Title 24 reports for San José permits.
San José put a real number in its own energy code — an 8-point source-energy margin — and then took it back out. Much of the web still quotes the number.
The city took its own energy number out
Ordinance 31081 added SJMC § 24.12.600: a new single-family building on the performance path had to meet the TDV budget and a source-energy compliance margin of at least 8 — at least 2.5 at 1,200 square feet or less. The CEC approved it on 10/3/2024 for the 2022 Energy Code. Then Ordinance 31257, adopted November 18, 2025, amended Chapter 24.12 in its entirety. It now holds one section, § 24.12.100, adopting the 2025 California Energy Code with no local amendments. The margin is repealed effective January 1, 2026, San José is not on the CEC’s 2025 approved list, and anyone still modelling to 8 points is a code cycle behind.
Every San José ZIP maps to Climate Zone 4, with no split-zone question. What is left is documentation. Bulletin #211 requires the CF1R to be incorporated into the plans, and on the performance method every page must carry the same Report Generated date and time, registered with a HERS provider where verification applies. Single-family mechanical, electrical and plumbing are never plan-checked; the city’s own footnote sends them to the field inspector. Published review runs 10 working days for a one-story addition and 20 for a new house, with a banner asking you to add two to three weeks. On the preapproved ADU track the city still expects site-specific energy documents from you.
One thing that doesn’t change by city: my price and turnaround are flat statewide — $99 first report, $150 flat after, 24–48 hours on your first job. What differs city to city is what happens on the plan-check side before and after the CF1R lands in your permit set, which is what this page covers.
Prices
Flat fees, in writing before I start. No hourly, no bid package, no change-order games — the number on the quote is the number on the invoice.
Your first report with me
One per client, homes under 3,000 square feet. Full energy model, CF1R and CHEERS registration. It’s a test run — send one job and see how it goes.
Every model after the first
The standard rate once you’re a client — the second building, ADU plus main house, the next project that walks in. Back in 3 business days.
Over 3,000 square feet
Quoted from the plans before any work starts, same day.
24×36 plan-sheet set
Your CF1R laid out full size, matched to your drawing set. Comes back as a PDF you drop straight in.
Revisions
Two revisions included, plus questions any time. Past two I quote first, before I touch it.
Commercial / tenant improvement
Send the plans and you’ll have a flat quote back the same day. No deposit, no minimum.
One honest note
I’m not a licensed engineer or architect, and I don’t stamp drawings. On the CF1R I’m the documentation author — you stay the responsible designer. Nothing about your role on the job changes.
That’s on purpose. I’m not after your scope or your clients. I do one piece of the permit set — the piece that usually holds it up — and I do it fast.
San José plan-check questions
If yours isn’t here, see the full FAQ or call and ask.
Is San José’s 8-point energy margin still in effect?
Who reviews the HVAC on a San José single-family permit?
Does the project need HERS field verification?
Sometimes — typically for duct leakage, refrigerant charge, or certain heat-pump and quality-insulation measures. The CF1R lists exactly which measures need it, and I’ll flag it in the email so it isn’t a surprise at inspection. The field testing itself is done by a third-party HERS rater the owner or contractor hires; that’s outside what I do.
What do you need from me to start?
A PDF of the architecturals and the project address. Floor plans, elevations and a window schedule is plenty.
You don’t need the HVAC or water heater picked. If the plans don’t call them out, I model what I’d normally specify for that job — and I list every assumption in the email so nothing is buried. Swap any of it and I rerun; that doesn’t count against your free revisions.
The design doesn’t have to be finished either. Early is often better, because that’s when a compliance problem is still cheap to fix.
Send your San José plans.
New house, addition or preapproved ADU, the CF1R comes back signed and formatted to be incorporated into the plan sheets, with one Report Generated stamp across every page.