California Compliance

Title 24 Compliance for HVAC: A 2026 Homeowner Guide

Q: Does Title 24 apply to me if I am just replacing one piece of equipment?

Yes. Replacing the outdoor condenser, the indoor coil, the air handler, or the furnace on a residential system in California triggers Title 24 Part 6 compliance and a HERS verification. Like-for-like component repairs (capacitor, contactor, fan motor, blower wheel, control board, thermostat, refrigerant top-off on a sealed system) do not trigger compliance. The line is core conditioning equipment vs. ancillary parts. A $4,800 condenser-only swap on a 4-ton system is the same compliance category as a full system replacement.

Q: How much does Title 24 compliance add to a typical install?

Across our LA / OC / Inland Empire coverage in 2026, the all-in compliance cost is roughly $300 to $800 on a residential split-system change-out. That breaks down to a city mechanical permit ($120 to $380 depending on jurisdiction — Pasadena and Beverly Hills run higher, LADBS mid-range, Riverside lower), Manual J load calculation ($150 to $300 if the contractor outsources, often included in the install quote), HERS verification ($400 to $650 paid to an independent CalCERTS or CHEERS rater), and miscellaneous filing fees. Some of this is bundled into the install quote and some passes through at cost, but it is all real money that did not exist on a 2010 install.

Q: What is the SEER2 minimum for a new AC in Southern California right now?

Under the federal Southwest region standards (which California follows) effective January 2023, split-system air conditioners under 45,000 BTU must hit at least 14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2. Systems 45,000 BTU and above (4-ton and up) must hit at least 13.8 SEER2 / 11.2 EER2. Title 24 prescriptive paths in our climate zones (6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15) generally accept the federal floor for change-outs, with higher minimums triggered by the performance compliance path or by specific city ordinances. Most of the equipment we install runs 15.2 to 18.0 SEER2 because the rebate math favors going above the floor.

Q: Why is my contractor pushing R-454B equipment when R-410A still works?

Manufacturers stopped producing R-410A residential split systems for sale in the United States as of January 1, 2025. Existing R-410A inventory could be installed through December 31, 2025; after that, new installs are A2L refrigerants — R-454B (most major brands) or R-32 (Daikin and a few others). Your existing R-410A system still works fine, can be repaired indefinitely, and will have refrigerant available (reclaimed and virgin stockpile) for years. The push to R-454B comes in only when you are replacing equipment anyway. Repairing a 5-year-old R-410A condenser is still the right call; replacing a 14-year-old one with R-454B equipment is also the right call.

Q: What happens if I or my contractor skips the permit and HERS test?

Three real-world consequences. First, at resale: California disclosure rules require seller to disclose unpermitted work, the buyer's home inspector pulls permit history at city portals (LADBS, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, OC cities), and an open or missing HVAC permit is a routine escrow holdback. We get hired to "permit and HERS the existing install retroactively" several times per year — runs $1,200 to $2,800 because the system has to be re-tested and often re-sealed to pass. Second, you cannot claim TECH Clean California, federal 25C, or utility rebates without a closed permit and CF-3R. Third, the contractor is exposed to CSLB discipline; the homeowner is exposed if there is a fire or insurance claim where unpermitted work is uncovered.

Q: Does Title 24 require our heat-load measurement load calculations on a change-out?

Yes for new installations and equipment upsizing; gray area for like-for-like change-outs in many jurisdictions, but the better contractors do it on every job. the home assessment (ANSI/ACCA Standard 2) computes the actual heating and cooling load for the home based on square footage, insulation, window U-factor and SHGC, orientation, occupancy, and infiltration. The output is a BTU number, not a "ton per 600 square feet" rule of thumb — that rule routinely oversizes by 30 to 60 percent on tighter post-2008 homes and undersizes on 1920s craftsman with single-pane windows. Permit reviewers in Pasadena, Santa Monica, and several OC cities ask for the sizing measurement at submission; LADBS sometimes asks at inspection. Reputable contractors run it regardless.

