Green Roof Legislation, Policies & Tax Incentives
Federal Legislation
Clean Energy Stimulus & Investment Assurance Act: U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has added a provision to the bill in Congress for residential and commercial property owners who install green roofs to recoup 30% of their cost in a federal tax credit. There is a $5000 cap for residential credits and no limit on commercial roofs; the green roof must cover at least 50% of the total roof surface to qualify.
Energy Policy Act of 2005: Federal tax credits of up to $1.80 per sq/ft are available for green building projects that meet ASHRAE standards.
US General Services Agency: has adopted a policy that all new construction must adhere to LEED standards
US Green Building Council: has more than 15,000 member organizations from every sector of the building industry that work to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. To achieve this it has developed a variety of programs and services include the LEED certification program, and works closely with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies to establish standards for green building.
Boston, MA
Proposed legislation in the city council will provide a one-time tax incentive of $5 per sq/ft for up to $100,000 for commercial and residential green roofs.
Chicago, IL (535,000 sq/ft of green roof)
Grant Program offers up to up to 50% of cost or $100,000 for green roof development of green roofs covering 50% or more of a rooftop space.
Green Permit: a program that fast tracks green roof or LEED certifiable bulding project permits
Los Angeles, CA
All city of Los Angeles building projects 7500 sq/ft or larger are required to meet LEEd standards.
Minneapolis, MN
Stormwater Management any building that improves their stormwater management such as installing a green roof, receives a 50% credit against mandated stormwater usage fees paid to the city.
New York City, NY (500,000 sq/ft of green roofs)
New York State Law in larger cities (only NYC meets the size requirement) you can receive a one year tax credit of up to $100,000 (or $4.50 per sq/ft) for green roof instals that encompass at least 50% of available roof space. Law is effective from January 1,2009- March 15, 2013.
Pennsylvania
Proposed legislation in the city council may provide a personal income tax credit for residential and commercial green roofs in amount of 25% of costs or up to $100,000 per year for 6 years.
City of Philadelphia: offers a credit against the Business Privilege Tax of 25% of all costs incurred to construct a green roof up to $100,000. To qualify, green roof must cover 50% of the rooftop to qualify.
Portland, OR
FAR Bonus: the city of Portland offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra 3 sq/ft per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits. They also offer a grant reimbursement of up to $5 per sq/ft for reducing stormwater infrastructure with a green roof.
San Francisco, CA
Expedited permits for all green building projects.
Green Building Ordinace of 2008 sets standards for CO2 emmissions and reducing stormwater runoff.
Seattle, WA
FAR Bonus: the city of Seattle also offers a Floor Area Ratio bonus in its building code. Developers may build an extra 3 sq/ft per foot of green roof they construct without additional permits.
Green Factor Program requires a certain amount of green space in certain building zones.
Toronto, Canada
Green Roof By-law: green roofs are required for all new development above 200 sq/m. Coverage requirement ranges from 20-60% of the available roof space and the law effects all new application made after January 31, 2010.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Port Coquitlam Green Roof By-law All new commercial and industrial buildings over 5000 square meters must have a green roof. The city has also just enacted a zoning development bylaw, which allows a developer to be exempt from development permit fees if a green roof is planned with no variances.
Richmond Proposed Green Roof By-law office and industrial developments that are 2,000 square meters or larger would need a minimum of 100 green points, which could be achieved through the development of a green roof, meeting a LEED Silver standard, or using the roof for parking and landscaping the grounds.
Washington, D.C.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation has $ 300,000 in funds to provide green roof grants. Individual grants may fund up to 20% of the total cost of a green roof installation.