Chapter 2.8 - Warehouse Design and Build Standards

California Government Code — §§ 65098-65098.9

Sections (10)

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 1. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

As used in this chapter:

(a)“21st century warehouse” means a logistics use development that meets all of the following:
(1)Complies with or exceeds all requirements of the most current building energy efficiency standards specified in Part 6 (commencing with Section 100) of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) that are in effect at the time that the building permit is issued, including, but not limited to, the following requirements related to:
(A)Photovoltaic system

installation and associated battery storage.

(B)Cool roofing.
(C)Medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging readiness.
(D)Light-duty electric vehicle charging readiness and installed charging stations.
(2)Has skylights in at least 1 percent of the roof area, or equivalent LED efficient lighting.
(3)(A) Provides conduits and electrical hookups at all loading bays serving cold storage.
(B)Idling or use of auxiliary truck engine power to power climate control equipment shall be prohibited if the truck is capable of

plugging in at the loading bay and sufficient power is available.

(4)Ensures that any heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning is high-efficiency.
(5)(A) Ensures that all classes of forklifts used on site, pursuant to State Air Resources Board’s Zero-Emission Forklifts regulation, as drafted, shall be zero-emission by January 1, 2030, to the extent operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, and adequate power available on site.
(B)(i) If not operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, or if there is inadequate power available on site, the cleanest technology commercially available shall be used.

(ii) Cost shall not be a factor in determining operational feasibility pursuant to this subparagraph.

(6)(A) Ensures that equipment used on site utilizing small off-road engines shall be zero-emission, to the extent operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, and adequate power available on site.
(B)(i) If not operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, or if there is inadequate power available on site, the cleanest technology commercially available shall be used.

(ii) Cost shall not be a factor in determining operational feasibility pursuant to this subparagraph.

(C)Should

any equipment used on site utilizing small off-road engines be contracted out, the logistics use development shall preferentially contract for services utilizing zero-emission small off-road engines.

(b)“Expansion” means the expansion of an existing logistics use development by 20 percent or more of the existing square footage. Office space shall not be included as part of the existing square footage or in the square footage for the 20-percent expansion threshold.
(c)“Heavy-duty truck” means a class 7 or class 8 truck. As used in this subdivision:
(1)“Class 7 truck” means a truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 to 33,000 pounds.
(2)“Class 8 truck” means a truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 33,000 pounds.
(d)“Logistics use development” means a building that is primarily used as a warehouse for the movement or the storage of cargo, goods, or products that are moved to business or retail customers, or both, that does not predominantly serve retail customers for onsite purchases, and heavy-duty trucks are primarily involved in the movement of the cargo, goods, or products. “Logistics use development” does not include any of the following:
(1)Facilities where food or household goods are sold directly to consumers and are accessible to the public.
(2)A building primarily served by rail to move cargo goods or product.
(3)(A) A Strategic Intermodal Facility.
(B)For purposes of this subdivision, “Strategic Intermodal Facility” means a project that satisfies all of the following requirements:
(i)Logistics facilities, including warehousing and transloading facilities, served by rail.

(ii) Intermodal freight transport services.

(iii) All facility structures and related rail operations are located within a single site footprint.

(4)A building that serves a primary agricultural use that is actively operated for a single period of 90

consecutive days or less each year.

(e)“Sensitive receptor” means one or more of the following:
(1)A residence, including, but not limited to, a private home, apartment, condominium unit, group home, dormitory unit, or retirement home.
(2)A school, including, but not limited to, a preschool, prekindergarten, or school maintaining kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(3)A daycare facility, including, but not limited to, in-home daycare.
(4)(A) Publicly owned parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas or facilities primarily used by children.
(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A), the following types of park and recreation areas shall not be considered a sensitive receptor:
(i)Parks and recreation areas included as a condition of approval for the logistics use development.

(ii) Land that will be used to ensure the public’s right of access to the sea, or other public access, pursuant to the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code) or McAteer-Petris Act (Title 7.2 (commencing with Section 66600)).

(iii) Land developed at or adjacent to an airport or seaport for the express purpose of creating a buffer area between sensitive receptors

and an airport or seaport facility.

(5)Nursing homes, long-term care facilities, hospices, convalescent facilities, or similar live-in housing.
(6)Hospitals, as defined in Section 128700 of the Health and Safety Code.
(f)“Small off-road engines” means spark-ignition engines rated at or below 19 kilowatts or 25 horsepower or less.
(g)“Tier 1 21st century warehouse” means a logistics use

development that meets all of the following:

(1)Complies with or exceeds all requirements of the most current building energy efficiency standards specified in Part 6 (commencing with Section 100) of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) that are in effect at the time that the building permit is issued, including, but not limited to, the following requirements related to:
(A)(i) Photovoltaic system installation and associated battery storage.

