The Montgomery County rule
In 2022 the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed Bill 13-22, Comprehensive Building Decarbonization, which requires the county to issue all-electric building standards for new construction by December 31, 2026. Most new construction is covered from that date, with a later 2027 date for income-restricted housing, residential buildings of four or more stories, and schools. A federal judge upheld the law in March 2026 after a challenge led by the National Association of Home Builders (Bloomberg Law).
Ask your builder and permit expediter which standard applies to your permit date. A project that is already well into permitting may be treated differently from one that starts in 2027.
Virginia has no such rule. In Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun you can still build with gas.
What all-electric means in a custom home
- Heating and cooling: heat pumps. Cold-climate models work well in this region; many custom homes use a ducted system with a few zones.
- Hot water: a heat pump water heater, which needs space and some air around it, so plan the mechanical room.
- Cooking: induction. Most clients who try it don’t go back.
- Fireplace: electric, or wood if the county allows it for your project.
- Laundry: a heat pump or standard electric dryer.
The electrical service
Heat pumps, induction, an EV charger or two and maybe a pool heater add up. Many all-electric custom homes need a larger electrical service than an older house had. Ask the builder early what service size they plan and whether the utility needs to upgrade the line to the street, which can take weeks.
Does it cost more?
Not necessarily. The Maryland Commission on Climate Change found that all-electric single-family homes cost less to build than new homes with both gas and electric, mainly because you skip the gas line, meter and venting. High-end equipment can change the math, so ask each builder to price the same specification.
Questions for your builder
- Which heat pump systems do you install, and how many zones do you suggest?
- What electrical service size do you plan, and who coordinates with the utility?
- Can you show me an all-electric house you have finished?
- Do you include solar-ready wiring, a battery-ready panel and an EV charger circuit?
Several builders we list focus on high-performance homes. Compare them side by side on the compare page.
