Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations is the state's Building Energy Efficiency Standards. It sets minimum requirements for insulation, windows, HVAC equipment, water heating, and lighting in nearly every new building and major renovation in California. The goal is straightforward: reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across the state's building stock, which accounts for a substantial share of California's total energy use.
For most property owners, Title 24 shows up as a single requirement: before your building permit can be issued, you need a signed Certificate of Compliance — commonly called a CF1R — prepared by a qualified energy consultant using state-approved software such as CBECC-Res or CBECC-Com. This document demonstrates that your specific project, given its location, size, and systems, meets the energy targets for its climate zone.
The requirement applies broadly. New construction, of course, but also additions, ADUs, garage conversions, and many remodels that touch HVAC, windows, or insulation. The scope of what's required scales with the scope of your project — a full new build needs comprehensive modeling, while a simple HVAC swap might only need a prescriptive compliance form.
What the report actually contains depends on your project type, but generally includes: building envelope specifications (insulation R-values, window U-factors and solar heat gain coefficients), HVAC system type and efficiency ratings, water heating equipment, and, for many projects, mandatory measures around lighting controls, ventilation, and increasingly, EV charging readiness and solar/battery provisions for new construction.
Once your report is approved and your permit issued, the compliance process isn't entirely finished. Some measures used to achieve compliance require field verification by a certified HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rater during construction — confirming that what was installed actually matches what the report specified. Your Title 24 report will indicate clearly whether HERS verification applies to your project.
The bottom line: if your project involves conditioned space in California, you'll need Title 24 documentation as part of your permit application. Getting it right the first time — accurate calculations, correctly matched to your climate zone and project scope — is the easiest way to avoid plan-check delays.
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