(ii) For purposes of the photovoltaic system installation requirement in clause (i), all logistic use square footage should be considered

conditioned space.

(B)Cool roofing.
(C)Medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging readiness.
(D)Light-duty electric vehicle charging readiness and installed charging stations.
(2)Has skylights in at least one percent of the roof area, or equivalent LED efficient lighting.
(3)Has a microgrid-ready switchgear system capable of supporting distributed energy resources.
(4)Is advanced smart metering ready.
(5)Has a minimum of 50 percent of all passenger vehicle parking spaces

preinstalled with conduit and all necessary physical infrastructure to support future charging of electric vehicles.

(6)Has a minimum of 10 percent of all passenger vehicle parking spaces installed with electric vehicle charging stations.
(7)(A) Provides conduits and electrical hookups at all loading bays serving cold storage.
(B)Idling or use of auxiliary truck engine power to power climate control equipment shall be prohibited if the truck is capable of plugging in at the loading bay and sufficient power is available.
(8)Ensures that any heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning is high-efficiency.
(9)(A) Ensures that all classes of forklifts used on site, pursuant to State Air Resources Board’s Zero-Emission Forklifts regulation, as drafted, shall be zero-emission by January 1, 2028, to the extent operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, and adequate power available on site.
(B)(i) If not operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, or if there is inadequate power available on site, the cleanest technology commercially available shall be used.

(ii) Cost shall not be a factor in determining operational feasibility pursuant to this subparagraph.

(10)(A) Ensures that equipment used on site utilizing small off-road

engines shall be zero-emission, to the extent operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, and adequate power available on site.

(B)(i) If not operationally feasible, commercially off-the-shelf available, or if there is inadequate power available on site, the cleanest technology commercially available shall be used.

(ii) Cost shall not be a factor in determining operational feasibility pursuant to this subparagraph.

(C)Should any equipment used on site utilizing small off-road engines be contracted out, the logistics use development shall preferentially contract for services utilizing zero-emission small off-road engines.
(h)“Warehouse concentration region” includes the unincorporated areas within the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino and the Cities of Chino, Colton, Fontana, Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley, Ontario, Perris, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, Riverside, and San Bernardino.
(i)“Logistics park” means a development consisting of multiple buildings containing logistics use developments.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 2. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Commencing January 1, 2026, any proposed new or expanded logistics use development 250,000 square feet or more where the loading bay is within 900 feet of a sensitive receptor that is utilizing a site zoned for industrial use or any site where an application was submitted to the jurisdiction by September 30, 2024, to rezone as industrial and the rezone to industrial was ultimately approved shall comply with all of the following:
(1)Include all Tier 1 21st century warehouse design elements described in subdivision (g) of Section 65098.
(2)Orient truck loading bays on the side of the logistics use development that

is away from the nearest sensitive receptor, to the extent feasible.

(3)Locate truck loading bays a minimum of 300 feet from the property line of the nearest sensitive receptor to the nearest truck loading bay opening using a direct straight-line method.
(4)Have a separate entrance to the logistics use development or logistics park for heavy-duty trucks accessible via a truck route, arterial road, major thoroughfare, or a local road that predominantly serves commercial, agricultural, or industrial uses. A separate entrance for heavy-duty trucks may include a driveway with a lane dedicated to heavy-duty trucks and a lane dedicated for other

vehicles.

(5)Locate truck entry, exit, and internal circulation away from sensitive receptors. Heavy-duty diesel truck drive aisles shall be prohibited from being used on sides of the logistics use development that are directly adjacent to a sensitive receptor property line.
(6)Comply with buffering and screening to mitigate for light and noise, as described in Section 65098.2.
(b)Commencing January 1, 2026, except as provided for in subdivision (c), any proposed new or expanded logistics use development that is on land that is not zoned industrial, whether developed or undeveloped, or land that needs to be rezoned, where the loading bay is within 900 feet of a sensitive receptor, shall comply

with all of the following:

(1)If the logistics use development is 250,000 square feet or more it shall include all Tier 1 21st century warehouse design elements described in subdivision (g) of Section 65098. If the logistics use development is less than 250,000 square feet it shall include all 21st century warehouse design elements described in subdivision (a) of Section 65098.
(2)Orient truck loading bays on the side of the logistics use development that is away from the nearest sensitive

receptor, to the extent feasible.

