Title 24 Energy Compliance in Simi Valley, CA

Title 24 Energy Compliance in Simi Valley, CA

Title 24 energy compliance is a required calculation report that California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards demand for every new ADU and most substantial ADU conversions. Without a passing report stamped by a certified energy analyst, Simi Valley’s Building and Safety Division will not issue a permit – full stop. At Ellery ADU Studio, ADU Design & Permitting services include the Title 24 report built into every permit set we produce, not ordered as an afterthought once the city asks for it.

If you’re planning an ADU in Simi Valley and want to understand exactly what this report covers, what it costs, and why cutting corners on it delays projects by weeks, you’re in the right place. Call us at (820) 444-6584 – a live person picks up – or read on. Our ADU Design & Permitting in Simi Valley service includes the Title 24 report as part of your single written price, per Haven Standard Clause 1.

What Title 24 Energy Compliance Actually Covers

Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations sets the minimum energy performance for residential buildings. For ADUs specifically, the 2022 code cycle – still in effect in Simi Valley through 2026 – requires compliance across several systems. The report isn’t a generic checklist. It’s a modeled calculation that takes your specific unit’s square footage, orientation, window-to-wall ratio, insulation values, HVAC system type, and local climate zone into account.

Simi Valley sits in Climate Zone 9, which carries its own set of baseline assumptions. Zone 9 sees hot summers regularly pushing into the mid-90s at the eastern end of the valley near Tapo Canyon Road, and mild but occasionally cold winters that affect heating load calculations. A report calibrated for a coastal climate zone will fail here, which is why we run calculations specific to CZ9 conditions, not a template from another project.

The systems covered include:

• Building envelope – wall, roof, and floor insulation values (R-values), window U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
• HVAC equipment – heating and cooling efficiency ratings, duct leakage requirements, and whether a mini-split or central system meets the modeled load
• Water heating – California’s current standards push strongly toward heat pump water heaters for new ADUs; the report models whether a gas or electric unit meets the threshold
• Lighting – interior and exterior fixture types, controls, and high-efficacy requirements
• Solar readiness – new detached ADUs above 500 square feet require solar-ready construction; the report documents conduit, panel capacity, and roof framing compliance
• Air sealing – blower door test requirements for new construction ADUs, with specific CFM targets the building inspector will verify at rough-in

When Ellery produces your permit set, the Title 24 report is coordinated directly with the architectural drawings. The insulation spec on sheet A3 matches what the energy report assumes. The window schedule matches the U-factors modeled. That coordination is what prevents the city from kicking the plan check back – and it’s the kind of thing that separates a design-build studio offering ADU Design & Blueprints from a designer who hands drawings to a separate contractor and hopes it works out.

When You Need Title 24 Energy Compliance

• New detached ADU construction in Simi Valley. Any new structure – stick-built, modular, or prefab – requires a passing Title 24 report before the city will issue a building permit. This applies whether you’re building in Wood Ranch, Bridle Path, or near the Rocketdyne corridor.
• Garage conversion ADUs that add conditioned space. Converting an attached or detached garage in Simi Valley triggers Title 24 requirements for the new conditioned floor area. The existing garage walls may not meet current insulation standards, which affects both the report and the scope of work.
• Junior ADUs with new HVAC. A JADU carved from existing living space that installs a new heating or cooling system – even a single-zone mini-split – typically requires at minimum an equipment compliance certificate, and often a full calculation depending on the square footage altered.
• Any ADU where a prior permit was denied for energy non-compliance. We see this regularly with homeowners who hired a drafter or a permit-expediter who submitted drawings without a coordinated Title 24 report. The fix requires a new report and often revised drawings – both of which are included when you move to a full Ellery permit set.
• Prefab and modular ADUs requiring site-specific compliance documentation. Units from brands like Cover or Dvele arrive with factory energy specs, but Simi Valley Building and Safety still requires a site-specific report confirming the unit meets CZ9 requirements as installed. We coordinate that documentation directly with the manufacturer.
• Re-submissions after a plan check correction letter. If you’ve received a correction citing Title 24 deficiencies, you need a revised or supplemental report, not just a letter of explanation. We can review your correction notice and tell you exactly what needs to change.

