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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Local Amendments to the California Building and Energy Code to require projects in single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes involving replacement or alteration (but not repair) of an existing air conditioning system or installation of new air conditioning systems to either include a heat pump space conditioner as the primary heating system, or install specific energy efficiency measures in addition to a new air conditioner
1. Motion Directing Staff to Include Provisions in the Local Amendments to the 2025 California Building and Energy Code to Be Considered by the Council in the Fall of 2025 That Would Require Energy Conservation Measures for Air Conditioner Alterations, Replacements and Installations in Existing Single-Family Homes, Duplexes and Townhomes
2. An Ordinance of the Council of the City of Glendale, California Amending the 2022 Glendale Building and Safety Code, Volume IX (Green Building Standards), to Require Energy Conservation Measures for Air Conditioner Alterations, Replacements and Installations in Existing Single-Family Residential Buildings
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Ordinance
Approved for September 9, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On August 19, 2025, the Council introduced an ordinance - based on modified CALGreen voluntary provisions—that would amend the 2022 Glendale Building and Safety Code to require projects in single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes involving replacement or alteration (but not repair) of an existing air condition system or installation of new air conditioning systems to either include a heat pump space conditioner as the primary heating system or install specific energy efficiency measures in addition to a new air conditioner. The ordinance would require installation of a heat pump as the primary heating source; or permit the gas furnace to be retained but require installation of additional energy-efficiency upgrades where an air conditioning system (not including repair of existing systems) is being replaced or added. 8a2
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At its August 26, 2025 meeting, the Council deadlocked 2-2 on adopting a proposed ordinance. Because ordinances take 30 days to become effective, the ordinance cannot be in effect by the September 30, 2025 deadline set by A.B. 130, which prohibits local amendments to state building codes after that date unless certain exceptions apply. While this eliminates one pathway for adoption, the City may still proceed under the “General Plan Exception” in Health and Safety Code section 17958(b)(5), which allows amendments aligned with a general plan adopted before June 10, 2025 and that both permit mixed-fuel residential construction and incentivize electrification as part of a greenhouse gas reduction strategy. Glendale’s 2025 General Plan Safety Element and its Greener Glendale Plan support such findings, particularly for adopting an AC2HP reach code that enhances resilience, supports climate goals, and complies with federal law. Staff therefore recommends that instead of proceeding with the current ordinance, the Council direct staff to prepare a new ordinance with the required findings for adoption alongside the 2025 Building and Safety Code later in 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council direct staff to prepare an ordinance adopting local amendments to the California Building and Safety Code that make findings in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 17958(b)(5) – relating to the City’s General Plan – and present said ordinance for consideration in conjunction with the Council’s consideration of the adoption of the 2025 Glendale Building and Safety Code.
ANALYSIS
At the regular Council meeting of August 26, 2025, after deliberating the proposed ordinance, the Council voted 2-2 on the motion to adopt the ordinance, with Councilmember Kassakhian absent. Under the Charter (Article VI, Sec. 3), “any tie vote constitutes no action, and the matter shall be carried from agenda to agenda until the tie is broken, or the council determines to remove the item from the agenda.” Thus, the proposed ordinance is on the agenda for adoption as required by the Charter. Because the ordinance will not be in effect by September 30, 2025, however, staff does not recommend the Council adopt it as it will not satisfy A.B. 130.
As noted in the Report to Council dated August 12, 2025 (“August 12 Report” – Exhibit 1”), A.B. 130, urgency legislation adopted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor, local amendments to the State building codes are prohibited after September 30, 2025, unless they fall within certain exceptions set forth in AB 130. The ordinance with the local amendments was proposed to be in effect as of September 30 if they had been adopted at the August 26, 2025 meeting. Since an ordinance require 30 days to be effective the time to adopt local amendments to be in effect as of September 30, 2025 has passed.
There is an additional pathway to adopt local amendments to the California Building and Safety Code that is applicable to this particular set of proposed amendments. The August 12 Report discussed this option:
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“Option 2: Adopt the 2025 Building Standards Code (or at least the Energy Code component) using the AB 130 exception (Health & Safety Code section 17958(b)(5)) that allows for changes or modifications that “are necessary to implement a local code amendment that is adopted to align with a general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025, and that permits mixed-fuel residential construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric construction as part of an adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy.” August 12 Report, p. 5.
