What Can You Tell Me About California’s Title 24 Code Updates?

“Title 24” is the short way to refer to California’s official Building Energy Efficiency Standards, developed and enforced by the California Energy Commission (CEC). These standards are designed to reduce energy consumption across homes and businesses throughout the state.

Beginning January 1, 2026, new Title 24 updates will take effect that specifically impact how new swimming pools and attached spas are heated.

Under the revised code, natural gas heaters can no longer serve as the primary heating source for new pools or spas. Instead, builders must use solar heating or an electric heat pump as the main system, with natural gas allowed only as a secondary or backup source. These same rules will also apply to existing pools if the homeowner adds an attached hot tub or spa.

However, these updates do not affect existing swimming pools. If your pool already has a gas heater, you are not required to remove or replace it. Likewise, portable above-ground hot tubs—which are typically heated using electricity—are not included in these new regulations.

While the goal of the CEC’s code update is to make California less reliant on natural gas, it introduces new challenges for pool and spa owners. Heat pumps require significantly more electricity, often doubling the power needed to operate a pool, and can sometimes necessitate an upgrade to the home’s main electrical panel. Their performance is also highly dependent on ambient air temperature—as temperatures drop, their efficiency decreases, and below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, a heat pump will not function at all.

Solar pool heating also has limitations; it’s not photovoltaic solar that generates electricity, but a roof-mounted system of tubes that circulates pool water to absorb heat. While this can warm your pool water a few degrees, it cannot heat a spa on demand.

For homeowners planning a new pool or a remodel that includes a spa, this means projects permitted after January 1, 2026, will likely experience a 10–15% increase in cost due to new equipment, electrical requirements, and design standards. Homeowners who pull their permit before the deadline can still build under the current code and avoid these added costs.

In short, the California Energy Commission’s Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards are intended to promote long-term sustainability, but they will make new pool and spa projects more expensive and restrictive starting in 2026. Acting before the new rules take effect allows homeowners to lock in current pricing, retain more heating flexibility, and ensure their backyard project is built without compromise.

For those who want to read the official code or learn more directly from the source, all Title 24 documentation is available on the California Energy Commission’s website at www.energy.ca.gov.