Chapter 17.50 — IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN BUILDING CODE

The purpose of this chapter is to implement the sustainable planning and design provisions of the city general plan. The provisions of this chapter are intended to encourage developers to go above and beyond typical development practices by: creating incentives for compact, mixed-use development; encouraging use of alternative energy sources; promote alternative means of transportation (e.g., bicycling, walking, transit); creating incentive to reduce energy use; and facilitating low impact development techniques. The provisions contained within this chapter are to be used in combination with other provisions in article IV (Site Development Provisions) and the adopted CalGreen Building Code. (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

Compliance with this section shall be determined as part of the related discretionary entitlement review process or minor design review if another discretionary process is not needed. The following applies:

• A. Nonresidential (including mixed-use) development. New buildings, or substantial renovations (see subsection D below), shall comply with all mandatory provisions of the "City of Rancho Cucamonga, Green Building Compliance Matrix (Nonresidential)" as maintained by the planning director and as required by the California CalGreen Building Code.

• B. Residential development. New buildings, or substantial renovations (see subsection D below), shall comply with all mandatory provisions of the "City of Rancho Cucamonga, Green Building Code Compliance Matrix (Residential)" as maintained by the planning director and as required by the California CalGreen Building Code.

• C. All municipal projects undertaken by the city shall:

  1. Implement all mandatory provisions of the "City of Rancho Cucamonga, Green Building Code Compliance Matrix (Nonresidential)," as maintained by the planning director.

  2. For all buildings over 7,500 square feet, all of the Tier 1 provisions of the CalGreen Building Code shall be implemented or 100 points shall be achieved based on the optional provisions of the "City of Rancho Cucamonga, Green Building Code Compliance Matrix (Nonresidential)."

  3. Substantial renovation is defined for purposes of this chapter to include any renovation, rehabilitation, restoration, or repair work that includes floor area equal to 35 percent or more of the existing floor area, or the addition of new floors. The calculation shall include attached garages, but not include detached garages. For the purpose of calculation, the increase in floor area shall be aggregated over a three-year period.

• D. Exemptions. All buildings under 1,500 square feet are exempt from the requirements of this section unless otherwise determined by the planning director. In addition, the following uses are exempt: major utilities, minor utilities, wireless communication facilities, construction storage yards, mining and processing, recycling facilities, storage yards, temporary uses, or any similar use to those listed.

• (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

The city recognizes that implementing the optional provisions of CalGreen results in additional building and site construction cost and offers the incentives below to help offset the cost. The eligibility for the following incentive shall be determined during the related entitlement review process as follows:

• A. RC Green 100. All buildings achieving CalGreen Tier 1 or 100 points or more on the relevant Green Building Code Compliance Matrix as maintained by the planning director shall be eligible for priority processing of the proposed development.

• B. RC Green 200. All buildings achieving CalGreen Tier 2 or 200 points or more on the relevant Green Building Code Compliance Matrix as maintained by the planning director shall be eligible for:

  1. Priority processing.

  2. Reduction in one site development standard or architectural design requirement, including, but not limited to:

     • a. Reduction in setback;

     • b. Reduction in square footage requirements; and/or

c. Reduction in required number of parking spaces. (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)