Q: How do I verify my contractor pulled a real Title 24 permit?

Two checks, both free and take five minutes each. First, the city permit portal — LADBS at ladbs.org, Pasadena at the city Building & Safety online portal, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, OC city portals all have public lookups by address. Search your address; the mechanical permit should show with status "Issued" during work and "Final" after closeout. Second, the CF-3R Certificate of Verification — your contractor should provide a signed copy at job closeout showing your address, equipment model and serial numbers, the rater's certification ID (CalCERTS or CHEERS), and pass marks on duct leakage, refrigerant charge, and airflow / fan watt-draw. Keep both with your home records. Buyer's inspector at sale will ask for the CF-3R.

Looking for the complete picture? This post focuses on Title 24 specifically. For the full California 2026 code reference covering Title 24, A2L refrigerant transition, SEER2/HSPF2 minimums, HERS, permits, and Manual J in one place, see our California HVAC Code 2026 pillar.

If you are getting bids on a new air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace in California, every quote will have a line labeled "Title 24" or "HERS" or "permit and verification." That line runs $300 to $800. The contractor probably did not explain it, the alternate quote from a neighbor's guy may not have it at all, and now you are trying to figure out whether it is real or markup. It is real. California adopted Title 24 to drive the building stock toward the state's 2045 net-zero target, and the HVAC provisions are the part homeowners actually see on the invoice. Below is what it is, why it exists, and how it changes the math on a 2026 HVAC project, written by a C-20 contractor pulling these permits weekly across LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.

What Title 24 actually is

Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations is the state building code. It has 12 parts. Part 6 is the Energy Code (formally the Building Energy Efficiency Standards) and it is the part that governs HVAC. The California Energy Commission (CEC) writes Part 6, the California Building Standards Commission adopts it, and the code refreshes on a three-year cycle. The cycle currently in force is the 2022 Energy Code (effective January 1, 2023). The next update, the 2025 Energy Code, took effect January 1, 2026 — that is the version a permit pulled today is reviewed under in most jurisdictions.

Enforcement is two-layered. The CEC writes the rules and runs the third-party verification framework (HERS). Your local building department (LADBS in the City of Los Angeles, City of Pasadena Building & Safety, City of Glendale, City of Burbank, City of Santa Monica, the OC city departments, Riverside, San Bernardino) issues the mechanical permit and runs the inspection. The local inspector is enforcing Title 24 when they sign off, but they are doing it under their own permit number.

Who Title 24 applies to

Almost everyone, almost always, on residential and light commercial. The triggers, in plain language:

New construction: every part of Title 24 applies, full performance modeling required.
Replacement of outdoor condenser, heat pump, indoor coil, air handler, or furnace: Part 6 alterations rules apply, HERS verification required.
Adding HVAC to a home that did not have it — full alterations rules.
Replacement of more than 40 linear feet of ductwork — duct leakage HERS test.
Mini-split additions, add-on heat pumps, room conversions: covered.

What stays out: like-for-like component repair on existing equipment. Capacitor, contactor, fan motor, blower wheel, condensate pump, control board, thermostat, refrigerant top-off on a verified-not-leaking system. Replacing a $260 capacitor on a 2014 condenser does not trigger Title 24. Replacing the whole condenser does. The line is set by whether the core conditioning equipment itself changes.

