Reach Code

Update on January 25, 2024:

Effective immediately, the City of Hayward Reach Code requirements prohibiting installation of natural gas infrastructure in new residential construction are no longer being enforced. New residential buildings are now allowed to include natural gas. This update is based on a recent court decision. All Reach Code requirements for non-residential buildings and electric vehicle charging infrastructure remain in effect. If you have any questions regarding current Reach Code requirements, please contact Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, at erik.pearson@hayward-ca.gov.

On November 15, 2022, the Hayward City Council adopted a new Reach Code ordinance to be effective along with the 2022 California Building Code on January 1, 2023. The new Reach Code requires: 

  • Residential Buildings - All newly constructed residential buildings shall not use natural gas and must be designed as all-electric. This includes: detached accessory dwelling units, single-family homes, condominium buildings, apartments and mixed-use buildings. Do not bring natural gas infrastructure to the site for these projects.
  • Non-Residential Buildings - All new non-residential buildings for which natural gas infrastructure is installed must be “electric ready”. (Electric Ready means the wiring, electrical capacity and physical space needed is provided to allow the building to be converted to an all-electric building in the future.)
  • EV Charging - All new buildings and modifications to existing buildings resulting in new parking spaces must have electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure installed above and beyond that required by the California Green Building Standards Code.
  • For more information, please refer to the ordinance language.

If you have questions or comments regarding Hayward’s Reach Code, please contact us at environment@hayward-ca.gov.

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

  • November 18, 2024 – Sustainability Committee meeting to consider proposed amendments to EV charging requirements  
  • December 3, 2024 – City Council meeting to consider adoption of an ordinance amending EV charging requirements

Previous Meetings

March 11, 2024 – Sustainability Committee report titled Reach Code - Current Status and Future Revisions - Discussion and Direction to Staff

June 6, 2023 – City Council report titled Reach Code Amendments: Introduction of Revised Electrification Reach Code Ordinance with Minor Modifications Required by California Building Standards Commission; and Finding that the Action is Exempt from CEQA

November 15, 2022 - City Council report titled Adopt an Ordinance Establishing Reach Codes for the City of Hayward, Repealing Ordinance 20-05, Adopting Chapter 9, Article 8 of the Hayward Municipal Code to Amend Part 11 (California Green Building Standards Code) of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), and Amending the City’s Off-Street Parking Regulations (Chapter 10, Article 2) of the Hayward Municipal Code

November 1, 2022 – City Council Public Hearing: Introduction of Reach Code Ordinance – Presentation

October 6, 2022 – Sustainability Committee report titled 2023 Electrification Reach Codes: Discussion and Recommendation - Presentation

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.