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Building Code Reference

Got a CALGreen 4.201.1 correction?

Energy efficiency compliance

For builders in California, Greater Seattle, the Las Vegas area, the Denver area and Kansas City · CrossBeam Permits

What this code requires, how to fix it, and how cities and counties review it

What this code requires

CALGreen 4.201.1 is the California Green Building Standards Code section that ties residential buildings to Title 24 energy efficiency standards. Any new low-rise residential building subject to CALGreen must meet the energy requirements set by Title 24, Part 6 — the California Energy Code. In practice, this means your Title 24 compliance documentation (CF1R and related forms) has to be complete and correct before CalGreen sign-off, since 4.201.1 links the two codes together.

How to fix it

  1. Pull a current Title 24 energy compliance report for the exact project scope

    Run a compliant Title 24 Part 6 energy calculation using a state-approved software tool (EnergyPro, CBECC-Res, or equivalent). The report must reflect the current plans: same conditioned floor area, same window sizes and orientations, same HVAC system, same insulation values. If the project scope changed after the original energy report was generated — even a small addition or a window relocation — you need a revised report before resubmitting. A stale report tied to old plans will keep triggering 4.201.1 corrections on every review cycle.

  2. Include CF1R, CF2R, and CF3R forms in the permit package

    The CF1R is the Certificate of Compliance — this is what the plan-checker reviews at submittal. The CF2R (Installation Certificate) and CF3R (Verification Certificate) follow during construction and inspections. For permit submission, the CF1R is required upfront. Make sure it’s signed by the documentation author and by the responsible designer eligible under Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, bears the project address matching your plans, and lists the correct permit number if the jurisdiction requires it. Attach it as a separate document in your submittal package — don’t embed it in the plan set pages where it can get missed.

  3. Cross-check conditioned floor area between plans and the energy report

    Open both the floor plan and the CF1R side by side. The conditioned floor area (CFA) on the energy report must match the total conditioned square footage shown on your floor plan. A common slip: the architect calculates area including the garage, or rounds differently, and the energy consultant uses a different number. Even a 50 sq ft discrepancy can flag a 4.201.1 correction because the plan-checker can see the numbers do not match. Verify the number before you submit.

  4. Verify HVAC equipment specs match between plans and the energy report

    The energy report lists specific HVAC equipment — brand, model, SEER/EER/HSPF ratings, and capacity. Your mechanical plans need to show the same equipment. If the Title 24 report was modeled with a 3-ton, 18 SEER heat pump and your M-series plans call out a different unit, you have a mismatch that will get flagged. Coordinate with your mechanical designer and energy consultant to make sure the equipment on the permit drawings is exactly what was modeled.

  5. Add a CalGreen compliance checklist that references the Title 24 report explicitly

    Most jurisdictions require a CalGreen residential checklist (based on the BSC template) as a separate submittal document. On that checklist, the energy section (Division 4.2) should explicitly reference the Title 24 energy report by document title or report number. Do not just check the box — add a note: “Energy compliance per attached CF1R, Report No. XXXX, dated MM/DD/YYYY.” That note makes it immediately clear to the plan-checker that the energy documentation is present and tied to this project.

  6. Confirm the ECC-Rater (formerly HERS rater) if required

    Some Title 24 compliance paths require field verification by a certified ECC-Rater (Energy Code Compliance rater, formerly HERS). If your energy report flags any measures that need ECC verification — such as duct leakage testing, refrigerant charge verification, or quality insulation installation — the plan-checker may ask for ECC-Rater registration information upfront. Identify your ECC-Rater before submittal and note their registration number on the CF1R or in a cover letter. This prevents a follow-up correction once the plan-checker digs into the compliance path details.

  7. Resubmit with a cover letter citing each document included

    When you resubmit after a 4.201.1 correction, include a brief cover letter listing every energy document in the package: CF1R title and date, report software used, and a statement that the conditioned floor area and equipment specs have been verified to match the plans. This is not required by code, but it shortens the review cycle. Plan-checkers reviewing a stack of resubmittals will move through yours faster when the fix is spelled out plainly instead of left for them to hunt down.

Take the CALGreen 4.201.1 fix steps with you

All 7 steps in one email, so you have them on site instead of on this page.

Why you got flagged

Here’s why plan-checkers flag CALGreen 4.201.1: the correction almost always comes down to missing or mismatched energy compliance documentation rather than anything wrong with the building itself.

