Title 24 — Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most common questions we receive about Title 24 energy compliance reports. Updated for the 2025 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
Title 24 Basics
Title 24 is California’s mandatory building energy efficiency code. Part 6 of Title 24 sets minimum standards for insulation, windows, HVAC, lighting, solar PV, and battery storage. It covers all new and altered buildings in California. Every California building permit involving energy systems requires a Title 24 compliance report. The current version is the 2025 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. It took effect on January 1, 2026. Read our full guide: What is Title 24?
A Title 24 report includes the CF1R Certificate of Compliance, HERS registration, and plan-sized PDFs. The CF1R shows your building department that your project design meets all energy code requirements. It identifies which HERS field verification measures apply to your project.
No. An energy audit evaluates how an existing building performs. A Title 24 report is a design-phase compliance document. It shows that a proposed project will meet California’s minimum energy standards if built as designed. Building departments require it before issuing a permit — not after construction.
The prescriptive path follows a fixed checklist of minimum measures. Heat pump baselines apply for most new homes. The performance path uses energy modeling software to meet an overall energy budget. It allows more design flexibility. The performance path works well for room additions and remodels where installing a heat pump is not practical.
Who Needs a Title 24 Report?
Any California project that pulls a building permit and involves energy systems needs a Title 24 report. Common triggers include:
- New single-family homes — see our new construction service page
- ADUs, JADUs, and granny flats — see our ADU service page
- Room additions — see our addition service page
- HVAC replacement, window replacement, water heater replacement — see our alteration service page
- Commercial new construction and tenant improvements
Yes. A room addition that adds conditioned floor area triggers Title 24 compliance. All new walls, ceilings, and windows must meet current insulation and fenestration values for your climate zone. Any new HVAC or ductwork must also meet 2025 efficiency and leakage standards.
Often yes. HVAC replacement that needs a permit typically triggers a Title 24 alteration report. The report confirms the new system meets minimum efficiency requirements for your climate zone. Duct leakage testing by a HERS Rater is also commonly required.
Yes when a permit applies. New windows must meet the 2025 U-factor minimums for your climate zone. A fenestration compliance report confirms the new windows comply. Submit it with your permit application.
No permit required means no Title 24 report required in most cases. However, unpermitted work that alters energy systems can create disclosure obligations at sale. Always confirm with your local building department.
2025 Code Questions
The 2025 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards took effect on January 1, 2026. All permits submitted on or after that date must comply with the 2025 code. Permits submitted before January 1, 2026 follow the 2022 code.
No. A report under the 2022 code will not show compliance with the 2025 standards. California building departments check for the 2025 code version identifier on the CF1R. A 2022-code report results in a plan check correction and permit delay. All Title 24 Calcs reports use current 2025-code CEC-approved software.
The five biggest changes affecting most residential and commercial projects are:
- Heat pump baselines — heat pumps are now the prescriptive baseline for space and water heating in most new homes
- Solar PV for commercial — mandatory for most new nonresidential buildings
- Higher insulation minimums — walls, ceilings, and windows all tightened across all climate zones
- Expanded HERS verification — heat pump refrigerant charge verification now mandatory in all zones
- New compliance metric — Time Dependent Valuation replaced by Long-Term System Cost
Heat pumps are the prescriptive baseline under the 2025 code. The prescriptive path requires heat pumps as the default for most new homes. Gas appliances remain an option under the performance path if your project meets the energy budget.
Yes for most new single-family homes and most new nonresidential buildings. The 2025 code extends the solar PV mandate to most new commercial buildings. The system size uses a formula based on your climate zone’s capacity factor.
ADU and Granny Flat Questions
Yes. All new ADUs, JADUs, granny flats, and in-law units in California require a Title 24 report. This applies to all permits submitted on or after January 1, 2026. See our ADU Title 24 service page for more details.
Yes. A garage conversion to an ADU requires a Title 24 report. The compliance path for a garage conversion typically follows alteration rules rather than new construction rules. Title 24 Calcs confirms the correct path for your specific project before starting your report.
ADUs under 500 sq ft may qualify for a water heating compliance exception under the 2025 code. An electric tankless water heater may qualify instead of a heat pump water heater. We confirm eligibility when you submit your plans.
