Sonoma County adopts updated state building codes with local amendments

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted this week to adopt the California Model Building Codes, which includes requiring the use of electric appliances exclusively in most new residential construction.

The new code advances the county’s climate action goals by requiring new commercial structures include solar panels and energy storage, and requiring dwellings to have all-electric appliances, with the exception of cooktops, and the infrastructure to support them. Electric appliances may utilize renewable energy to power home appliances to reduce the emissions from their use.

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