Kitchen Remodel: When Title 24 Is Triggered
The remodel itself triggers nothing; specific changes do. New light fittings, a replaced range hood, a moved or enlarged window, more than 25 feet of new duct and added floor area each bring their own rules. New cabinets, counters and flooring bring none.
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Lights: a single fitting counts
The compliance manual works through a kitchen with six old recessed cans and one new luminaire over the sink (Example 9-47). The new and the altered luminaires meet Section 150.0(k)1, but the old screw-base sockets may stay if JA8 trim kits or lamps made for recessed fittings go in. Replace a whole can and the new one cannot be screw-base (Example 9-48). Two new cans do not make the ceiling an altered ceiling, so no attic insulation is triggered (Example 9-23). Details are on replacing light fixtures.
The hood: what did the last permit require?
A replaced kitchen fan follows Section 150.2(b)1Mii, and the answer turns on the home's permit history. If the earlier permit required the Section 150.0(o)1G airflow or capture efficiency, the new hood meets it. If that permit only required a vented fan, the replacement matches that airflow or 100 cfm, whichever is greater. If neither, the rule does not apply. Sizes are on the range hood page.
Windows and skylights
Relocating a 25 square foot window within the same wall is a replacement under Section 150.2(b)1B, and Exception 1 lets up to 75 square feet of replaced glass meet U-0.40, plus SHGC 0.35 in zones 2, 4 and 6 to 14, while zone 15 stays at 0.23 (Example 9-25). A replaced skylight must reach U-0.40 and SHGC 0.30.
Ducts under the new layout
Re-running supply or return ducts for a new island or soffit counts once more than 25 feet of new or replacement duct goes in: sealing is tested, and ducts in unconditioned space take R-6 in zones 3 and 5 to 7 or R-8 elsewhere. Any length in a garage is caught.
A bigger room
Taking in an adjacent conditioned room inside the existing walls is still an alteration. Pushing the exterior wall out adds both floor area and volume, which makes it an addition: see kitchen expansion. The whole-house version of this sorting is in the whole-house checklist, and the fuller kitchen service page is here.
Common Title 24 Questions
- When is Title 24 required for a home?
- Does a remodel need Title 24?
- Does a room addition need Title 24?
- What plans are needed for a residential Title 24 report?
- How much does a residential Title 24 report cost?
- How long does a residential Title 24 report take?
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The compliance manual says installing new recessed cans is a lighting alteration, not a ceiling alteration, so the attic insulation and air sealing rules are not triggered.
Not by itself. A window is an alteration unless it adds floor area and volume together, as a floor-to-ceiling bay does.
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View all Additions and Remodels guides → · Permits and Compliance · Title 24 guide