Building Codes Assistance Project

On April 9, 2008, the Dallas City Council unanimously adopted a green construction ordinance which aims to reduce energy and water consumption in all new houses and commercial buildings constructed in the city. The legislation is the product of the city's Green Building Task Force, which was comprised of members of the residential and commercial development sectors and created to develop recommendations for new standards for all new private residential and commercial development in Dallas. Through the new ordinance, the Task Force envisions a long-term environmental strategy to make Dallas carbon neutral by 2030 and one of the greenest cities in America.

The ordinance will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, starting on October 1, 2009, requires that homebuilders construct their homes to be 15 percent more efficient than the base energy code (the 2006 IECC) and meet four out of six high-efficiency water reduction strategies. In Phase 2, beginning on October 1, 2011, it requires all homes to be built to either the LEED standard or the Green Built North Texas (GBNT) standard and include points toward a 20 percent water use reduction and a minimum 17.5 percent more efficient than the base energy code or the performance of an ENERGY STAR for homes with a HERS rating of 83 or less.

For commercial projects, Phase 1 of the new ordinance requires buildings less than 50,000 square feet to be 15 percent more efficient than the base energy code, use 20 percent less water than required by the current Dallas Plumbing Code, all roof surfaces with a slope of 2:12 inches or less must meet the EPA's ENERGY STAR low-slope roof requirements; and meet outdoor lighting restrictions, except for safety and security reasons as applicable.

For commercial projects over 50,000 square feet, phase 1 requires buildings to meet 85 percent of the points required under the appropriate LEED rating system for a certified level, including one point for 20 percent water use reduction, and a minimum two points for 14 percent more efficient than the base energy code.

Phase 2, beginning in 2011, requires all commercial projects to be LEED certifiable under the appropriate LEED rating system, including one point for 20 percent water use reduction, and a minimum three points for 17.5 percent more efficient than the base energy code.

For more information, please consult the City of Dallas news release, Dallas City Council Ordinance #081070, and the summary of recommendations by the Green Building Task Force.

For Texas code status information, please consult the BCAP Texas Code Status page.