Title 24 energy code is one of those things that sounds complicated but mostly isn’t — once you understand it in plain terms for the specific roof you’re replacing in Santa Ana. Most homeowners don’t need to worry about it. A small number do. Here’s exactly how to find out which category you fall into, and what it means for your material choices if you do need to comply.

Title 24 applies to every Santa Ana roofing project that replaces more than 50% of the roof area — whether you are in Floral Park (92706), Delhi (92703), South Coast Metro (92707), Washington Square (92704), or anywhere else in the 92701, 92703, 92704, 92705, 92706, 92707, and 92708 zip codes.

What Is Title 24 and Does It Apply to My Santa Ana Roof?

Title 24, Part 6 is the California Energy Code — the state standard that governs energy efficiency in buildings. The 2025 edition took effect January 1, 2026 and applies to all permitted roofing work filed after that date. For residential our roofing services specifically, here’s the practical picture:

Orange County Climate Zones 6 and 8 — What They Mean for Your Roof

California Building Energy Efficiency Standards divide the state into 16 climate zones based on temperature, humidity, and solar radiation patterns. Santa Ana falls across Climate Zones 6 and 8 depending on specific neighborhood location:

• Climate Zone 6 covers much of coastal Orange County including western Santa Ana — Floral Park, French Park, South Coast Metro, Meredith Parkwood, and neighborhoods west of the 55 freeway. Characterized by mild temperatures, marine influence, and moderate cooling loads.
• Climate Zone 8 covers inland Orange County including eastern Santa Ana — Delhi, Willard, Washington Square, and neighborhoods east of the 55 freeway corridor. Warmer summer temperatures, stronger thermal cycling, higher cooling load than Zone 6.

For both zones, the prescriptive cool-roof requirement under the 2025 Energy Code applies to low-slope roofs only on residential buildings. Steep-slope residential roofs in both zones are exempt from mandatory CRRC cool-roof product specifications. This means your tile or asphalt shingle replacement on a standard Santa Ana single-family home does not require you to buy a specific “cool roof” product — you may choose any appropriate material.

What Is a CRRC Rating and When Does It Matter?

CRRC stands for Cool Roof Rating Council — the independent body that tests and certifies roofing products for solar reflectance and thermal emittance. A CRRC-rated product has been independently tested and assigned two numbers:

Even When Not Required — Why Cool Roof Products Make Sense in Santa Ana

The Urban Heat Island effect in Santa Ana’s denser neighborhoods is measurable and real. The area around Civic Center Plaza, Bristol Street, Grand Avenue, and the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse runs 10°F hotter than surrounding areas during summer peaks. Roofing materials that reflect solar radiation rather than absorbing it contribute meaningfully to cooling costs and roof longevity in this environment — regardless of whether Title 24 mandates them.

Our recommendation: even on steep-slope residential roofs where Title 24 doesn’t require CRRC-rated materials, choosing lighter-colored tile or a CRRC-rated asphalt shingle like the GAF Timberline HDZ RS in a lighter colorway reduces attic heat gain, extends shingle life by reducing thermal cycling stress, and contributes to the local heat island mitigation that benefits the whole neighborhood. It’s not a requirement. It’s good practice in this specific climate.

Title 24 Cool Roof FAQ — Orange County

Does my Santa Ana roof replacement need to meet Title 24 cool roof requirements?

For most Santa Ana homeowners: no. If your home has a steep-slope roof (2:12 pitch or greater) and you’re replacing with tile, asphalt, or metal, the 2025 California Energy Code generally does not require CRRC cool-roof rated materials in Orange County Climate Zones 6 or 8. The exception is flat or low-slope roofs (under 2:12), which must use CRRC-rated materials regardless of location. We verify your specific roof type and climate zone during the estimate process — no guessing.

What roofing products are CRRC rated?

Most major roofing product lines include CRRC-rated options. For asphalt shingles, the GAF Timberline HDZ RS in lighter colors carries CRRC ratings. For tile, most white, beige, and light grey profiles from Eagle and Boral meet CRRC minimums. For TPO and flat roof membranes, virtually all standard commercial TPO products are CRRC rated — this is where the requirement most commonly applies in Orange County. The CRRC publishes a full rated products directory at coolroofs.org.

Will choosing a cool roof product lower my energy bills in Santa Ana?

Yes — in Santa Ana’s climate, the energy benefit from cool-roof materials is real and measurable, particularly in Climate Zone 8 neighborhoods where summer temperatures run higher. The California Energy Commission estimates cool roofs can reduce cooling energy use by 10–15% on homes without adequate attic insulation. In the Urban Heat Island corridor around Downtown Santa Ana, Bristol Street, and Civic Center Plaza, the effect is more pronounced because ambient temperatures are already elevated. The savings are most significant on homes with limited attic insulation — common in the 1960s–70s housing stock of South Coast Metro and Meredith Parkwood.

Does the Historic Resources Commission in Santa Ana have restrictions on cool roof products for historic homes?

Yes — this is a real tension in Floral Park and French Park. The Santa Ana Historic Resources Commission requires material matching for registered historic properties under the 1991 Historic Preservation Ordinance. Traditional terra cotta clay tile is not typically available in high-solar-reflectance versions — the deep red-orange color absorbs more solar radiation than white or light grey products. When Title 24 cool roof compliance is required (e.g., a low-slope section), and the property has historic restrictions, you need a contractor who understands both sets of requirements simultaneously. We work in both contexts regularly and can navigate the process.