The updated King County Green Building Ordinance 19402Download PDF was adopted by Council on March 2nd, 2022 and signed by the County Executive on March 9th, 2022. The Green Building Initiative started in 2001 with an Executive Order which was replaced by an ordinance in 2005, and renewed in 2008, 2013, and 2022.

Green building goals

• Ensure the planning, design, construction, remodeling, renovation, maintenance and operations of any King County owned or financed capital project is consistent with the latest green building and sustainable development practices.
• Direct county departments to incorporate the use of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) green building rating system.
• Establish a Green Building Team to provide education and guidance to county departments.

Green building ordinance requirements

• The ordinance covers all King County-owned capital projects.
• All eligible new construction projects are required to strive for LEED Platinum certification (effective August 1, 2014).
• All eligible major renovation and remodel projects are required to achieve LEED Gold certification.
• All capital projects that are not eligible or are limited in their ability to achieve LEED certification (e.g., infrastructure projects) must incorporate cost-effective green building and sustainable development practices using the King County Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard and strive to achieve a Platinum level.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of public funds through life cycle cost analysis.
• Build a culture of performance by establishing minimum performance requirements for energy, emissions, stormwater management, and construction and demolition materials diversion.
• Encourage innovation and support flexibility by adding alternative green building rating systems, including Built Green, Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard, Salmon Safe and Living Building Challenge.
• The County-wide Green Building Team is directed to develop guidelinesDownload PDF 1.7 MB for using green practices in operating and remodeling existing buildings.
• Acknowledge green building achievements from King County affordable housing projects that increase equitable access to improved public health, air quality, living and working environments, and walkable communities.
• Encourage voluntary green building practices in the region that will increase the awareness, certification and innovation in green building and sustainable development.
• Specifies reporting requirements to improve the information compiled on county divisions' green practices; continues the county-wide Green Building Team and clarifies its roles and responsibilities; and requires project managers to be trained in green building practices.