What Title 24 is
Title 24 is California’s state Energy Code.
It sets minimum efficiency standards for buildings, including roof reflectivity. The cool roof rules were strengthened in the 2022 update — the version Stanislaus County enforces today.
The goal: a reflective roof keeps attics cooler, lowers air conditioning loads, and reduces California’s peak summer electricity demand. For homeowners, that means lower power bills.
The code is enforced through the building permit process. Every full re-roof in Turlock, Modesto, Ceres, and surrounding cities needs a permit, and the inspector verifies the materials match the code. No exceptions.
Climate Zone 12 = Stanislaus County
California is divided into 16 climate zones for Title 24. Each zone has different cool roof minimums.
Stanislaus County and most of Merced County fall into Climate Zone 12 — the Central Valley zone:
- Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Hughson, Riverbank, Oakdale, Newman, Patterson
- Plus surrounding communities
Sonora and the rest of Tuolumne County sit in Zone 16 (foothills), where the rules are different because heat is not the dominant issue. The numbers below apply to Zone 12.
The exact numbers your roof must hit
Title 24 measures two properties of every roofing material, plus a combined index that can substitute.
Zone 12 minimums for residential re-roofs
- Solar reflectance (aged): 0.20 minimum for steep-slope, 0.63 minimum for low-slope. "Aged" means after three years of weathering — the value that holds long-term.
- Thermal emittance: 0.75 minimum for both steep and low slope. How efficiently the surface re-radiates absorbed heat.
- SRI alternative: 16 minimum for steep-slope, 75 minimum for low-slope. A product that meets SRI can satisfy the requirement without hitting both individual values.
Every roofing product with a Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) label prints these three numbers on the spec sheet.
If your contractor cannot produce CRRC values for the product they are quoting, that is a serious red flag.
What triggers Title 24 on your project
This trips up homeowners. Title 24 cool roof requirements apply when:
- You replace 50%+ of the roof area. A full re-roof obviously qualifies.
- You strip and replace existing roofing. Tear-off triggers full code compliance.
- You add an addition with its own roof. The addition’s roof must comply.
Repairs covering less than 50% are generally exempt. Patching a leak or replacing a few damaged rows does not trigger Title 24.
But the moment a project crosses the 50% threshold, the entire new roof must comply — and the inspector will check.
What does compliance cost?
The myth: cool roof products are dramatically more expensive than standard products.
The reality in 2026:
- Cool-rated architectural shingles: 5–10% more than non-cool. On a $13,000 re-roof, that is $650–$1,300.
- Concrete tile, clay tile, metal: usually no premium — standard products already pass.
- White TPO: no premium — it is white by default.
- Cool coatings on flat roofs: add $0.50–$1.50 per sq ft. (We install acrylic and silicone roof coatings that hit Title 24 reflectance values and extend roof life 10-15 years.)
Energy savings usually recover the premium within 3–5 years on a Stanislaus County home.
Surface temperatures on cool-rated shingles run 20–30°F cooler in mid-afternoon than non-cool shingles. That drops attic temperatures, which drops AC run-time.
The permit and inspection process
Every Title 24 compliant roof has a documented paper trail. Here is how it works in Stanislaus County:
- Permit application. Your contractor submits the application with the product name and CRRC values.
- Permit issuance. The building department reviews and issues the permit. Fees in Modesto and Turlock usually run $150–$450.
- Installation. The roof is installed using the approved material.
- Final inspection. An inspector verifies the material on the roof matches the permit application.
- Closeout. Permit closes once inspection passes.
What happens if you install a non-compliant roof?
This is more common than it should be — almost always because a low-bidder used a cheaper non-cool product to win the quote.
The consequences:
- Failed inspection. The contractor must remove and replace the non-compliant material. The project drags out.
- Permit not closed. If the contractor disappears, the open permit shows up in title searches and slows a future home sale.
- Insurance complications. Some California carriers can deny claims on roofs installed without code compliance.
- Higher energy bills. The non-compliant roof costs 10–25% more in cooling every summer for its 20-year life. The original "savings" evaporate.
How to verify a quote meets Title 24
Before you sign anything, ask for three things in writing:
- The exact product SKU. Not "GAF shingles" — the specific line. Example: "GAF Timberline Cool Series HDZ in Weathered Wood."
- The CRRC label values. Aged solar reflectance, aged thermal emittance, aged SRI.
- A statement that the product meets Title 24 for Climate Zone 12. Most reputable contractors include this automatically.
If a contractor pushes back on any of these, walk away. Compliance is not optional, and the documentation is not hard to produce.
How DeHart handles Title 24
Every quote from DeHart Roofing names the specific product SKU, includes the CRRC values, and states the Title 24 compliance up front.
The permit application uses the same values. The roof we install matches the quote and the permit, every time.
We do not bid jobs we cannot pass inspection on. We do not bid non-compliant products to win a bid we have to lose later.
That is not extra service — it is the law in California. We are surprised how often it isn’t the norm.
Ready to plan a Title 24 compliant re-roof? Schedule a free inspection — we assess your existing roof, walk through which products fit your home, and write a flat-rate quote with full CRRC documentation. Call (209) 667-7737 or use the contact form.