Title 24 planning in Santa Cruz

Residential pathway: show the added and altered areas

For a house addition or remodel, supply dimensioned existing/proposed plans and separately labeled work areas. Do not substitute total dwelling size for the area of work or assume how multiple altered areas are combined. Ask the City which scope and area definition it needs for Ordinance 2025-19. Record the answer rather than allowing a preliminary model to silently decide the question.

Where the single-family documentation family applies, CF1R records proposed design compliance, with separate installer CF2R and required CF3R ECC verification. An ADU needs its own review of new detached construction, attached addition or conversion and existing conditioning. The residential ordinance summary does not itself classify every ADU or determine its documentation boundary.

Residential CF1R preparationADU and conversion scope

Nonresidential pathway: identify the altered mechanical system

For existing office, shop or other nonresidential work, identify the affected space-conditioning equipment, areas served and responsible mechanical designer. State what changes and what remains. A lighting-only TI label is not enough if mechanical work is also proposed; conversely, do not assume that an untouched system must be remodeled merely because a tenant permit exists.

The applicable NRCC design documentation and construction-stage records depend on the confirmed scope and edition. Acceptance testing, applicable verification and installation certification are distinct tasks. A residential CF3R is not a universal substitute for nonresidential closeout records. Ask which participants and evidence are needed before equipment access or control sequences become a construction problem.

Commercial energy documentationNonresidential form familiesTenant-improvement checklist

Use the two scenarios to assign the right questions

In the illustrative house request, the architect prepares an area/scope sketch and asks about the residential local layer. The energy preparer then checks supported envelope and system inputs for the confirmed path. No pass/fail result or interpretation of the 350 sq ft topic is invented.

In the separate office request, the mechanical designer identifies the existing cooling and proposed alternatives. The applicant asks about Ordinance 2025-22 and required evidence for an air-source heat pump or an air-conditioner option with additional measures. The preparer evaluates supported documentation, not an assumed blanket ban on air conditioners. The single-family area topic is not imported into this office scenario.

Altered-cooling reach-code decision guideEnergy modeling and options

A two-category intake checklist

For both categories, make the application and changed work traceable. Add the appropriate category-specific records rather than sending only a product quote.

• Application basis: recorded date, permit identifiers, prior accepted package, classification and current City direction on the relevant ordinance.
• Residential scope: existing/proposed plans, dimensioned addition/alteration areas, dwelling boundaries and ADU/conversion history where applicable.
• Nonresidential scope: tenant/full-building boundary, affected systems, landlord equipment information, mechanical schedules and control narrative from the responsible designer.
• Common design evidence: assemblies, glazing U-factor/SHGC and system efficiencies where relevant; identify retained versus changed features and provisional selections.
• Revision evidence: complete numbered comments, reviewed drawings/report and a change summary naming the current coordinated set.

City of Santa Cruz Building & SafetyWhat to send

Confirm timing without inventing local deadlines

Statewide 2025 California Energy Code guidance generally follows applications on or after January 1, 2026. Ask the AHJ to confirm the recorded application date, treatment of later amendments/refiling and applicable local implementation. The two CEC approval dates are not universal filing deadlines. Use matching software/forms. ECC is current verification terminology; HERS can remain on older-cycle documents without changing their permit basis.

Code-cycle transitionsPlan-check correction support

Remote scope review and published pricing

Title 24 Lab serves Santa Cruz remotely, not from a claimed local office. Review existing residential/commercial square-footage pricing and upload the appropriate scope packet. Field testing, acceptance testing, registry fees, CALGreen and AHJ permit fees are separate. Title 24 Part 6 energy documentation does not complete Part 11 CALGreen or other permit disciplines. Intake is not production acceptance or permit approval. This is educational information, not legal advice; the City decides applicability.

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