California Cities Suspend Natural Gas Bans Following Court Ruling

A Ninth Circuit court ruling forced Berkeley to reverse its ban on natural gas in new buildings, prompting other cities to suspend their own efforts to promote all-electric buildings.

1 minute read

May 28, 2024, 12:00 PM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of electric stove range with front burners red-hot.

montypeter / Adobe Stock

After a federal court ruling struck down the city of Berkeley’s ban on natural gas appliances in new buildings, other cities in the San Francisco Bay Area are suspending active or proposed natural gas bans. “A panel of judges ruled that Berkeley cannot prohibit natural gas due to a pre-existing federal energy law.”

As Stephanie Lam explains in the East Bay Times, jurisdictions that have temporarily suspended their bans include Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and San Mateo County, as well as San Luis Obispo on the central coast.

While the ruling technically doesn’t affect cities that took a “building code-based approach,” such as Sunnyvale, some of those cities are voluntarily suspending their bans to avoid litigation. “Sunnyvale city spokesperson Jennifer Garnett said the city has other measures besides its suspended gas ban to encourage electric infrastructure, including allowing residential and commercial projects with all-electric designs to increase their floor area ratio.”

Natural gas has been shown to have a significant negative impact on indoor air quality, while environmentalists say all-electric buildings are key to helping the state meet its zero-carbon goal.

Monday, May 27, 2024 in East Bay Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing