Reach Code Initiative

The City of Hayward is updating its Reach Code. The 2019 California Building Code and Hayward’s current Reach Code will both expire on December 31, 2022. In order to continue Hayward’s current Reach Code requirements, a new Reach Code must be adopted this year to be effective along with the 2022 California Building Code in January 2023. City staff is working with East Bay Community Energy and other Bay Area partners to develop a new reach code. More information about the Bay Area working group is available here. If you have questions or comments regarding Hayward’s potential new Reach Code, please contact us at environment@hayward-ca.gov.

Current Reach Code

In March 2020, the Hayward City Council adopted a reach code ordinance to electrify buildings and vehicles in new construction. The new requirements will result in safer and more comfortable buildings, increase our electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and reduce our carbon footprint. The ordinance requires all new low-rise residential buildings (three stories and less) to be all-electric, and encourages all-electric construction in high-rise residential and non-residential buildings. The ordinance also requires electric vehicle charging infrastructure beyond that required in the 2019 California Green Building Standards Code. 
 

What Are Reach Codes?

Reach codes are building codes that are more advanced than those required by the state. Every three years, cities and counties across California adopt the new Building Standards Code or Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Cities can also choose to adopt local reach codes, on top of these Standards, at anytime. Reach codes that are related to energy efficiency must be proven to be cost-effective. 

Reach codes may include:

  • Prescriptive Codes: Require one or more specific energy efficiency measures, solar photovoltaic (PV), electric vehicle (EV) charging, or battery storage
  • Performance Codes: Require a building to perform more efficiently based on accepted computer modeling and allow trade-offs between energy efficiency measures, solar PV, EV, or battery storage

As of December 2021, 54 Cities and Counties across California have adopted reach codes to reduce the use of natural gas.

Why establish reach codes?

As the grid becomes cleaner, the benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) free electricity can best be realized by electrification of buildings and vehicles. Instead of burning natural gas and gasoline to operate buildings and vehicles, Hayward can reduce emissions by powering buildings and vehicles with clean electricity provided by East Bay Community Energy. All-electric buildings are safer and healthier to live in and are cost effective, especially when designed at the new construction stage.

Reach Code Checklists

Fill out one of these checklists to ensure your development is in compliance with the City of Hayward's Reach Code:

Upcoming Meetings

October 6, 2022 – Sustainability Committee – Agenda and report will be available here

Previous Meetings

June 14, 2022 – City Council Work Session report titled 2023 Electrification Reach Code: Information and Discussion - Presentation

May 26, 2022 – Planning Commission report titled Proposed 2023 Reach Code Update - Presentation

May 9, 2022 - Sustainability Committee report titled 2023 Reach Code - Information and Discussion - Presentation

March 14, 2022 - Sustainability Committee report titled Considerations for the 2023 Reach Code - presentation

March 3, 2020 - City Council report titled Electrification Reach Codes: Adopt a Resolution and Introduce an Ordinance to Adopt Electrification Reach Codes for the 2019 California Energy Code and California Green Building Standards Code - presentation

October 30, 2019 - Sustainability Committee report titled Revised Draft Electrification Reach Codes for 2019 California Energy Code and California Green Building Standards Code - presentation

September 17, 2019 – Sustainability Committee report titled Draft Electrification Reach Codes for 2019 California Energy Code and California Green Building Standards Code - presentation

May 13, 2019 – Sustainability Committee report titled Update on Possible Reach Code for Building and Vehicle Electrification - presentation

January 14, 2019 – Sustainability Committee report titled Natural Gas Use in New Construction - presentation

July 16, 2018 – Sustainability Committee report titled Building Electrification & Reducing Natural Gas Use - presentation

Resources

Please contact us at environment@hayward-ca.gov or (510) 583-4700 if you have any questions or comments.