A permit set can look complete and still stall at plan check because its energy documents do not match the drawings. Knowing how to apply Title 24 means treating energy compliance as part of the design and permit process from the beginning, not as a form to add after plans are finished.
For California homeowners, owner-builders, and contractors, Title 24 affects far more than a new custom home. It can apply to ADUs, garage conversions, additions, major remodels, window replacements, HVAC work, water-heating changes, and lighting upgrades. The exact requirements depend on the project scope, the applicable code cycle, the home’s climate zone, and the local building department’s adopted amendments.
What Title 24 Means for a Residential Permit
California Title 24 is a set of building standards. For most residential permit applications, the energy requirements in Part 6 are the portion people mean when they say “Title 24.” These standards address how a home uses energy through insulation, windows, HVAC equipment, water heating, lighting, ventilation, and solar-ready or solar photovoltaic requirements where applicable.
Title 24 is not usually a separate permit application that a homeowner completes alone. Instead, the project team prepares energy compliance documentation and coordinates it with the architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans submitted to the local jurisdiction.
Part 6 should also be considered alongside other applicable California requirements, including CALGreen provisions in Title 24, Part 11. A project may need energy forms, green building notes, and other supporting documents. The building department ultimately decides what is required for that permit.
How to Apply Title 24 Before Plans Are Submitted
The most reliable approach is to establish the project scope first, then build the plans and energy package around that scope. Trying to force compliance into a completed plan set often creates corrections, redesign, and delays.
Define the scope with precision
Start by identifying exactly what is being built or altered. “Remodel” is too broad for energy-code purposes. A kitchen remodel that leaves the building envelope and mechanical systems untouched is different from a remodel that moves walls, adds new windows, replaces an HVAC system, or converts a garage into conditioned living space.
For an ADU or new home, the energy analysis will generally address the entire new dwelling unit. For additions and alterations, the analysis may focus on the new area, affected components, or specific equipment being replaced. Accurate square footage, ceiling heights, window locations, wall assemblies, and equipment information are necessary from the start.
Confirm the local jurisdiction and code cycle
California energy standards are updated on a regular code cycle, and cities or counties may adopt local amendments. Before preparing permit documents, confirm the jurisdiction handling the permit and the code edition it enforces on the application date.
This matters especially in the Sacramento and Roseville area, where nearby jurisdictions can have different submittal procedures, forms, and correction standards. One city may accept a certain electronic package format while another requires additional worksheets or local energy compliance documentation.
Identify the home’s climate zone
Title 24 divides California into climate zones. The zone affects prescriptive requirements for insulation, window performance, HVAC efficiency, and other energy measures. Do not assume that requirements are identical simply because two projects are in the same county.
The energy consultant or qualified preparer uses the project address to establish the appropriate climate zone. That information should be carried through the plan set consistently.
Choose a compliance path that fits the project
Residential energy compliance is commonly demonstrated through either a prescriptive approach or a performance approach.
The prescriptive path requires each applicable component to meet stated standards. It can be straightforward for a simple project, but it offers less flexibility. If a proposed window area, insulation assembly, or equipment selection does not meet a required value, another improvement cannot always offset it.
The performance path models the proposed home against an energy budget. It can allow trade-offs between components. For example, higher-performing windows, improved insulation, or efficient mechanical equipment may help balance another design choice. This path can be useful for ADUs, additions, and custom homes with more glass, complex forms, or specific owner priorities.
Neither path is automatically better. The right option depends on the design, budget, available products, and construction method. The key is choosing early enough that compliance supports the project rather than changing it late.
Coordinate the Energy Documents With the Plans
Energy forms are only useful when they accurately describe what will be permitted and built. Plan reviewers routinely compare the Title 24 documents against elevations, floor plans, window schedules, mechanical schedules, and notes.
For a typical residential project, the permit package may include a Certificate of Compliance, often identified as a CF1R form, prepared using approved energy compliance software. The exact forms required vary by project. Installation certificates, such as CF2R forms, and verification certificates, such as CF3R forms, are generally completed later during construction and inspection.
The permit drawings should clearly show the information used in the energy analysis. That includes window sizes and U-factor or SHGC values where required, insulation levels, conditioned floor area, duct locations, HVAC equipment, water-heating equipment, ventilation details, and lighting controls. If the energy report says one thing and the plans show another, plan check corrections are likely.
A common issue occurs when windows change after the energy documents are completed. Even a reasonable field-driven change can affect glazing area, orientation, or performance assumptions. Update the energy package before submitting revisions instead of hoping the original documents will still apply.
Prepare for HERS Testing and Construction Verification
Some Title 24 measures require third-party verification by a HERS rater. Depending on the project and compliance approach, this can involve duct leakage testing, refrigerant charge verification, ventilation airflow testing, insulation verification, or other required measures.
This is not a final-step paperwork issue. If testing will be required, the contractor needs to know before work begins. Ducts must be accessible enough to test, equipment must be installed according to the approved design, and required labels or controls must be in place before inspections.
The project should also retain the approved energy documents on site. Installers, inspectors, and raters need a consistent reference point. When substitutions are necessary because of product availability or field conditions, verify that the replacement still satisfies the approved Title 24 approach before installation.
Common Title 24 Mistakes That Delay Approval
The most avoidable problems are coordination problems. They are not usually caused by a lack of effort. They happen when the energy analysis, construction drawings, and field decisions move forward separately.
Watch for these frequent issues:
- Energy forms prepared from preliminary plans that no longer match the final permit set.
- Window schedules that omit required performance values or conflict with the compliance report.
- HVAC, water-heating, or ventilation equipment selected after the energy calculations are complete.
- Garage conversions treated like simple remodels even though they create new conditioned living area.
- Required HERS verification discovered after walls or ceilings are closed.
- Solar, electrical, or battery-related assumptions left unclear on new dwelling plans.
A plan review correction does not always mean the project is fundamentally wrong. Often, it means the reviewer cannot verify compliance from the submitted documents. Clear notes, coordinated schedules, and complete forms make approval easier for everyone involved.
When Professional Coordination Makes Sense
A homeowner can gather project information and learn the basic requirements, but Title 24 compliance is rarely a good place to rely on assumptions. The energy package must fit the specific address, scope, plans, and current code. It also has to work in the field, where product availability and construction details matter.
For an ADU, garage conversion, addition, or substantial remodel, it is helpful to involve drafting, energy, and permit guidance early. JDFales Plans & Permits helps clients coordinate permit-ready residential plans with the information local plan reviewers need, reducing the back-and-forth that can slow a project before construction starts.
The best time to address Title 24 is when changes are still easy to make on paper. A coordinated set of plans gives your contractor clearer direction, gives the reviewer fewer unanswered questions, and gives your project a better path from concept to approved permit.
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