What are the most common Title 24 mistakes causing plan check rejections?

Most Title 24 rejections come down to a handful of avoidable issues: the equipment on the plans doesn't match the report, the report wasn't registered, the wrong climate zone or code cycle was used, or required controls and provisions were left off the drawings. Almost all of them stem from preparing the energy report separately from the MEP plans.

The most frequent rejection causes

• Equipment doesn't match the CF1R. The single most common correction — the HVAC efficiency, water-heater type, or lighting on the plans falls below what the energy report assumed.
• Unregistered report. A CF1R must be registered with an approved data registry; an unregistered PDF printout is frequently rejected at intake even when the numbers are correct.
• Wrong climate zone or code cycle. An incorrect project address, or using the prior code cycle after the cutoff, applies the wrong minimums.
• Missing lighting controls. No vacancy/occupancy sensor where one is required, or exterior fixtures without a photocontrol or motion sensor.
• Missing solar-ready / ESS-ready provisions. Conduit routing and reserved panel space not shown on the electrical sheets.
• Recessed-fixture and envelope gaps. Recessed cans not called out as airtight and IC-rated; insulation or window values inconsistent between the report and the plans.
• Stale report after a design change. Moving a wall, window, or the water heater changes the energy model, but the CF1R wasn't updated to match.

How to avoid them — a pre-submittal checklist

1. Equipment make/model/efficiency on the plans matches the CF1R exactly.
2. The CF1R is registered, not just printed.
3. Project address, climate zone, and code cycle are confirmed and correct.
4. Required dimmers, vacancy sensors, and exterior photocontrols are noted on the electrical sheets.
5. Solar PV requirement or exception is documented, and solar-ready/ESS-ready conduit is shown.
6. Recessed cans are airtight/IC-rated; envelope values are consistent across documents.
7. The floor plan is locked — no layout changes after the report is built.

The thread running through nearly every rejection is a mismatch between the report and the plans. Preparing both together is the most reliable way to eliminate it.

The applicable code cycle and local amendments vary — confirm with your local building department. We coordinate the registered CF1R with your mechanical, electrical, and plumbing sheets as a +$240 Title 24 add-on to head off these corrections; see how it works or place an order.