Dallas, Texas has passed a comprehensive new green building ordinance that will greatly expand its existing ordinance which only requires publicly-owned buildings exceeding 10,000 square feet to be built to USGBC LEED Silver standards or above.  The new ordinance which will be implemented in two phases starting in 2009 focuses on energy and water efficiency requiring homebuilders to build homes that are more water efficient and at least 15% more energy efficient than the base energy code.  In 2011, the requirements increase to require all homes to be either LEED or GBNT (Green Built North Texas) certified. 

The new ordinance is not just limited to residential building though.  Starting in 2009 all commercial projects under 50,000 square feet will be required to meet similar standards as residential buildings, with the requirements nearing LEED certification levels for larger projects.  Starting in 2011 Phase 2 of the new ordinance will require all commercial building projects to be LEED certified under the appropriate LEED rating system.

Dallas's new green building ordinance represents one of the most comprehensive to be adopted to date by a major U.S. city.

Full PDF Copy of Dallas's new Green Building Ordinance:

Dallas Green Building Ordinance #081070