California Bird-Friendly Building Requirements: What Property Owners Need to Know
Reviewed October 2026
If you're planning a glass upgrade, responding to a permit condition or trying to prevent birds from hitting your windows, it helps to start with the rule that applies to your property.
California's CALGreen code includes bird-friendly building design standards. Those provisions are voluntary at the state-code level and can become mandatory through local adoption. There is no blanket CALGreen requirement that every building four stories or taller must install bird-safety window film. The California Building Standards Commission explains the distinction in its overview of the bird-friendly standards.
Local requirements can be more specific. A property's city, project scope, glass design and permit conditions all deserve a closer look before selecting a product.
What California's CALGreen bird-friendly provisions cover
The 2025 California Green Building Standards Code took effect January 1, 2026. Bird-friendly design appears in Section A5.107 of Appendix A5, titled Nonresidential Voluntary Measures. The provisions were first added through the 2022 code's supplement, effective July 1, 2024. See the state's CALGreen resources and summary of the supplemental changes.
Where A5.107 applies, it covers new buildings and alterations that add or replace at least 50% of exterior glazing, with an exception for glazing alterations in historical buildings. Its elevation-treatment standards call for:
At least 90% of the building elevation from grade to 40 feet, or to the adjacent mature tree canopy if higher, to incorporate bird-friendly mitigation
At least 60% of the elevation above 40 feet to incorporate mitigation
These percentages refer to building elevation. They should not be rewritten as a universal percentage of window glass requiring film. The section also addresses special glass features and nighttime lighting. Read the corrected 2025 CALGreen text, Appendix A5-10.
The 40-foot dimension describes an area of the building to evaluate. It is not a four-story trigger.
Does the 2026 ASHRAE update require film on every four-story building?
ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2023 Addendum o, approved in January 2026, adds bird-friendly glazing provisions as a jurisdictional option. Its publication does not itself establish a California mandate.
The standard's scope excludes multifamily buildings of three stories or fewer above grade. That distinction does not create a universal four-story threshold for commercial buildings. For a Southern California property, check the adopted local requirements and the project's permit conditions before selecting a treatment.
Local bird-safe building rules can differ
Two other California examples show why an address-specific review matters:
San Francisco
Planning Code Section 139 regulates both location-related and feature-related bird hazards. It covers specified new construction, additions and glazing replacements. The location rules use a 60-foot bird-collision zone near qualifying urban bird refuges. Certain large glass features can trigger treatment elsewhere in the city. The code includes exceptions and modification procedures, and says these controls do not apply retroactively. See San Francisco Planning Code Section 139.
Berkeley
Berkeley's requirements address new or replacement transparent and reflective materials, with separate rules for nonresidential, residential and mixed-use projects. Its city checklist identifies a 75-foot treatment zone, certain high-risk features at any height, and exemptions. It also asks applicants to identify the selected compliance method and products in their permit documents. See Berkeley's Bird Safe Building Requirements checklist.
These examples are not a complete list of California jurisdictions. A standard from one city should not be used to promise compliance in another.
Can bird-safety window film meet a requirement?
Potentially, when the particular product, pattern, installation and coverage meet the applicable requirement and are accepted for the project.
CALGreen's A5.107 includes glazing film with closely spaced visual markers among several design options. Other options include patterned glass and exterior structures that make the glass easier for birds to perceive. A general requirement for bird-friendly design does not automatically mean film is the required solution. The state's CALGreen guide supplement, pages 52–54 explains the alternatives and the plan-review process.
For a proposed film installation, our team and the responsible design professionals can review:
The exact product name and supporting test documentation
Pattern dimensions, spacing and proposed installation surface
A drawing or window schedule showing the areas to be treated
Confirmation that the product is suitable for the existing glass
Any approval required by the project's architect, planning department or building authority
Solar-control tint, UV protection and bird-collision deterrence are different product claims. Do not assume that a film satisfies a bird-safety requirement just because it reduces heat, glare or ultraviolet exposure.
Our team can visit your home or business, bring samples, take measurements and photos, and give you an on-the-spot price for the film installation. We'll discuss the appearance, coverage and installation options for your glass.
Schedule a Free Consultation or call or text (213) 431-0067. We'll handle the site review and help you understand the film options for your property.
This article provides general information, not legal advice or a compliance guarantee. Applicable requirements and final acceptance should be confirmed with the responsible jurisdiction and qualified design professionals.
Book a free bird-safety window film consultation
What about an existing home, office or storefront?
Start with the purpose of the work. You may be addressing recurring collisions voluntarily, installing new windows, replacing a facade or responding to a written project condition.
You do not need to take measurements or prepare photos before meeting with us. Our team visits the property, measures the glass, takes photos and reviews the installation areas. If you already have a written permit condition or product specification, you can make it available during the visit.
We can discuss practical film options and pricing during the visit and coordinate product and specification review with your design team or building officials as appropriate. Your jurisdiction and responsible design professionals confirm what is required and whether the proposed solution is acceptable.
Frequently asked questions
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No blanket statewide CALGreen rule says that. Its bird-friendly provisions are voluntary unless locally adopted. Local rules and project conditions must be checked for the particular property.
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No. A5.107 is tied to defined construction and alteration work where it applies. Existing properties can have separate local or project-specific obligations, so review the property's actual requirements.
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It may be an option for suitable existing glass. Before ordering, confirm the required bird-safety performance, installation details and acceptance of the proposed product.
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No. Product documentation is one part of the review. Required coverage, placement and project conditions also matter. Berkeley, for example, lists multiple compliance paths and requires product information on submitted plans.
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No. Our team takes the measurements and photos during the visit and brings samples to review with you. Existing permit conditions or plans are helpful if you already have them, but you do not need to prepare a package to request a consultation.