SACRAMENTO — October 29, 2026. California is considering tougher water-efficiency design rules for newly constructed nonresidential buildings. The California Building Standards Commission filed a Notice of Preparation on October 20, 2026, beginning environmental review of proposed changes to the 2028 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) under Senate Bill 745.
What could change?
The proposal would move selected existing voluntary measures intended to reduce potable water use into the mandatory portion of the code. The commission says multiple compliance options would be available for different building types and regions. Exact technical requirements are under development; the notice should not be treated as a final code text or a universal water-consumption percentage reduction.
Who would be affected?
The changes would be designed for applicable new nonresidential construction, such as commercial or institutional developments. The notice does not announce a retroactive order requiring every California homeowner to replace plumbing, nor does it authorize construction of new buildings on any parcel.
When would the rules take effect?
If adopted on the published schedule, the amendments would appear in the 2028 CALGreen code on July 1, 2028 and become effective January 1, 2029. Those dates are prospective and depend on completing the rulemaking process.
Public review is open
The official notice lists a state review period from October 20 through November 19, 2026. Architects, builders, water utilities, business owners and residents may review the environmental scoping documents and submit input through the commission’s process. Questions of cost, drought resilience, plumbing design and local conditions warrant attention before standards are finalized.
Why it matters statewide
Water availability and drought resilience are important in coastal, urban and inland California. Design standards can influence new commercial projects over many years, so understanding them at the proposal stage may help developers and communities prepare. This is a proposal, not an adopted requirement in force today.
Primary source: State Clearinghouse SCH 2026100697 — 2028 Amendments to CALGreen, Notice of Preparation, October 20, 2026. Review period ends November 19.
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