Current SEER2 / HSPF2 / EER2 minimums for SoCal climate zones

California has 16 climate zones. The five we cover and one bonus mountain zone:

CA Climate Zone	Representative Cities	Character	Split AC Minimum (Federal Southwest)
CZ 6	Long Beach, Santa Monica, Torrance, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach	Coastal, marine influence	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); 13.8 / 11.2 (≥45k)
CZ 8	Anaheim, Garden Grove, Fullerton, parts of central OC	Inland-coastal transition	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); 13.8 / 11.2 (≥45k)
CZ 9	Los Angeles, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, Beverly Hills, Whittier, Diamond Bar	Basin / SGV foothills	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); 13.8 / 11.2 (≥45k)
CZ 10	Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Pomona, Corona	Inland Empire / Inland OC	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); 13.8 / 11.2 (≥45k)
CZ 14	Palmdale, Lancaster, Victorville, Hesperia	High desert	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); 13.8 / 11.2 (≥45k)
CZ 15	Palm Springs, Indio, Coachella, Blythe	Low desert (hottest in CA)	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); 13.8 / 11.2 (≥45k)
CZ 16	Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Wrightwood, Idyllwild	Mountain (cold winter)	14.3 SEER2 / 11.7 EER2 (<45k); HSPF2 minimum is the binding spec here

The federal floor (Southwest region, DOE 2023) is the same across these zones — 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 BTU, 13.8 SEER2 at 45,000 BTU and above. Heat-pump heating is rated in HSPF2; the federal minimum is 7.5. Title 24's performance compliance path can require higher than the floor if the home's modeled energy budget needs the extra efficiency to balance, which is why we routinely install equipment in the 15.2 to 18.0 SEER2 / 8.5+ HSPF2 band.

Equipment that clears the floor and the performance path comfortably, with AHRI-listed split pairings: Carrier Infinity 26 (24VNA6) at 26.0 SEER2 / 10.5 HSPF2, Lennox SL28XCV at 28.0 / 9.5, Trane XV20i at 22.0 / 10.0, Daikin Fit DZ20VC at 20.5 / 9.5, and Bosch IDS 2.0 at 20.5 / 10.5 in the inverter heat-pump category. Exact ratings depend on the matched indoor coil, verify the AHRI certificate number on the install quote. All are offered in R-454B variants for 2026 installs.

HERS testing: when it triggers, what it costs, who does it

HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. It is the third-party verification framework California uses to confirm what was installed actually performs to spec. The rater is not your contractor — that is the whole point. Raters are individuals certified by one of two CEC-approved providers, CalCERTS or CHEERS, and they file the Certificate of Verification (CF-3R) directly into the state registry. Your contractor schedules the rater; the rater works for the State.

On a residential split-system change-out, the rater performs three measurements:

Duct leakage to outside. Pressurize the duct system to 25 Pa with a duct blaster, measure CFM of leakage. Threshold for a full system replacement is roughly 5% of nominal airflow under the 2022 code; the 2025 code tightens to as low as 4% on certain alteration paths. [VERIFY: confirm 2025 NA2 thresholds before quoting in writing.] On a 4-ton (1,600 CFM nominal) install, that is an 80 CFM cap. Old leaky pre-1985 ductwork in LA basin homes routinely fails the first test.
Refrigerant charge verification. Required in climate zones 2 and 8 through 15 (most of our coverage). The rater confirms charge using the subcooling method on TXV systems or superheat on fixed-orifice, cross-checked against manufacturer specs at measured conditions. Overcharge or undercharge fails. Airflow ≥ 300 CFM per ton is required for a valid refrigerant charge test.
Airflow and fan watt-draw. Measure delivered airflow against design (typically 350 to 400 CFM per ton) and the fan power draw at that airflow. Oversized fans on undersized ducts fail this; properly commissioned variable-speed equipment passes easily.

Cost: $400 to $650 paid to the rater, separate from the contractor invoice in most cases (sometimes bundled as a pass-through line item). The visit runs 2 to 3 hours. The rater files the CF-3R within a day or two; the city inspector pulls it at final.

Failure means the contractor fixes the issue and re-tests. Re-test fees are typically the contractor's problem on a workmanship cure. The permit will not close without a passing CF-3R, which is the whole leverage in the system. Deeper dive: California HERS testing, what the rater actually does.

load calculation load calculation

our heat-load measurement is ANSI/ACCA Standard 2, the calculated heating and cooling load for the specific home. Title 24 requires correct sizing; the home assessment is the documented method. Some jurisdictions (Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills) ask for it at permit submission; others ask only on inspection challenges. The calculation considers conditioned square footage, wall and ceiling R-values, window U-factor and SHGC and orientation, infiltration, internal gains, and local design temperatures (98°F summer for Riverside, 92°F for Pasadena, 110°F for Palm Springs). Output: a BTU/hr cooling load and heating load specific to that house.

