Which California Energy Code edition applies to a window permit filed now

Direct answer

The 2025 edition of the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) takes effect January 1, 2026 and applies to permit applications filed on or after that date, superseding the 2022 edition. [1]

What the sources establish

• The 2025 edition of the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) takes effect January 1, 2026 and applies to permit applications filed on or after that date, superseding the 2022 edition. (Title 24, Part 6 — adoption and effective date) Applies to: Permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026. Does not apply to: Permit applications filed before January 1, 2026, which remain under the 2022 edition. [1]
• The Residential Compliance Manual is California Energy Commission guidance that explains how to apply the Energy Code; it explains requirements but does not replace the code text. (Alterations chapter) Applies to: Interpretation of Energy Code requirements. Does not apply to: Establishing a requirement that does not appear in the code text. [2]
• CALGreen is Part 11 of Title 24 and is separate from the Energy Code (Part 6); compliance with one does not demonstrate compliance with the other. (Title 24, Part 11) Applies to: Relationship between CALGreen and the Energy Code. [3]
• Energy Code compliance documentation for permitted work is submitted on certificate of compliance forms generated for the project. (Alterations chapter) Applies to: Permitted work requiring Energy Code compliance documentation. [2]

Orange County context

Orange County homeowners are governed by the California Building Standards Code as adopted statewide, applied locally by each city's building division. The requirements above are drawn from the 2025, Companion to the current Energy Code edition edition(s) cited in the source list. Most of Orange County falls in California climate zone 6, with inland areas in zone 8, so the applicable fenestration values depend on the zone of the project address.

This page explains published requirements. It is not a plan check, and it does not replace confirmation from the building division with jurisdiction over your address.

Related reading

• How to Verify a Window Contractor's License in California
• Orange County Window Replacement Permit Requirements
• Low-E Coatings, Argon Fill and Spacers: How Window Glass Performance Works

Every factual statement above is traceable to a recorded fact, a cited source, the source edition and the cited section, listed in Sources & Citations below.