Title 24 Plan Check Corrections: Common Ones and Fixes

Most Title 24 corrections happen because the energy report and the drawings disagree, or because the paperwork is incomplete. The design itself is usually fine. Fix the mismatch, mark where you fixed it, and resubmit.

This page is built from two public sources: the CEC's 2025 Single-Family Compliance Manual, which lists what plan checkers compare, and Los Angeles County's 2025 energy correction sheet for single-family buildings. Your city's list may be shorter or longer, but the themes repeat.

What the plan checker is doing

The CEC's manual says the plans examiner checks that the drawings match the CF1R, and that the CF1R has no errors. They compare the two across these areas:

Envelope: wall, ceiling and floor insulation, and window and door U-factor and SHGC.
Roof: roof deck insulation, radiant barrier, vented or unvented attic, and cool roof.
HVAC: equipment efficiency (SEER2, EER2, AFUE), ducts, ventilation and thermostats.
Water heating: equipment and pipe insulation.
Lighting: efficacy and controls.
Solar and batteries: PV size and orientation, shading, and battery-ready items.

So every number on the CF1R needs a matching number somewhere on the plans.

Common corrections and the fix for each

Correction	Why it happens	How to fix it
CF1R not reproduced on the plans	Report attached as loose pages	Print it on plan sheets. LA County says forms must be legible and not taped or stapled
Missing signatures or license number	Designer or consultant did not sign	Responsible designer and documentation author both sign. In the registry, they sign online
CF1R not registered	Project needs ECC testing but a draft was submitted	Submit the registered copy with its registration number
Window schedule does not match	Schedule shows different U-factor or SHGC, or none	Add U-factor and SHGC for every window, matching the CF1R
Equipment not shown	HVAC or water heater efficiency missing from plans	Add the model, size and efficiency, plus spec sheets if asked
Wrong climate zone	Zone picked by city name or old map	Check the address in the CEC climate zone tool and rerun the report
Software version no longer approved	Report run in an outdated version	Rerun in a version on the CEC's current approved list
Mandatory measures not noted	Plans have no energy notes	Add the mandatory measures notes your department asks for
One CF1R for several buildings	ADU and garage combined, or two ADUs on one form	Each building needs its own CF1R
Battery-ready items missing	New home with service over 125 amps	Show the battery-ready items: backed-up circuits or a raceway to a subpanel, a 225-amp main busbar and space for a transfer switch. Not needed if a battery is installed
Heat pump sizing questioned	No load calculation, or equipment far from the load	Include the heating and cooling load results. The CF1R must include them

Signatures: who signs what

Responsible designer. The person in charge of the building design. LA County asks for the license number when the Business and Professions Code requires a licensed designer. For wood-framed homes up to two stories that do not need a licensed designer, the CEC manual says the builder may sign in the designer block. The ECC-Rater may not.
Documentation author. The energy consultant who prepared the report.

If the CF1R is registered, both signatures happen online in the CHEERS registry before the registered copy is printed. Our guide CF1R, CF2R and CF3R explained covers the signing order.

Notes plan checkers ask for

LA County asks for two sets of notes on the plans. Other cities ask for some or all of them. Ask your plan checker for their list.

Administrative notes. Installers post Certificates of Installation (CF2R) with the permit. The builder gives the owner the compliance, operating, maintenance and ventilation information at occupancy. The certificate of occupancy is not issued until all required Certificates of Verification (CF3R) are in.
Mandatory measures. Window labels, air sealing, setback thermostats, pipe insulation, duct sealing and insulation, ventilation to ASHRAE 62.2, lighting to Joint Appendix JA8, and no equipment or vents in the solar zone, among others.

The CEC publishes a free five-page 2025 Single-Family Mandatory Requirements Summary that lists them all.

How to respond to an energy correction

Read each comment and find the code section it cites.
Sort them: report fixes go to your energy consultant, drawing fixes go to your designer.
If the report changes and needs registration, register the revised CF1R and use that copy.
Update the plans so every number matches the new CF1R.
Write on the correction sheet where each fix is, by sheet number. LA County asks applicants to do this and sign the sheet.
Resubmit the revised sheets the way your department asks.

If your plans change after the report

The 2025 Energy Code says that if a feature changes before construction is finished, so that the building may no longer comply, it must be brought back into compliance. The change has to be shown on amended plans and an amended Certificate of Compliance, submitted for approval.

Changes that usually need a revised report:

Bigger, smaller, added or moved windows.
A different window product with new ratings.
A different heat pump, furnace, air conditioner or water heater.
Moving ducts into or out of the attic.
Changes to wall, roof or floor construction or insulation.
Added floor area.

Changes like interior finishes, cabinets or a non-structural wall moved inside the same space usually do not affect the energy model. When in doubt, ask your consultant.

How to avoid corrections in the first place

Confirm the climate zone from the address before the report starts.
Put a window schedule on the plans with sizes, U-factor and SHGC.
Decide the HVAC and water heater equipment before the report, and show them on the plans.
Register the CF1R before submitting if anything needs ECC testing.
Print the CF1R on full-size sheets unless your department says otherwise.
Add the mandatory measures notes your department uses.
Re-check the CF1R against the final plans right before you submit.

For the bigger picture, see our complete Title 24 guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Why did plan check reject my Title 24 report?

Most energy corrections are mismatches, not design failures. The plan checker compares the CF1R with your drawings, and any difference in window ratings, equipment, insulation or climate zone gets flagged.

Does the CF1R have to be printed on the plans?

The 2025 Energy Code says that when plans are required, the Certificate of Compliance must be incorporated into them. The CEC's compliance manual says most building departments want it printed on sheets the same size as the plan set. Some allow other formats, so ask yours.

Who has to sign the CF1R?

The person responsible for the building design signs it, and the energy consultant signs as documentation author. Los Angeles County's correction sheet also asks for the designer's license number where the Business and Professions Code calls for one.

My plans changed after the report was done. Do I need a new one?

If the change could affect compliance, yes. The 2025 Energy Code says changed features must be brought back into compliance and shown on amended plans and an amended Certificate of Compliance submitted for approval.

What if the plan checker asks for something not in the Energy Code?

Some items, like CALGreen or local energy ordinances, come from other codes. Ask the plan checker which code section the comment is based on. That tells you who should answer it: the energy consultant, the designer or the builder.

Title 24 plan-check corrections: the common ones and how to fix them