The August 12 Report also discussed how the City could adopt local amendments to the 2025 Building Standards Code and/or Energy Code utilizing the exception in Health and Safety Code section 17958(b)(5) (the “General Plan Exception”). The Council can make “findings make findings in conjunction with the 2025 Building Standards Code adoption that the changes qualify for each of the three components of [the General Plan Exception] as follows:
1. The reach code will align with a general plan approved on or before June 10, 2025. The City adopted the current Safety Element of the General Plan on April 1, 2025. The 2025 Safety Element, Policy 5-2: Building Resilience, specifically states that the City shall amend the building code to increase the resiliency of existing and new buildings, thereby protecting residents from the impacts of extreme heat and poor air quality. The 2025 Safety Element, Program 5-2.3, specifies that the City shall consider amending the building code to require all newly installed HVAC units for existing buildings to have two-way air conditioning unit capability to provide heating and cooling by the next CBC update cycle.
Adopting an AC2HP reach code is consistent with the 2025 General Plan Safety Element; it can help Glendale achieve its climate goals, improve public health, and modernize infrastructure.
2. The reach code is consistent with EPCA because it ‘permits mixed-fuel residential construction.’ In other words, compliance with the AC2HP reach code does not preclude a residential property owner from using natural gas, which was the issue in the Berkeley case. [Additionally, the ordinance does not require installation of the heat pump; compliance may also be achieved by installation of energy efficiency upgrades when installing, replacing or altering an air conditioning system but relying on a gas furnace for space heating.]
3. The reach code will incentivize all-electric construction as part of an adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy. The City adopted the Greener Glendale Plan in 2012. The Greener Glendale Plan has strategies to reduce GHGs which include reduction in citywide energy consumption by facilitating permitting and construction of alternative building structures, materials and site location; retrofitting existing development for increased energy and water efficiency, and promoting and supporting use of renewable energy. The AC2HP reach code are consistent with these strategies because they can reduce 8a4
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greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuel-based heating systems with electric heat pumps. Staff has reviewed studies that show AC2HP upgrades increase efficiency and are cost-effective over the system's lifecycle, especially when factoring in utility incentives and future energy savings. Electrification also reduces fire hazards associated with gas lines and appliances, enhancing community resilience.” August 12 Report, pp. 6-7.
The August 12 Report recommended that the Council consider implementation of a two-pronged “belts and suspenders” approach to complying with A.B. 130 – (1) adopt a local code amendment that would be in effect “as of September 30, 2025” which could then be readopted as part of the 2025 pursuant to AB 130 and then also make findings for the 2025 local amendments that comply with the General Plan Exception. Although the time to pass the first prong has passed, the Council may make findings under the General Plan Exception to adopt amendments to the 2025 Building and Safety Code (when the time comes in the Fall of 2025). The ordinance introduced on August 19, 2025 does not contain the full breadth of this findings that should be made to implement a reach code that complies with the General Plan Exception. Thus, staff recommends that Council direct staff to bring back an ordinance for introduction with the findings under Health and Safety Code Section 17958(b)(5) at the time the staff brings back the 2025 Building and Safety Code for adoption.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Staff presented draft reach code language to the August 7, 2025, Sustainability Commission meeting and received recommendations and direction from the Commission.
Staff provided a copy of the reach code model language to the Community Development Building Official and the GWP Clean Energy Officer in June 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The proposed Ordinance will be exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code §§15000, et seq., "CEQA"), and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 California Code of Regulations §§15000, et seq., the "CEQA Guidelines") because it will consist of revisions and clarifications to an existing code of construction-related regulations and specification of procedures related thereto being taken for enhanced protection of the environment and while there may be added infrastructure resulting from the implementation of the Reach Codes, it does not have the potential to cause significant effects on the environment; to the contrary, the transition from fossil fuel sources is part of the State of California’s overall plan to decrease GHG emissions from stationery and transportation sources. Adoption of the Ordinance is categorically exempt in accordance with CEQA Guidelines §15305 as a minor alteration in land use limitations which do not result in any changes in land use or density and is exempt under CEQA Guidelines §15308 as an action taken by a regulatory agency as 8a5
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authorized by California law to assure maintenance or protection of the environment.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1) Adopt the Ordinance Amending the Glendale Building and Safety Code, Volume IX, to Adopt Local Amendments to the 2025 Edition of the California Building and Energy Code as introduced. However, the ordinance will have no legal effect as it will not comply with A.B. 130.
2) The City Council may consider any alternates not presented by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
John Takhtalian, Assistant City Manager
Prepared by:
David Jones, Sustainability Officer
Michael J. Garcia, City Attorney
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Council dated August 12, 2025
2. Report to Council dated August 19, 2025