Last Friday, the California Building Standards Commission voted to adopt emergency regulations that limit potable water use for outdoor irrigation at California hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities, making them more water efficient. Amending the 2013 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), the new emergency regulations went in to effect June 1 and are enforceable by local and state agencies.

Evidence of compliance with the new mandatory CALGreen or more restrictive local landscaping and irrigation standards must be submitted to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) prior to facility plan approvals or the issuance of building permits. New building and building addition projects submitted after June 1 are subject to these requirements. For more information, see the attached press release from OSHPD and bulletin from the Building Standards Commission.