A JADU is a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit — a smaller unit of up to 500 sq ft created within the walls of an existing single-family home. Both ADUs and JADUs require Title 24 compliance reports. However the compliance path differs depending on how your building department classifies the project.
CF1R and HERS Questions
The CF1R is the Certificate of Compliance — the primary Title 24 document submitted with your permit application. When your building department asks for a Title 24 report, they mean the CF1R. It shows that your project design meets all energy code requirements for your climate zone and project type.
HERS testing is third-party field verification of energy systems. A certified HERS Rater visits your project site. They confirm that installed systems perform as your CF1R specifies. The building department requires HERS verification before issuing a certificate of occupancy. Common HERS measures include duct leakage, heat pump refrigerant charge, ventilation flow rates, and battery readiness confirmation.
| CF1R Certificate of Compliance. Prepared by an energy consultant. Submitted with the permit application at plan check. | CF2R Certificate of Installation. Signed by the installing contractor in the field after each energy system is installed. | CF3R Certificate of Verification. Signed by a certified HERS Rater after field verification. Required before final inspection. |
Yes. Most California building departments require the registered version of the CF1R — not just the PDF. Title 24 Calcs registers every CF1R with an approved HERS provider before we deliver it. This means your report arrives ready for permit submittal.
A certified HERS Rater pressurizes your duct system and measures how much air leaks out. Under the 2025 code, duct leakage must stay below 5 percent of system airflow for single-family homes. The Rater records the results on the CF3R certificate. This must register before the building department issues your certificate of occupancy.
Climate Zone Questions
California has 16 Title 24 climate zones. Your zone depends on your project address — not your city or county. Some cities span multiple zones. Title 24 Calcs confirms your exact zone by parcel address before starting any report. You can also use the California Energy Commission climate zone tool. For a full breakdown see our climate zones guide.
Southern California spans several climate zones. Zone 6 covers the coastal LA and San Diego coast. Further inland, Zone 7 covers most of San Diego County including Chula Vista and Carlsbad. Orange County falls mostly in Zone 8, covering Irvine and Anaheim. Additionally, Zone 10 covers the Inland Empire including Corona, Temecula, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga. The Coachella Valley desert — Palm Springs and Palm Desert — falls in Zone 15.
Northern California also spans several zones. Zone 12 covers the Sacramento Valley including Elk Grove, Roseville, and Davis. Furthermore, Zone 13 covers the southern San Joaquin Valley including Fresno and Bakersfield. The San Francisco Bay Area splits between Zone 3 on the coast and Zone 4 further inland.
Your climate zone sets the insulation values, window minimums, solar PV sizing, and HVAC thresholds for your project. Using the wrong climate zone is one of the most common causes of plan check rejections. A Zone 10 home in Riverside has different requirements than a Zone 7 home in Chula Vista. Title 24 Calcs confirms your zone by parcel address before starting every report.
Cost and Timing Questions
Most residential reports are ready within 1 to 2 business days after we receive complete plans. Commercial reports typically take 2 to 3 business days. Rush options are available for urgent permit submittals.
For residential projects: floor plan, elevations, window schedule, equipment types, and project address. For commercial projects: floor plan, elevations, mechanical plan, lighting plan, and equipment schedules. More complete plans mean faster delivery.
All Title 24 Calcs reports include revision support. If your building department requests a correction to the Title 24 report, we revise it at no additional charge. Simply forward the plan check correction notice and we handle the rest.
Commercial Title 24 Questions
Yes. New commercial buildings, tenant improvements affecting HVAC or lighting, and large HVAC replacements all require commercial Title 24 forms. These are NRCC forms — Nonresidential Compliance Certificate forms. We prepare three types for commercial projects.
Commercial Title 24 compliance uses three NRCC form types:
Yes when the tenant improvement involves HVAC, lighting, or the building envelope. A simple flooring or paint TI typically does not trigger Title 24. A TI that replaces HVAC units, adds new lighting, or modifies the envelope does trigger NRCC forms.
The 2025 code extends mandatory solar PV to most new nonresidential buildings. This includes office, retail, medical, warehouse, and hospitality projects. The system size uses a formula based on occupancy type and your climate zone’s capacity factor. Solar-ready provisions apply to commercial projects where full PV may come in a later phase.
Still Have Questions?
Submit your project details and we will confirm exactly what your project needs before you pay. Most residential reports ship within 1 to 2 business days starting at $250.