CITY OF SAN MATEO
RESOLUTION NO. ____ (2026)
ADOPTING EXRESS FINDINGS FOR LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED AMENDMENTS TO THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, 2025 EDITION, RELATIVE TO LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOGRAPHICAL, OR
TOPOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS
WHEREAS, the City of San Mateo’s (City) Climate Action Plan recommends the City review local amendments to the California Energy Code to promote building electrification and energy efficiency; and WHEREAS, California Energy Code 2025 Edition, was adopted by the City of San Mateo on November 3, 2025; and
WHEREAS, concurrent with this resolution, the City Council will adopt local amendments to amend the California Energy Code to require energy conservation measures for air conditioner alterations, replacements and installations in existing single family homes, duplexes and townhomes; energy conservation measures for heating, ventilation and air conditioner replacements and installations in existing nonresidential buildings; and increased efficiency and electric readiness requirements for additions and alterations to single family homes, duplexes, and townhomes; and
WHEREAS, California Health and Safety Code Sections 17922, 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 authorizes the City to make local amendments to the California Energy Code based upon express findings that the such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary due to local climatic, geographical, or topographical conditions; and
WHEREAS, these amendments are reasonably necessary because of health and safety concerns as City of San Mateo residents suffer from asthma and other health conditions associated with poor indoor and outdoor air quality exacerbated by the combustion of methane gas; and WHEREAS, promoting electric equipment in indoor environments reduces the risk of asthma associated with gas appliances,
WHEREAS, in 2016, the State of California enacted Senate Bill (SB) 32, which added Health and Safety Code Section 38566 to require greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to 40 percent below 1990 levels by no later than December 31, 2030; and
WHEREAS, consistent with federal law stated in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, the standards contained within the proposed amendments permit mixed fuel residential construction; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments are consistent with AB130, in that they are necessary to implement a local code amendment that is adopted to align with the City’s general plan approved before June 10, 2025; and
WHEREAS, consistent with AB130, the standards contained within the proposed amendments permit mixed fuel residential construction consistent with federal law while also incentivizing all-electric construction; and
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6 WHEREAS, consistent with AB130, the standards imposed by the proposed amendments incentivize electric equipment through the cost-effective installation of electric appliances while preserving energy- equivalent pathways for mixed-fuel residential appliances; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code, the proposed amendments meet the following conditions to demonstrate local amendments are necessary: the changes are necessary to align local building codes with General Plan and Climate Action Plan goals while permitting mixed- fuel residential construction and incentivizing electric construction, and the changes are necessary to implement the standards contained in the proposed amendments; and WHEREAS, on March 18, 2024, the City Council adopted the San Mateo General Plan that includes policies and actions to “evaluate and adopt reach codes that help decarbonize the building stock” and “reduce the use of fossil fuels as an energy source in the existing building stock” that align with the emissions reduction goals in the proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2024, the City Council adopted the San Mateo Climate Action Plan which includes substantial GHG reduction goals for San Mateo, to reduce emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 85% below 1990 levels by 2045 that align with the emissions reduction goals in the proposed amendments; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Climate Action Plan includes policies and actions to encourage the transition to electric technologies during planned upgrades in existing residential and nonresidential buildings that align with the emissions reduction goals in the proposed amendments; and WHEREAS, in alignment with the Climate Action Plan, the local amendments to the 2025 California Energy Code establish requirements which will reduce demands for local energy resources, reduce regional pollution, and promote a lower contribution to greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined and finds that local amendments are needed and reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions of the City; and WHEREAS, Public Resources Code Section 25402.1(h)2 and Section 10-106 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Standards) establish a process which allows local adoption of energy standards that are more stringent than the statewide Standards, provided that such local standards are cost effective and the California Energy Commission finds that the standards will require building to be designed to consume no more energy than permitted by the California Energy Code; and WHEREAS, staff has reviewed the cost effectiveness studies prepared by the California Statewide Codes and Standards Reach Code Program and associated study data and find them sufficient to illustrate compliance with the requirements set forth under California Administrative Code Chapter 10-106; and WHEREAS, that such modifications will result in designs that consume less energy than they would under the 2025 State Energy Code through the California Statewide Codes and Standards Reach Code Program, has performed cost effectiveness analyses as required by the California Energy Commission for the local 1 2
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6 amendments to the California Energy Code contained in the ordinance adopted concurrent with this resolution; and
WHEREAS, based upon these analyses, the San Mateo City Council finds that the local amendments to the California Energy Code contained in ordinance adopted concurrent with this resolution have at least one cost effective pathway and will require buildings to be designed to consume no more energy than permitted by the California Energy Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, HEREBY FINDS that:
1. Adoption of this resolution adopting express findings in support of local amendments to the California Energy Code, 2025 Edition, is not subject to CEQA review because it is an action taken by a regulatory agency, as authorized by state ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15308.)
