DC's All-Electric Requirement for Permit Applications Starting January 1, 2027

Washington, DC has one of the most closely watched building energy timelines in the country. In 2026 the rules shifted: the full net-zero-energy standard was pushed back, and an interim all-electric requirement takes its place for permit applications starting January 1, 2027. If you design, manage or permit projects in the District, here is what changes and how to tell whether your project is affected.

What applies from January 1, 2027

According to the DC Department of Buildings (DOB), beginning January 1, 2027 the DC Energy Conservation Code, Commercial Provisions will require certain new permit applications for privately owned buildings to meet two requirements:

1. All-electric heating and hot water. No on-site fuel combustion for space heating and water heating.
2. Energy conservation equal to the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

DOB lists these as required for:

• New construction
• Additions greater than 10,000 square feet
• Level 3 alterations

DOB states these requirements run from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, citing D.C. Code § 6-1453.01 and the Clean Energy DC Building Code modifications in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026.

Source: https://dob.dc.gov/service/energy-and-green-building

Which buildings are covered

The statute applies to "covered buildings," which D.C. Code § 6-1453.01 defines as buildings subject to the DC Energy Conservation Code, Commercial Provisions. In practice, that means commercial buildings and residential buildings that fall under the commercial energy provisions, such as taller multifamily buildings. Lower-rise residential projects under the residential energy provisions are generally outside this requirement, but confirm the classification for your project with DOB.

Source: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/6-1453.01

What moved: net-zero is now targeted for the end of 2027

Before the 2026 changes, the Mayor was required to issue net-zero-energy regulations by December 31, 2026. The Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026 delayed that deadline by one year, to December 31, 2027. The DC Council's fiscal impact statement describes the change, and notes that after December 31, 2026, DOB should deny applications that use on-site fuel combustion for thermal energy or water heating, or that do not conserve at least as much energy as the 2024 IECC would require.

DOB also says it is developing the 2027 DC Construction Codes, with an anticipated effective date of January 1, 2028, including a new energy code aligned with § 6-1453.01 that will address efficiency, combustion-free thermal energy, and on-site and off-site renewable energy.

Note that parts of § 6-1453.01 currently include emergency and temporary amendments with their own expiration dates. Check the DC Law Library for the current text before relying on it.

Sources:

• DC Council fiscal impact statement, FY2027 Budget Support Act of 2026: https://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/fiscal_impact/pdf/spring09/FIS%20Fiscal%20Year%202027%20Budget%20Support%20Act%20of%202026.pdf
• DOB: https://dob.dc.gov/service/energy-and-green-building

Projects already in design: the transitory provision

DOB describes a path for projects in design before December 31, 2026. Those projects may follow the 2017 DC Energy Conservation Code, Commercial, under Section 123 (Transitory Provisions) of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. To qualify, the applicant submits a copy of the design contract for the scope of work, signed and dated before December 31, 2026, as a supporting document with the permit application.

If you are counting on this, make sure the contract is executed and dated in time and that it covers the scope you are permitting.

Publicly owned buildings

Separate requirements already apply to publicly owned, leased and financed buildings under D.C. Code § 6-1451.02. DOB lists the net-zero-energy standard elements (Appendix Z energy conservation, renewable energy, on-site renewables where feasible, and no on-site fuel combustion for thermal energy except backup power) as in effect now through December 31, 2027, with listed exclusions. Public projects should follow that section rather than the private-building timeline above.

Source: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/6-1451.02

Green Construction Code still applies

DOB notes that commercial and residential buildings of 10,000 square feet or more must also comply with the 2017 DC Green Construction Code, in effect through December 31, 2027.

A practical checklist

1. Confirm whether the project is a covered building under the commercial energy provisions.
2. Classify the scope: new construction, an addition over 10,000 square feet, or a Level 3 alteration.
3. Set the submission date. Before or after January 1, 2027 changes the review.
4. If relying on the transitory provision, have the signed and dated design contract ready to upload.
5. Check that heating and domestic hot water systems are electric and that the energy compliance path targets 2024 IECC-level performance.
6. Recheck the current statute text, since emergency amendments can change.

The takeaway

For most private commercial and larger multifamily work in DC, the question for 2027 submissions is no longer whether net-zero applies, but whether heating and hot water are electric and the energy performance meets the 2024 IECC level. The submission date decides it.

If you would like a second look before a DC submission, we offer a free review of one drawing set against the code in force for the location and permit date. Email hello@permitprep.ai to request it. See what a sheet-by-sheet report looks like.