Our Title 24 Energy Compliance Process

1. Site and design data collection. We begin with your ADU’s architectural drawings – or develop them as part of the full design-build contract. We document the floor plan, wall assembly, window schedule, roof type, and HVAC intent. For an existing structure like a garage conversion, we note the actual construction: block walls, wood frame, ceiling height, existing slab thickness. This is the input data the energy model runs on, and every field matters.
2. Climate Zone 9 energy modeling. A certified energy analyst on our team runs the calculation using EnergyPro or equivalent state-approved software. The model compares your proposed design against the 2022 Title 24 standard for CZ9. If the as-designed unit doesn’t pass, we adjust the specifications – typically insulation R-values, window SHGC, or HVAC efficiency ratings – before submitting. The goal is a passing report that reflects what will actually be built, not a theoretical configuration the contractor can’t replicate in the field.
3. Compliance documentation package assembly. A passing report produces several documents: the CF1R (project compliance form), CF2R (installation certificate), and CF3R (field verification and diagnostic form). We prepare the CF1R for plan check submission and provide the CF2R and CF3R to the field crew so the inspector has what they need at rough-in and final. Nothing is left for the contractor to figure out on site.
4. Coordination with the permit set. The Title 24 report does not go into plan check as a standalone document. We cross-check every assumption in the report against the architectural sheets: insulation notes, window schedule, equipment schedule, duct routing. If the report says R-38 attic insulation, the drawings say R-38. If the report models a 16 SEER2 mini-split, the spec sheet for that unit is attached. Simi Valley’s plan check reviewers are thorough, and a mismatch between the energy report and the drawings is one of the most common correction triggers we see.
5. Plan check response and revision support. If the city issues a correction that touches energy compliance, we respond to it. This is included in the scope – not a separate invoice. We’ve handled corrections from Simi Valley Building and Safety that range from a minor documentation clarification to a full HVAC re-spec, and we treat both the same way: in writing, with a revised document, on a defined timeline.
6. Field verification support at rough-in and final. The CF3R requires a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rater to verify certain measures in the field – duct leakage testing is the most common. We coordinate the HERS rater’s visit with your construction schedule so it doesn’t create a delay. The rater’s signed CF3R goes to the inspector; you receive a copy for your records as part of your project’s documented photo record.

Title 24 Energy Compliance Pricing in Simi Valley

If you’re wondering How Much Does ADU Design & Permitting Cost? (2026 Price Guide) - Simi Valley, CA, Title 24 energy compliance report fees alone typically run between $600 and $1,800 when purchased as a standalone service from an independent energy consultant. The range depends on project type, square footage, and whether a HERS rater field verification is required.

At Ellery ADU Studio, the Title 24 report is not a standalone line item you negotiate separately. It is included in the full permit set price for your ADU project, quoted in writing before any work begins – that’s Haven Standard Clause 1, and it doesn’t move. You’ll see the scope spelled out: drawings, Title 24 report, plan check submission, and correction responses, all in one written number.

For reference, here’s how the cost factors typically break down on the open market, so you can evaluate any other estimate you’re holding:

• New detached ADU, 400-800 sq ft: $800-$1,200 for the energy report alone, plus $250-$500 for HERS rater field verification
• Garage conversion ADU, up to 500 sq ft: $600-$900 for the compliance report; HERS verification depends on HVAC type
• Junior ADU, equipment compliance only: $350-$600 in straightforward cases; more if the existing building’s envelope is involved
• Prefab/modular ADU (Cover, Dvele, etc.) with site-specific compliance documentation: $700-$1,100, depending on what the manufacturer’s documentation already covers
• Correction response / revised report after city denial: $400-$800 if the original report was done elsewhere and we’re re-doing it to our standard

If you’re searching for ADU Design & Permitting Near Me in Simi Valley, CA and have a written estimate from another firm that doesn’t include Title 24 compliance, or includes it as a vague line item, we’ll review it at no charge. That’s our Free Second Opinion offer – call (820) 444-6584 and we’ll go through it with you line by line.

FAQs – Title 24 Energy Compliance

Is Title 24 compliance required for every ADU in Simi Valley, or only new construction?

