What are the proposed Los Altos Reach Codes?

The Process and Scope

The Environmental Commission has prepared Draft Reach Codes for City Council consideration. These recommendations were made after hours of research, evaluation and discussion.   The City Council can vote to adopt the proposed codes, reject them or ask that they be modified.  The Reach Codes, as in other cities, include one on building electrification and a second on improving the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Newly Constructed Homes Only

Here is the summary:  The proposed Reach Codes have nothing to do with existing buildings that residents currently live in.  They only affect “newly constructed buildings” defined as “not used or occupied before.”  They include residential and non-residential buildings that have a new foundation or a building that has been taken down to the floor or below or some combination thereof.  This means no one in an existing home needs to worry about their gas appliances being taken away or being required to replace their gas appliances with electric appliances when their existing appliances fail or they remodel their home. 

Some Exceptions Apply. Read in the Environmental Commission’s Own Words

“The Environmental Commission recommends City Council adopt a 100% Electric Building and Additional Electrical Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Reach Codes for newly constructed buildings. An all-electric building means that all appliances, including space and water heating, cooking appliances and clothes dryers, run on electricity. The codes would permit conditional exceptions only when the applicant shows that there is a public or business-related need that cannot be reasonably met with an electric-fueled appliance or piece of equipment. The recommended Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Reach Codes increase the capacity to charge electric vehicles in newly constructed buildings.”

The actual language being submitted to City Council can be found at the Environmental Commission meeting minutes here.