Many reroofs in Los Angeles hit a cool-roof requirement, but whether one applies depends on the building type, the roof's slope, and which of LA's three climate zones it sits in. The thresholds themselves are the same in every zone the rule covers.
What are you reroofing?
The City of Los Angeles spans three Title 24 climate zones: CZ 6 (coastal, including the Westside), CZ 8 (South and East LA, Inglewood, Culver City and inland South Bay ZIP codes) and CZ 9 (the San Fernando Valley). LA County reaches into CZ 14 and 16 in the mountains. Torrance ZIPs 90504 and 90506 and Long Beach ZIPs 90805, 90807 and 90808 are CZ 8. The California Energy Commission's climate-zone lookup is the authority for any specific parcel; the zone only decides whether a rule applies, not what the minimums are.
| Building type | Roof slope | Zones where the rule applies | In LA (zones 6, 8 & 9) | Minimum (aged SR / TE / SRI) | Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family | Steep-slope (2:12 or steeper) | 4, 8–15 | Zones 8 and 9 only; coastal zone 6 has no requirement | 0.20 / 0.75 / 16 | Reroof of the building |
| Single-family | Low-slope | 4, 6–15 | Zones 6, 8 and 9 | 0.63 / 0.75 / 75 | Reroof of the building |
| Multifamily | Low-slope | 2, 4, 6–15 | Zones 6, 8 and 9 | 0.63 / 0.75 / 75 | More than 50% of the roof or more than 2,000 sq ft, whichever is less, is altered |
| Multifamily | Steep-slope | 4, 8–15 | Zones 8 and 9 only | 0.20 / 0.75 / 16 | Same as above |
| Nonresidential | Low-slope | All climate zones | Zones 6, 8 and 9 | 0.63 / 0.75 / 75 | Same as above |
Cool Roof Rating Council, "CRRC Chart of CEC's 2022 Title 24, Part 6 Cool Roof Requirements", and the CRRC 2025 summary chart dated December 4, 2025, which shows the reroof values unchanged.
Each rule above carries exceptions. Nonresidential: low-U-factor tradeoffs, BIPV-covered areas, and roof assemblies of 25 lb/ft² or more. Single-family steep-slope: R-38 ceiling insulation (or U-factor of 0.025 or lower), a radiant barrier, no attic ducts in some zones, or roofs of 25 lb/ft² or more. Single-family low-slope: roof-deck insulation can substitute. A contractor familiar with Title 24 compliance forms can tell you whether your project qualifies for one.
Solar reflectance (SR) is the share of sunlight the roof reflects rather than absorbs, tested at a 3-year-aged value. Thermal emittance (TE) is how well the material releases absorbed heat. Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) combines both into a single number. All three are tested and certified by the Cool Roof Rating Council, and a compliant product carries a CRRC label showing them.
California's Energy Code runs on cycles. The 2025 Energy Code has applied to permits applied for since January 1, 2026, and the CRRC's 2025 summary chart (dated December 4, 2025) shows the reroof cool-roof values unchanged from the 2022 cycle. The table above is current. The permit itself is still where the exact numbers for your building are confirmed.
On the permit package, the roofing product's CRRC Product ID and its rated solar reflectance, thermal emittance and SRI get documented against the code minimum for your building type, slope and climate zone. That's the paper trail an inspector checks.
If you manage a warehouse or retail building, the nonresidential low-slope rule applies, not the single-family thresholds above. It's the broadest: every climate zone, triggered when more than 50% of the roof or more than 2,000 sq ft (whichever is less) is altered. Multifamily buildings have their own rows in the table, with the same trigger. See commercial roofing in Los Angeles for how that plays into a coating restoration or reroof. Homeowners replacing a steep-slope roof can start from Roofing Los Angeles for the residential side.
Not sure whether your reroof needs a cool-roof product, or which one qualifies? Send us a note before you buy material.
LADWP's residential Consumer Rebate Program includes a cool roof rebate.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base rebate | $0.20 per sq ft |
| Enhanced rebate | Up to $0.60 per sq ft for higher-SRI qualifying products |
| Household cap | $1,800 |
| Eligibility | Active LADWP residential electric service; product meets LA Green Building Code's 3-year-aged SRI standard per CRRC |
| Area covered | Conditioned-space roof area only; patios, carports and unconditioned overhangs excluded |
| How to apply | Paid itemized invoice showing the CRRC Product ID, the final approved permit, and your LADWP bill, postmarked within 12 months of purchase |
| Commercial | Routes through LADWP's separate Custom Performance Program, not this residential rebate |
LADWP Consumer Rebate Program and LADWP CRP Fact Sheet. Funds are first-come, first-served and can run out; confirm current terms on LADWP's own page before applying.
A roofing product rated and labeled by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) that meets the minimum aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance, combined into a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI), for your building type, roof slope and climate zone. Reflectance, emittance and SRI are the three metrics the CRRC tests and certifies.
For steep-slope single-family reroofs, yes. The steep-slope cool-roof rule applies in climate zones 4 and 8 through 15, which covers zone 8 (South and East LA, Inglewood, Culver City, inland South Bay) and zone 9 (San Fernando Valley) but not coastal zone 6, so a steep-slope single-family reroof in zone 6 has no cool-roof requirement. Single-family low-slope reroofs are covered in zones 4 and 6 through 15, and nonresidential low-slope reroofs in every zone. The thresholds are the same wherever a rule applies. The CEC's climate-zone lookup settles any specific parcel.
Not for reroof values. The 2025 Energy Code has applied to permits applied for since January 1, 2026, and the CRRC's 2025 summary chart (dated December 4, 2025) shows the reroof cool-roof values unchanged from the 2022 cycle.
Yes. LADWP offers it through its Consumer Rebate Program for residential customers, with funds first-come, first-served, so confirm current terms on LADWP's page. Commercial cool-roof projects go through a separate program, LADWP's Custom Performance Program.
A base rebate of $0.20 per square foot, rising to up to $0.60 per square foot for higher-SRI qualifying products, capped at $1,800 per household.
You need active LADWP residential electric service, and the roofing product must meet the LA Green Building Code's 3-year-aged SRI standard per CRRC. The rebate applies only to conditioned-space roof area, not patios, carports or unconditioned overhangs, and the application (with a paid itemized invoice showing the CRRC Product ID, the final approved permit, and your LADWP bill) must be postmarked within 12 months of purchase. Funds are first-come, first-served and can run out.
The permit package documents the roofing product's CRRC Product ID and its rated solar reflectance, thermal emittance and SRI against the code's minimum for your building type, slope and climate zone. For the LADWP rebate specifically, you'll separately need that CRRC Product ID plus the final approved permit and a paid itemized invoice.
The nonresidential low-slope rule is broader than the single-family rules: it applies in every California climate zone, including all three LA zones, whenever more than 50% of the roof or more than 2,000 square feet, whichever is less, is altered, at a higher reflectance and SRI threshold than the steep-slope minimum. Multifamily buildings have their own rows, with the same trigger.
Tell us your address or ZIP, your roof type and slope. A roofer can then confirm your climate zone and what a compliant reroof needs.