Title 24 compliance is required for any new ADU and for most conversion projects that create new conditioned space or install new mechanical systems. A garage conversion in Simi Valley that adds insulation, HVAC, and finishes to previously unconditioned space will require a full compliance report. A JADU that reuses existing conditioned square footage with no mechanical changes may require only equipment documentation rather than a full calculation – but that determination is made on a project-by-project basis, not assumed. Call (820) 444-6584 and we can tell you which category your project falls into based on your actual drawings or site description.

How long does it take to get a passing Title 24 report in Simi Valley?

A Title 24 report, from design data input to a passing result, typically takes 3-7 business days when the architectural drawings are complete and the HVAC selections are finalized. The most common delay is an incomplete equipment specification – the energy model needs actual efficiency ratings, not “mini-split TBD.” At Ellery, we finalize equipment selections as part of the design process, so the report is ready when the drawings are ready, not a week after. Simi Valley’s plan check currently runs 3-6 weeks for ADU permit sets; starting the energy report early means it’s never the item holding up submission.

Can I use the Title 24 report from a prefab manufacturer like Dvele or Mighty Buildings?

Manufacturers like Dvele and Mighty Buildings typically provide factory-level energy documentation for their units, which covers the envelope and sometimes the mechanical systems. Simi Valley Building and Safety still requires a site-specific Title 24 compliance report that confirms the unit, as installed on your specific lot, meets CZ9 requirements. The manufacturer’s documentation is input data for that report, not a substitute for it. We’ve coordinated this process with several modular and prefab brands and know what each one typically provides and what still needs to be site-modeled. The site-specific report is included in your Ellery permit set – no separate vendor to manage.

What happens if the Title 24 report doesn’t pass the city’s plan check?

If Simi Valley Building and Safety issues a correction citing energy compliance, we respond to it as part of your contract – there’s no additional invoice for a correction response. In practice, a well-coordinated report that matches the drawings rarely generates a Title 24 correction at plan check. When corrections do occur, they’re most often documentation issues: a missing equipment spec sheet, a window schedule that references a different product than what the report modeled. We keep both documents in sync to avoid exactly that. If you’re already in plan check with a report from another firm and you’ve received a correction, call (820) 444-6584 – we can review the correction letter and tell you what it will take to resolve it.

Why Simi Valley Homeowners Work With Ellery ADU Studio on Title 24

The honest answer is coordination. Title 24 compliance fails at the point where the energy consultant, the designer, and the builder are three separate parties who don’t talk to each other until the city sends a correction. The report assumes one window; the drawings show another. The report models a heat pump water heater; the contractor installs a gas unit because it was cheaper. The inspector arrives for rough-in and the CF2R paperwork isn’t on site.

At Ellery ADU Studio, those three parties are the same contract. Nadia Ellery built this studio around the design-build model specifically because the permit set – Title 24 report included – needs to describe what is actually going to be built, not what seemed reasonable at the time of plan submittal. Since 2015 we’ve produced permit sets for more than 900 ADUs across Simi Valley and the surrounding region. Every one of them had a passing Title 24 report that matched the drawings. Every one had a written price before work started.

The home page has a fuller picture of how the one-contract model works and what the Haven Standard covers in writing. If you’re ready to talk about your specific project, call (820) 444-6584. A live person answers, and if you have a written estimate from another firm, we’ll give you a free second opinion on it – no obligation, no pressure, just a straight comparison.

Key Takeaways

• Title 24 compliance is mandatory for new ADUs and most conversion projects in Simi Valley – no passing report means no permit.
• Simi Valley falls in Climate Zone 9; the energy model must be calibrated to CZ9 conditions, not copied from a coastal project.
• Standalone report fees run $600-$1,800 on the open market; at Ellery, the report is included in your written permit set price under Haven Standard Clause 1.
• The report must match the drawings exactly – window schedule, insulation spec, equipment ratings. Mismatches are the leading cause of plan check corrections on energy compliance.
• Prefab ADUs from brands like Cover or Dvele require a site-specific CZ9 compliance report even when the manufacturer provides factory documentation.
• HERS rater field verification is required for certain measures in new construction; Ellery coordinates the rater’s visit as part of the project schedule.
• Correction responses are included in scope – no extra invoice if the city asks a question about the energy report.

Written by Nadia Ellery, Owner at Ellery ADU Studio Simi Valley, serving Simi Valley.