What is Title 24 compliance?
Answered by Netanel Presman, General Contractor (CSLB #1105249) · Updated
Short answer
Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations is the state's Building Energy Efficiency Standards, enforced by the California Energy Commission. New construction, additions, and major alterations must show compliance via either the prescriptive path or a CBECC-Res performance model. The 2025 update (effective January 1, 2026) prioritizes heat pumps and rooftop solar.
In detail
Title 24, Part 6 is the energy chapter of the California Building Standards Code, updated on a three-year cycle by the California Energy Commission. The 2025 update (in force for permits pulled on or after January 1, 2026) is the first update since 2022 and introduces:
- Heat pump preference for space heating in most climate zones (the prescriptive path requires either a heat pump or a high-efficiency alternative that the performance path must trade off against).
- Heat pump water heating requirement in most new construction and major alterations.
- Expanded solar PV sizing requirements for new residential buildings tied to projected load.
- Battery storage requirements for new multifamily construction.
Compliance paths (one-line version):
- Prescriptive path — meet each individual requirement (R-value of insulation, window U-factor, minimum HVAC SEER2, lighting efficacy). Simplest for small additions.
- Performance path — a modeled energy budget using CBECC-Res (California Energy Commission's official software). Allows trade-offs (e.g., better windows to offset a smaller HVAC unit). Required for more complex projects.
What triggers Title 24 review:
- Any new conditioned square footage (addition, ADU).
- Replacement of windows on a significant portion of the building.
- Any HVAC system change-out.
- Any alteration to the building envelope (new insulation, re-roofing with different R-value, replacement siding).
How it shows up on your permit: LADBS (and every other California AHJ) requires a signed CF-1R form from a CEA (Certified Energy Analyst) or equivalent licensed professional before they'll issue the permit. The form itself costs the consultant $500-$2,500 depending on complexity.
AskBaily's CA-jurisdiction scoping flags Title 24 triggers early so the consultant fee is in the quote, not a change order. See our deep dive at /regulatory/title-24.
Sources
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