2. The City Council makes findings that local amendments to the California Energy Code, 2025 Edition, in Ordinance No. 2026-____ are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological and topographical conditions summarized in Exhibit A attached and incorporated to this resolution. 1 2
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Exhibit A
Findings Supporting Local Amendments to the California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6 Section 17958 of the California Health and Safety Code provides that the City may make changes to the provisions in the uniform codes that are published in the California Building Standards Code.
Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code require that for each proposed local change to those provisions in the uniform codes and published in the California Building Standards Code which regulate buildings used for human habitation, the City Council must make findings supporting its determination that each such local change is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions.
Regarding the Energy Code, local jurisdictions have the authority to adopt local energy efficiency ordinances—or reach codes—that exceed the minimum standards defined by Title 24 as established by Public Resources Code Section 25402.1(h)2 and Section 10-106 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards, provided the City Council finds that the requirements of the proposed ordinance are cost-effective and do not result in buildings consuming more energy than is permitted by Title 24.
Local building regulations having the effect of amending the uniform codes, which were adopted by the City prior to November 23, 1970, were unaffected by the regulations of Sections 17958, 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code. Therefore, amendments to the uniform codes which were adopted by the City Council prior to November 23, 1970, and have been carried through from year to year without significant change, need no required findings. Also, amendments to provisions not regulating buildings used for human habitation, including amendments made only for administrative consistency, do not require findings.
Code: California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6
Section(s) Title Add Deleted Amended Justification
(See below
for Key)
100.0 Scope x C & E
100.1 Definitions and Rules of Construction x C & E
141.0 Additions, Alterations and Repairs to Existing
Nonresidential and Hotel/Motel Buildings, to
Existing Outdoor Lighting and to Internally
and Externally Illuminated Signs
x C & E
150.0 Mandatory Features and Devices x C & E
150.2 Energy Efficiency Standards for Additions
and Alterations to Existing Single-Family
Residential Buildings
X C & E
Key:
A Administrative
This is an administrative amendment to clarify and establish civil and administrative procedures, regulations, or rules to enforce and administer the activities by the San Mateo Community Development Department. These administrative amendments do not need to meet HSC 18941.5/17958/13869 per HSC 18909(c). 1 2
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6 C Climatic
The local amendments are justified on the basis of a local climatic conditions in San Mateo. Failure to address and significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could result in rises in sea level, including in San Francisco Bay, that could put at risk City homes and businesses, public facilities, and Highway 101 (Bayshore Freeway), particularly the mapped Flood Hazard areas of the City. Buildings with lower energy and GHG emissions benefit the health, safety, and welfare of San Mateo residents. Requiring highly efficient buildings will reduce the amount of GHG emissions produced in San Mateo.
G Geological
The local amendments are justified on the basis of local geological conditions in San Mateo. Major faults cross through all nine Bay Area counties. The closest active faults in San Mateo are the San Andreas Fault located two miles west and the Hayward Fault, 14 miles east of San Mateo. A powerfully damaging earthquake similar to the 1906 earthquake or 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is rare but likely to occur in the next 30 years. Smaller magnitude earthquakes are also likely to occur, potentially producing significant local damage. The reduction of natural gas infrastructure in buildings would reduce the hazards associated with gas leaks during seismic events.
E Environmental
The local amendments improve the public health and welfare by promoting the environmental and economic health of the City through the design, construction, maintenance, operation and deconstruction of buildings and sites by incorporating green practices into all development. The local amendments are consistent with the goals of the Energy Code and help achieve the following goals:
Increase energy efficiency in buildings;
Increase resource conservation;
Provide durable buildings that are efficient and economical to own and operate; and Promote the health and productivity of residents, workers, and visitors to the city.
T Topographic
The local amendments are justified on the basis of local topographic conditions in San Mateo. The City of San Mateo topography includes areas that are subject to wildland type fires due to existing vegetation, particularly chaparral, the steep slopes, and the temperate climate with dry summer months. These wildland areas pose substantial risk to nearby residences and the natural environment. The elimination of natural gas infrastructure in new buildings and the transition to electric appliances in existing residential buildings would reduce fire hazards in buildings near highly combustible wildland areas.