2025 Green Building Standard for Residential Construction Released
Washington, DC, April 23, 2026-The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) announces the release of the ICC 700-2025 National Green Building Standard (NGBS)-the fifth edition of the residential green building standard. Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the 2025 NGBS continues to define the benchmark for sustainable residential construction, renovation and land development across the United States.
Developed through an independent consensus committee representing a broad range of stakeholders, the 2025 NGBS reflects leading thinking in green design, construction and building performance. It applies to single-family homes, multifamily buildings, mixed-use developments and land development projects, as well as other similarly constructed residential facilities.
The NGBS promotes high performance in six critical areas:
- Lot Design, Preparation and Development
- Resource Efficiency
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Efficiency
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Operation, Maintenance and Building Owner Education
Depending on their project goals, building types, market demands and sustainability priorities, builders, remodelers and developers can pursue certification at multiple levels-Certified, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald-which demonstrate progressively higher achievement in green building practices.
The 2025 NGBS introduces several major updates and expanded pathways, reflecting the latest best practices in sustainable building:
New property certification path for existing multifamily and mixed-use communities with multiple buildings.
- Expanded resilience practices to help homes better withstand natural disasters and support residents sheltering in place afterward.
- New practices to encourage low-carbon design to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Alternative energy efficiency compliance options.
- Substantially revised existing building chapter with more flexible compliance options.
- Continuing a Commitment to Sustainable Housing
The ICC and NAHB remain committed to providing the residential construction industry with the flexibility needed to design, build and remodel homes and mixed-use buildings that are sustainable, cost-effective and regionally appropriate. The 2025 NGBS builds upon nearly two decades of proven results, offering a comprehensive, adaptable framework for today’s green building challenges.
The standard can be downloaded here.