(3)Locate truck loading bays a minimum of 500 feet from the property line of the nearest sensitive receptor to the nearest truck loading bay opening using a direct straight-line method.
(4)Have a separate entrance to the logistics use development or logistics park for heavy-duty trucks accessible via a truck route, arterial road, major thoroughfare, or a local road that predominantly serves commercial, agricultural, or industrial uses. A separate entrance for heavy-duty trucks may include a driveway with a lane dedicated to heavy-duty trucks and a lane dedicated to automobiles.
(5)Locate truck entry, exit, and internal circulation away from

sensitive receptors. Heavy-duty diesel truck drive aisles shall be prohibited from being used on sides of the logistics use development that are directly adjacent to a sensitive receptor property line.

(6)Comply with buffering and screening to mitigate for light and noise, as described in Section 65098.2.
(c)Commencing January 1, 2026, any proposed new or expanded logistics use development that is on land that is not zoned industrial, whether developed or undeveloped, or land that needs to be rezoned, and is located in the warehouse concentration region, shall comply with all of the following:
(1)If the logistics use development is 250,000 square feet or more it shall include all Tier 1 21st century

warehouse design elements described in subdivision (g) of Section 65098. If the logistics use development is less than 250,000 square feet it shall include all 21st century warehouse design elements described in subdivision (a) of Section 65098.

(2)Orient truck loading bays on the side of the logistics use development that is away from the nearest sensitive receptor, to the extent feasible.
(3)Locate truck loading bays a minimum of 500 feet from the property line of the nearest sensitive receptor to the nearest truck loading bay opening using a direct straight-line method.
(4)Have a separate entrance to the logistics use development or logistics park for heavy-duty trucks accessible via a truck route, arterial

road, major thoroughfare, or a local road that predominantly serves commercial, agricultural, or industrial uses. A separate entrance for heavy-duty trucks may include a driveway with a lane dedicated to heavy-duty trucks and a lane dedicated to automobiles.

(5)Locate truck entry, exit, and internal circulation away from sensitive receptors. Heavy-duty diesel truck drive aisles shall be prohibited from being used on sides of the logistics use development that are directly adjacent to a sensitive receptor property line.
(6)Comply with buffering and screening to mitigate for light and noise, as described in Section 65098.2.
(d)Commencing January 1, 2026, any proposed new or expanded logistics use development less than

250,000 square feet where the loading bay is within 900 feet of a sensitive receptor that is utilizing a site zoned for industrial use or any site where an application was submitted to the jurisdiction by September 30, 2024, to rezone as industrial and the rezone to industrial was ultimately approved shall comply with all of the following:

(1)Orient truck loading bays on the side of the logistics use development that is away from the nearest sensitive receptor, to the extent feasible.
(2)Locate truck entry, exit, and internal circulation away from sensitive receptors. Heavy-duty diesel truck drive aisles shall be prohibited from being used on sides of the logistics use development that are directly adjacent to a sensitive receptor property line.
(3)Comply with buffering and screening to mitigate for light and noise, as described in Section 65098.2.
(4)Complies with or exceeds all requirements of the most current building energy efficiency standards specified in Part 6 (commencing with Section 100) of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and the California Green Building Standards Code (Part 11 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations) that are in effect at the time that the building permit is issued, including, but not limited to, the following requirements related to:
(A)Photovoltaic system installation and associated battery storage.
(B)Cool roofing.
(C)Medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging readiness.
(D)Light-duty electric vehicle charging readiness and installed charging stations.
(5)(A) Provides conduits at loading bays equal to one truck per every loading bay serving cold storage.
(B)Idling or use of auxiliary truck engine power to power climate control equipment shall be prohibited if the truck is capable of plugging in at the loading bay and sufficient power is available.
(6)Ensures that any heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning is high-efficiency.
(7)Have a separate entrance for heavy-duty trucks accessible via a truck route, arterial road, major thoroughfare, or a local road that predominantly serves commercial oriented uses.
(e)For purposes of this section, “rezone” does not include land that meets both of the following requirements:
(1)The land is annexed by a jurisdiction through a boundary change.
(2)The zoning in the new jurisdiction is consistent with the zoning assigned by the original jurisdiction.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 5. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Any new logistics use development within 900 feet of a sensitive receptor shall have a buffer as follows:
(1)If the logistics use development is subject to the requirements of subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 65098.1, the buffer shall be 50 feet in width measured from the property line of all adjacent sensitive receptors that, in accordance with subdivisions (b) and (c), fully screen the logistics use development from the sensitive receptor.
(2)If the logistics use development is subject to either subdivision (b) or subdivision (c) of Section 65098.1, the buffer shall be 100 feet in width measured from the property

line of all adjacent sensitive receptors that, in accordance with subdivisions (b) and (c), fully screen the logistics use development from the sensitive receptor.

