Energy Codes,Rebates & Incentives

California Title 24 2016 - Residential

California was among the first states to adopt building standards as a way to regulate energy consumption, in the form of Title 24.

Since its inception, the scope of this code's standards has increased. The latest policy, Title 24 2016, has significantly modified lighting needs in new and remodeled homes, so that all such homes in California must incorporate energy efficient lighting and controls.

Lutron products, such as dimmers and vacancy sensors, provide cost effective, easy-to-install solutions to save energy while meeting the Title 24 2016 requirements.

CA Title 24 Residential Lighting Requirements Summary

Starting January 1, 2017, California Title 24 will require the following in all new residential construction and renovation requiring a permit:

At least one vacancy sensor installed to control lights in bathrooms, garages, laundry rooms, and utility rooms.
A dimmer or vacancy sensor installed to control all indoor recessed ceiling downlights and all indoor permanently installed lighting containing screw-in lamps or LED lights.¹²

Exceptions:

closets smaller than 70 ft2
hallways
decorative colored LED lighting containing non-replaceable LED’s

Title 24 Solutions

Dimmers
- Forward phase-cut dimmers controlling LEDs must comply with NEMA SSL 7A
Vacancy sensors
- Must be certified Title 24 compliant
- Must be manual-on/automatic-off
- Must turn off automatically in 30 minutes
- Cannot be locked in a permanent "on" state
High efficacy lights
- Pin-based linear or compact fluorescent (CFL)
- Pulse-start metal halide
- High pressure sodium lamps
- GU-24 socket for CFLs
- inseparable LED light sources for outdoors
- lnduction lamps
- Colored LED indoor lights
- JA8 lights²

Code Requirements Per Room

Kitchen
Permanently installed lighting in kitchens must be high-efficacy lighting. JA8 lights (non-colored LEDs, screw-based bulbs and recessed ceiling downlights) must be controlled by vacancy sensors or dimmers.

Living Room, Bedroom, and Family Room
Lighting installed in these rooms of the home shall be high efficacy, and JA8 lights (non-colored LEDs, screw-based bulbs and recessed ceiling downlights) shall be controlled by either dimmers or vacancy sensors.

Bathrooms, Garage, Laundry Room, and Utility Room
Lighting installed in attached and detached garages, laundry rooms, and utility rooms shall be high-efficacy and At least one luminaire in each of these spaces must be controlled by vacancy sensors.

Outdoor Lights (attached to the home)
For single-family residential buildings, outdoor lighting permanently mounted to a building must be high efficacy and controlled with manual on/off switch plus one of the following:
• Photocell and motion sensor
• Photocell and time switch
• Astronomical time clock
• Energy Management Control System (EMCS) with the features of an astronomical time clock

For Additional Information

Call the California Energy Commission (CEC):

Inside California +1.800.772.3300
Outside California +1.916.654.5106

Visit the CEC website at www.energy.ca.gov/title24

Disclaimer: This website summarizes the CA Title 24 2016 lighting control requirements for residential buildings. It is for information purposes only. For complete and precise details refer to Section 150.0 (k) of the California Title 24 2016 Building Energy Efficacy Standards.

¹Dimmers and LED lighting must comply with NEMA SSL 7A which ensures the dimmer and LED light work together.

²Lamps installed in recessed ceiling downlights, screw-in lamps, and LED lamps must comply with Title 24 Joint Appendix 8 (JA8) which ensures high efficiency, nice color characteristics, long life, 10% dimming, and low levels of audible noise and flicker.