Maryland’s largest county just banned gas appliances in most new buildings — but not without some concessions

Montgomery County, home to more than a million residents, has passed landmark legislation requiring new residential and commercial buildings to be all-electric — barring some exceptions — starting in 2027. While advocates celebrated the significance of the legislation, it came with an asterisk. Passed unanimously by the County Council on Nov. 30, the amended “Comprehensive Building Decarbonization” legislation — or Bill 13-22 — requires the county executive to issue all-electric building standards for many newly constructed buildings within the jurisdiction by Dec. 31, 2026.