professional Engineer or other licensed professionals.
2.
Approved Cements. The industry-average EPD describing Portland cements produced in the United States by the Portland Cement Association, certified by ASTM, lists a Portland cement global warming potential of 922 kg CO2e/metric ton. If your plant specific EPD for a cement or blended cement, demonstrated to the Building Official by an approved EPD, is lower than 922 kg CO2e/metric ton an increase in cement is allowed (e.g. use of ASTM 595 Type 1L Cement). The maximum cement content may be increased above the compliance level in Table 5.409.3.5 proportionate to the percentage difference in GWP of the plant specific EPD and the industry-average 922 kg CO2e/metric ton.
Formula: 922 — Plant Specific GWP = Difference
Difference/922 = Percent Allowable Increase
For example: A plant specific EPD of 900 kg CO2e/metric ton could allow up to a 2% increase in allowable cement.
922 — 900 = 22
22/922 = 0.02
5.409.3.7 Exemptions. If an applicant for a project subject to this chapter believes that circumstances exist that make it a hardship or infeasible to meet the requirements of this Chapter, the applicant may request an exemption in writing to the building department or Public Works (for City project or work within the Public Right-of-Way). In applying for an exemption, the burden is on the applicant to show hardship or infeasibility. Circumstances that constitute hardship or infeasibility may include:
•
There is a lack of commercially available material necessary to comply with this chapter. The applicant must provide written notice from at least two local concrete suppliers that there is a lack of commercially available materials necessary to comply.
•
The cost of the concrete mix that achieves compliance is more than the cost of a 100% Portland cement (ASTM C-150) or a 100% Portland limestone cement (ASTM C-595 Type 1L) mix. Applicant must provide quotes from at least two local concrete suppliers comparing the cost of a 100% PC (ASTM-150) or 100% PLC (ASTM C-595 Type 1L) mix and equivalent strength low-carbon concrete mix.
•
Emergency purchases made in conformance with Section 2.24.240.
•
Building permit applications submitted over the counter are exempt from this Chapter.
•
This Chapter does not apply to pre-packaged proprietary concrete bags used for small quantities (less than three yards) or where there is an immediate need for on-site concrete mixing.
(Added by Ord. No. 2778CCS, 5/14/2024; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)