(b)Buffer areas shall include a solid decorative wall, landscaped berm and wall, or landscaped berm 10 feet or more in height, drought tolerant natural ground landscaping with proper irrigation, and solid-screen buffering trees as described in subdivision (c) and may include other hardscape, access, and passenger vehicle parking improvements.
(c)Trees shall be used as part of a solid-screen buffering treatment and planted in two rows along the length of the property line adjacent to the sensitive receptor. Trees used for this purpose shall be evergreen, drought tolerant, to the extent feasible, composed

of species with low biogenic emissions, of a minimum 36-inch box size at planting, and spaced at no greater distance than 40 feet on center. Palm trees shall not be utilized. The buffer area may include any landscaped areas within a public right-of-way or public or private pedestrian walkways.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 9. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Anti-idling signs indicating a three-minute heavy-duty truck engine idling restriction shall be posted at logistics use developments along entrances to the site and at the truck loading bays.
(b)Signs shall be installed at all heavy-duty truck exit driveways directing truck drivers to the truck route as indicated in the truck routing plan, as described in Section 65098.4, and to the state highway system.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 10. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, a logistics use development operator shall establish and submit for approval to the planning director or equivalent position for the city, county, or city and county a truck routing plan to and from the state highway system based on the latest truck route map of the city, county, or city and county. The truck routing plan shall describe the operational characteristics of the logistic use and of the logistics use development operator, including, but not limited to, hours of operation, types of items to be stored within the building, and proposed truck routing to and from the logistics use development to designated truck routes that, to the greatest extent possible, avoid passing sensitive

receptors. The truck routing plan shall include measures, such as signage and pavement markings, and queuing analysis for preventing truck queuing, circling, stopping, and parking on public streets. The logistics use development operator shall be responsible for communication of the truck routing plan internally and to external parties who may dispatch trucks to the facility.

(b)A revised truck routing plan shall be submitted to the planning director or equivalent position prior to a business license being issued by the city, county, or city and county for any new tenant of the property. The planning director or equivalent position shall have discretion to determine if changes to the truck routing plan are necessary, including, but not limited to, any additional measures to alleviate truck routing and parking issues that may arise

during the life of the logistics use development.

(c)This section shall not be construed to expand or restrict any authority that the planning director may have pursuant to any local ordinance or regulation to regulate hours of operation.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 11. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)A city, county, or city and county shall not approve development of a logistics use development that does not meet or exceed the standards outlined in this chapter.
(b)A city, county, or city and county shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance, standard, rule, or regulation to the extent that the ordinance, standard, rule, or regulation would prohibit or have the effect of physically precluding any physical feature of a logistics use development that is required by paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 65098, paragraphs (1) to (7), inclusive, of subdivision (g) of Section 65098, paragraphs (1), (4), and (6) of subdivision (a) of Section

65098.1, paragraphs (1), (4), and (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 65098.1, paragraphs (1), (4), and (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 65098.1, paragraphs (3) to (5), inclusive, and paragraph (7) of subdivision (d) of Section 65098.1, Section 65098.2, or Section 65098.2.5.

(c)This section shall not be construed to restrict the existing authority of a city, county, or city and county to

do either of the following:

(1)Deny a logistics use development altogether.
(2)Adopt or enforce an ordinance, standard, rule, or regulation that prohibits or has the effect of physically precluding a new logistics use development or the expansion of a logistics use development on any parcel.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 316, Sec. 12. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2026.

A city, county, or city and county shall condition approval of a logistics use development on the following:

(a)Two-to-one replacement of any demolished housing unit that was occupied within the last 10 years, unless the housing unit was declared substandard by a building official, pursuant to Section 17920.3 of the Health and Safety Code, prior to purchase by the developer. For each housing unit demolished, regardless of market value of the unit, two units of affordable housing for persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, that are deed-restricted shall be built within the jurisdiction. Funds from any fee imposed for the replacement of

demolished housing units shall be placed in a housing-specific set-aside account and shall be used for housing within three years of collection.

(b)If residential dwellings are affected through purchase, the developer shall be required to provide any displaced tenant with an amount equivalent to 12 months’ rent at the current rate.
(c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or preclude the applicability of Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12 to logistics uses. A logistics use that is subject to Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12 shall first comply with that article. Any additional replacement housing obligations or payments to displaced tenants that are not required pursuant to that article shall comply with this section.

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 931, Sec. 1. (AB 98) Effective January 1, 2025.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to supersede mitigation measures required by the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 931, Sec. 1. (AB 98) Effective January 1, 2025.

The Legislature finds and declares that the movement and storage of freight and the impact of this activity on public health and communities across the state as set forth in this chapter is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, this chapter applies to all cities, including charter cities.

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 931, Sec. 1. (AB 98) Effective January 1, 2025.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to a logistics use development if it meets both of the following:

(a)The logistics use development is a mixed-use development that may create sensitive receptors on the site of the new logistics use development.
(b)There are no existing sensitive receptors within 900 feet of the loading bay.