"One ton per 600 square feet" is not Title 24 compliant and is wrong by 30 to 60 percent in either direction depending on home vintage. A 1928 Spanish in Mid-City with single-pane windows needs more cooling than the rule of thumb. A 2014 tract home in Irvine needs less. Oversized AC short-cycles, dehumidifies poorly, and wears out faster, costs more upfront for nothing. A proper sizing measurement runs $150 to $300 if outsourced, often bundled into the install quote.

The R-410A to R-454B refrigerant transition

This is the 2025/2026 change every California homeowner needs to know because it changes the repair-vs-replace math:

Jan 1, 2025: EPA's AIM Act banned manufacture and import of new residential split-system AC and heat-pump equipment using refrigerants with GWP above 700. R-410A (GWP 2088) is out. R-454B (GWP 466) and R-32 (GWP 675) are the residential successors, both A2L (mildly flammable), requiring leak-detection sensors and updated handling.
Through Dec 31, 2025: contractors could install remaining R-410A inventory. That window has closed.
Today (2026): all new residential split installs in California are A2L: R-454B from Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Rheem, Goodman, or R-32 from Daikin.
R-410A service is not banned. Existing systems can be repaired indefinitely; refrigerant remains available, but prices have climbed to $100+ per pound vs. $35 to $65 a few years back.

What this means for the homeowner: a 5-to-7-year R-410A system with a fixable problem, repair, do not let anyone push you into a refrigerant-driven replacement. A 10-to-12-year system with a refrigerant leak, run the math: leak repair plus 7 lbs of R-410A might be $900 to $1,500, while an R-454B inverter heat-pump replacement runs $11,000 to $18,000 installed before $3,000 to $8,000 in TECH Clean and 25C rebates. If the leak is in the indoor coil and the system is past 12 years, replacement usually pencils out. 14+ year system with major failure: replace.

Permit requirements vary by city

Title 24 is state code, but the permit is local. Each jurisdiction adds its own layer:

Pasadena Building & Safety: mechanical permit, plan check on full replacements, load assessment commonly requested at submission, $250 to $380.
Glendale and Burbank: mechanical permit, plan review, $180 to $300.
LADBS (City of LA): express mechanical permit for change-outs, online submission, $160 to $280.
Santa Monica: mechanical permit, slightly higher fees, ordinances pushing toward heat pumps on full replacements.
Beverly Hills: mechanical permit, rigorous plan check, $300+ in fees, tight inspection scheduling.
OC cities (Irvine, Anaheim, Newport, Costa Mesa): each runs its own department, $140 to $260 typical.
Riverside and San Bernardino unincorporated: county departments, $120 to $220, fast processing.

City-by-city detail: HVAC permits in Los Angeles.

Total cost of Title 24 compliance on a typical install

City mechanical permit: $120 to $380
sizing analysis load calculation: $150 to $300 (often bundled)
HERS verification: $400 to $650
Plan check fees (Pasadena, Beverly Hills): $60 to $180
Documentation and filing: $50 to $120

Total compliance cost on a typical $14,000 to $18,000 split-system or heat-pump install: roughly $300 to $800 all-in, higher in Pasadena and Beverly Hills, lower in unincorporated Riverside.

