DC Council Approves Green Building Act

The District of Columbia Council has voted in favor of the Green Building Act of 2006 (see News Wrap, December 2006), which requires developers to obtain green certification from the local government for nearly all new construction. The legislation must now go before Mayor Anthony A. Williams, who is expected to sign the measure into law early this year.

What distinguishes the act from environmentally friendly laws in other jurisdictions is its application of LEED standards to private construction projects. This stipulation would make the nation’s capital the first major city to force private developers to adhere to the standards of the US Green Building Council.