California's 2025 Title 24 Code Takes Effect, Expanding Heat Pump and Electric-Ready Mandates
California's 2025 Title 24 is in effect as of January 1, 2026.
The big changes:
Heat pumps are the prescriptive baseline for space AND water heating in most new residential construction. Gas is still allowed through the performance pathway, but the trade-offs usually make gas the more expensive route in practice.
Commercial buildings have to replace end-of-life rooftop units with heat pumps in most retail, school, and office applications. That's a massive retrofit pipeline.
Commercial kitchens and multifamily buildings need electric-ready provisions — stubbed conduit, panel capacity for future equipment swaps.
CEC estimates $4.8B in statewide energy savings. Plan reviewers in LA, SF, and San Diego are already flagging non-compliant applications.
Full analysis on ServiceMag.
