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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To promote biodiversity by providing a high ratio of open space to development footprint.
Requirements
Case 1. Sites with local zoning open space requirements
Reduce the development footprint1 and/or provide vegetated open space within the project boundary such that the amount of open space exceeds local zoning requirements by 25%.
Case 2. Sites with no local zoning requirements (e.g. some university campuses, military bases)
Provide vegetated open space area adjacent to the building that is equal in area to the building footprint.
Case 3. Sites with zoning ordinances but no open space requirements (e.g., zero lot line)
Provide vegetated open space equal to 20% of the project’s site area.
All cases
For projects in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2: Development Density and Community Connectivity, vegetated roof areas can contribute to credit compliance.
For projects in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2: Development Density and Community Connectivity, pedestrian-oriented hardscape areas can contribute to credit compliance. For such projects, a minimum of 25% of the open space counted must be vegetated.
Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space and the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical: horizontal) or less and are vegetated.
For projects that are part of a multitenant retail complex2
A multitenant complex is a master-planned development of stores, restaurants, and other businesses; retailers may share one or more services and/or common areas.
Open space can be either adjacent to the building or at another location in the complex. It must be aggregated and contiguous, not divided and dispersed. The open space may be at another site as long as it is placed in a permanent reserve status. If the open space is not adjacent to the project building, provide documentation showing that the requirements have been met and the land is in a natural state or has been returned to a natural state and conserved for the life of the building.
See all forum discussions about this credit »What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To promote biodiversity by providing a high ratio of open space to development footprint.
Requirements
Case 1. Sites with local zoning open space requirements
Reduce the development footprint1 and/or provide vegetated open space within the project boundary such that the amount of open space exceeds local zoning requirements by 25%.
Case 2. Sites with no local zoning requirements (e.g. some university campuses, military bases)
Provide vegetated open space area adjacent to the building that is equal in area to the building footprint.
Case 3. Sites with zoning ordinances but no open space requirements (e.g., zero lot line)
Provide vegetated open space equal to 20% of the project’s site area.
All cases
For projects in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2: Development Density and Community Connectivity, vegetated roof areas can contribute to credit compliance.
For projects in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2: Development Density and Community Connectivity, pedestrian-oriented hardscape areas can contribute to credit compliance. For such projects, a minimum of 25% of the open space counted must be vegetated.
Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space and the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical: horizontal) or less and are vegetated.
For projects that are part of a multitenant retail complex2
A multitenant complex is a master-planned development of stores, restaurants, and other businesses; retailers may share one or more services and/or common areas.
Open space can be either adjacent to the building or at another location in the complex. It must be aggregated and contiguous, not divided and dispersed. The open space may be at another site as long as it is placed in a permanent reserve status. If the open space is not adjacent to the project building, provide documentation showing that the requirements have been met and the land is in a natural state or has been returned to a natural state and conserved for the life of the building.