The most common trigger is submitting a CalGreen checklist without attaching the corresponding Title 24 energy compliance report. Plan-checkers won’t take it on faith that the energy code is covered — they need to see the CF1R (Certificate of Compliance) and CF2R/CF3R (Installation and Verification Certificates) tied to the permit package. If your CalGreen compliance form says “energy requirements per Title 24” but no Title 24 report is in the file, you’ll get this correction on every submission until the documents are present.

A second scenario is a mismatch between the Title 24 report and the project scope. If the energy report was run for a 2,000 sq ft house and your plans now show a 2,200 sq ft house after a scope change, the compliance numbers no longer apply. Plan-checkers cross-reference conditioned floor area, HVAC equipment specs, and window-to-wall ratios between the plans and the energy report. Any discrepancy triggers 4.201.1 because the energy compliance is no longer demonstrably valid for the project as drawn.

A third trigger comes up on addition and alteration projects. Contractors sometimes submit a CalGreen checklist covering only the new square footage while the original structure’s energy documentation is missing or outdated. The section applies to the work being permitted — if that work triggers a full CalGreen compliance review, the energy documentation needs to cover the whole affected scope, not just the addition.

The official code

CALGreen 4.201.1 — Energy Efficiency, California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 11)

Read the source →

Common questions

What documents do I need to satisfy CALGreen 4.201.1 at permit submittal?
You need the CF1R (Certificate of Compliance) from a Title 24 Part 6 energy analysis run for your specific project. The CF1R must be generated by state-approved software such as EnergyPro or CBECC-Res and must reflect the actual project: address, conditioned floor area, HVAC equipment, window specs, and insulation values. Attach it as a standalone document in your permit package alongside the CalGreen checklist. CF2R and CF3R come later, during construction and inspections — but if the plan-checker asks for them at submittal, include them if your energy consultant has already prepared them.
Does CALGreen 4.201.1 apply to additions and remodels, or only new construction?
It applies to new low-rise residential buildings primarily, but additions and alterations can trigger CalGreen compliance depending on the scope and the jurisdiction. When an addition brings the project into CalGreen territory, the energy compliance obligation under 4.201.1 comes with it. Check the CalGreen applicability thresholds in the current adopted edition for your jurisdiction. Some cities have local amendments that lower the threshold. If your permit application checks the CalGreen compliance box, assume 4.201.1 applies and include the Title 24 energy report.
Can I use an old Title 24 report if the project design has not changed much?
No — the energy report must match the plans being submitted. Even minor changes create mismatches that plan-checkers catch: different conditioned floor area, a new skylight, swapping HVAC equipment, or a wall reconfiguration that changes window-to-wall ratio. Plan-checkers cross-reference the CF1R against your architectural and mechanical drawings line by line. If the numbers do not align, you will get a 4.201.1 correction. Run a fresh Title 24 report any time the plans change, or at minimum get your energy consultant to confirm in writing that the existing report still covers the revised scope. That written confirmation will not satisfy most plan-checkers — a revised CF1R is the clean solution.
What software is approved for running a Title 24 Part 6 energy calculation in California?
The California Energy Commission certifies specific software tools for Title 24 Part 6 compliance. EnergyPro (by EnergySoft) and CBECC-Res (from the California Energy Commission, free to use) are the most common for residential projects. Both generate the CF1R forms that jurisdictions accept. The CEC maintains a current list of approved software at energy.ca.gov. Do not let your energy consultant run the analysis in a non-certified tool and then manually fill out the CF1R — the software certification is part of the compliance chain, and plan-checkers sometimes check the software registration header on the CF1R document.
My Title 24 report shows the project passes but I still got a 4.201.1 correction. Why?
The correction usually is not about whether the project passes energy — it is about whether the documentation is complete and matches the permitted plans. Check these: (1) Is the CF1R attached as a separate document, or buried inside the plan set? Some submittal portals require it as its own upload. (2) Does the conditioned floor area on the CF1R match the floor plan? (3) Does the HVAC equipment listed match the mechanical plans? (4) Is the project address on the CF1R correct and matching the permit application? Any one of these mismatches will get flagged even if the energy model itself passes.
Does ECC-Rater verification affect my 4.201.1 correction letter?
It can. Some Title 24 compliance measures require field verification by a certified ECC-Rater — things like duct leakage testing, refrigerant charge, or qualifying insulation installation. If your energy report selects a compliance path that includes these measures, the plan-checker may note that ECC verification will be required at inspection. That note can show up attached to a 4.201.1 correction. It does not mean your submittal failed — it means the jurisdiction is flagging the future inspection requirement. Identify a certified ECC-Rater early and note their registration number in your energy documentation.

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