Honest pushback: yes, it costs more — and skipping it costs more

Yes, permit and HERS adds $400 to $700 you would not pay if you hired the unlicensed guy your neighbor used. Here is what that "savings" actually looks like:

At resale: buyer's home inspector pulls permit history. Open or missing HVAC permit triggers an escrow holdback ($5,000 to $10,000) until resolved. Catch-up cost (retroactive permit, HERS as-is, remediation if duct leakage fails): $1,200 to $2,800, plus delay to close.
On rebates: TECH Clean California, federal 25C, SoCalGas, SCE, LADWP all require a closed permit and CF-3R. $3,000 to $8,000 in rebates left on the table to save $500 in compliance is bad math.
At insurance claim: underwriter audit on a six-figure structure claim will surface unpermitted work and complicate payout, even if the fire is unrelated.
On the contractor: CSLB does discipline contractors who skip permits. License suspensions are public record. The "savings" usually come from a contractor a few violations from uninsurable.

Composite example: AC change-out in Glendale

Recent job, anonymized. 1962 ranch in Glendale (CZ 9), 1,850 sq ft, original 1990s 4-ton single-stage AC dead on arrival in early September. The homeowner had two quotes: $9,800 cash with no permit and no HERS from "a guy," and ours at $14,400 with full compliance. They picked us because the home was about to list.

Permit: mechanical permit through Glendale, $230, issued in 4 business days.
load calculation: 32,800 BTU/hr cooling, 28,400 BTU/hr heating. The dead 4-ton (48,000 BTU) was 45% oversized. Replacement sized at 3 tons. Homeowner pushed back until we showed the calculation.
Equipment: Carrier Infinity 24VNA6 3-ton heat pump (R-454B), variable-speed, AHRI-rated 22.0 SEER2 / 10.0 HSPF2 with the matched FE4ANF003 air handler.
Install: mastic-sealed all accessible duct joints, verified static pressure, charged to manufacturer spec by weight and trimmed via subcooling.
HERS: CalCERTS rater 8 days post-install. Duct leakage 3.4%, refrigerant charge passed, airflow 380 CFM/ton. CF-3R next day.
Final: Glendale inspector signed off the next week. Permit closed.
Rebates: $4,200 TECH Clean California, $2,000 federal 25C. Net cost: $8,200: less than the $9,800 unpermitted quote.

Title 24 compliance on a heat-pump install with rebate eligibility is often the cheaper path once you run the actual numbers instead of the sticker numbers.

What the homeowner should verify in writing

Before signing: contract states "permit pulled in homeowner's name, HERS scheduled by contractor, CF-3R delivered at closeout."
Before signing: equipment listed by AHRI certificate number with SEER2 / EER2 / HSPF2 ratings showing it clears the federal floor.
Before signing: our heat-load measurement included or quoted separately. Refuse "tonnage by guess."
After install: CF-3R with your address, equipment serials, rater certification ID, and pass marks on duct leakage, refrigerant charge, airflow.
After install: permit closed at the city portal (LADBS, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, OC city portals: 30-second lookup).
After install: save the CF-3R with home records. Buyer's inspector will request it.

Working with a Title 24 HVAC contractor

Three things to ask any contractor bidding your job: the CSLB license number (verify at cslb.ca.gov, every C-20 license should pull current with active bond and workers' comp), how they handle the HERS rater ("we don't usually need that" is a red flag), and whether the quote includes permit and HERS as a written line item or buries it. Venta Heating & Air pulls permits in your name across LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties; CF-3R delivered at closeout. AC installation, furnace and heat-pump installation.

Want a Title 24-compliant install quote with permit and HERS as a written line item?

Call Venta Heating & Air at (424) 766-1020 or request a free estimate. Permit pulled in your name, the home assessment included, HERS rater scheduled by us, CF-3R delivered at closeout. CSLB #1138898 (C-20).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Title 24 apply to me if I am just replacing one piece of equipment? +

How much does Title 24 compliance add to a typical install? +

What is the SEER2 minimum for a new AC in Southern California right now? +

Why is my contractor pushing R-454B equipment when R-410A still works? +

What happens if I or my contractor skips the permit and HERS test? +

Does Title 24 require our heat-load measurement load calculations on a change-out? +

How do I verify my contractor pulled a real Title 24 permit? +