NGBS Green Land Development
Four levels of green certification for site design and land development
The National Green Building Standard® (NGBS) provides practices for the design, planning, construction, and certification of land development, including:
- Residential communities
- Mixed-use communities
The NGBS offers four levels of green certification for site design and land development: One through Four Stars, depending on the number of green practices successfully incorporated. To be certified, a project must implement a minimum number of green development practices.
Regardless of size or location, all communities are eligible to be certified under the NGBS as long as some of the parcels will eventually be developed with residential buildings. Certification of the land development is completely independent of the certification of the buildings ultimately constructed within the development, although certification of the land development may help residential buildings obtain points toward certification. The NGBS Green Land Development Certification is a great tool for builders and developers to utilize to meet ESG goals for their residential real estate portfolio. The Land Development Certification has many practices that can help meet Environmental and Social goals.
Land Development Resources:
NGBS Requirements
Applying the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard to Land Developments
The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard® (NGBS) is the only residential green building rating system approved by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, as an American National Standard. The NGBS provides practices for the design, construction, and certification of all types of residential construction and remodeling, and also allows for the certification of green residential land developments. ANSI-approved and consensus-based, the NGBS provides a menu of land development practices for planners, landscape architects, engineers, and developers to plan the living environment for residents and reduce the project's environmental impacts.
The NGBS offers four levels of green certification for residential and mixed-use land developments: One-Star; Two-Star; Three-Star; and Four-Star. To be certified, a land development must implement a minimum number of green practices. Practices can be selected at the planning, design, and construction stages.