District of ColumbiaB26-0767Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Net Zero Continuity Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Janeese Lewis George (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

New net-zero rules with key exemptions

The law requires covered projects to be built to the net-zero-energy standard. New residential construction must meet this standard; some renewable energy rules are paused until the Mayor issues final regulations. The law now uses “Level 3 alteration” to decide when major renovations are covered. Exemptions include temporary buildings; additions under 10,000 sq ft; police, fire, emergency response, and Office of Unified Communications facilities; natatoriums and aquatics centers; and projects with all permits to begin construction filed before Oct 1, 2024 that were not submitted to GBAC before Feb 1, 2026. For the listed public safety and aquatics facilities, some standards are delayed until the Mayor’s final rules take effect. Projects must meet the net-zero standard at build-out, not just maintain it later.

No on-site fuel heat in new builds

Covered projects must limit on-site fuel combustion for heat and hot water, as allowed under Clean Energy DC rules; backup power is still allowed. Buildings must get the renewable energy amounts in the latest Appendix Z and generate on-site where feasible. After December 31, 2026, permits for new covered buildings or additions over 10,000 sq ft that plan on-site fuel combustion for heating cannot be approved. For permits filed after December 31, 2026 for new construction, large additions, or Level 3 alterations, designs must save at least as much operational energy as the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code.

Deadlines for rules and end of temporary laws

The Mayor must issue final rules by December 31, 2026 to ban on-site fuel combustion for new construction and additions over 10,000 sq ft. By December 31, 2027, final rules must require all new construction and Level 3 alterations to meet a net-zero-energy standard. The law also repeals two temporary laws: the Green Housing Coordination Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-90) and the Net Zero Modification and Preservation Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Law 26-123). Projects that relied on them return to the permanent rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Janeese Lewis George
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 7/14/2026

Final Reading