CaliforniaHomeowners can install heat pumps despite many association rules
Homeowners’ associations must allow many heat pump installations, while cities and counties must offer remote inspections and faster online permits for eligible replacements.
What it does
Homeowners’ associations must allow many heat pump installations and cannot charge related fees or require a particular product or contractor. They may restrict work that breaks the law or lacks a required permit.
Cities and counties must offer remote inspections for home heat pump installations starting in 2027. By 2028, most must issue permits online in real time for certain replacements by licensed contractors.
Cities and counties may generally require only one routine permit for a home heat pump installation and must waive permits for qualifying plug-in window units. Permit fees are capped in most areas, with an exception for documented higher costs.
Most cities and counties must post heat pump permit requirements and fees online and let applicants submit forms and signatures electronically.
Argument forAssociations could lose the ability to block heat pumps in many cases, even when a permit is denied or an installation raises a specific safety concern.
Argument againstFaster remote inspections and permits may save contractors and homeowners time, while load-size certifications may help ensure heat pumps fit the home.
More detail
Homeowners’ associations must allow many heat pump installations and may not charge related fees or require a particular product or contractor. This covers heat pump water heaters and heating or cooling systems serving one home, including homes in associations. An association may restrict an installation if it would break the law, or if a required permit is denied. Homeowners remain responsible for damage their equipment causes to shared areas or another member’s property. The equipment must meet applicable health and safety rules.
Cities and counties must offer asynchronous inspections and, in many areas, automated online permits for certain heat pump installations. The rules cover heat pump water heaters and heating or cooling systems serving one home. A qualifying same-location replacement is called a swapout; it excludes certain ductwork and system changes. Automated permits are for licensed contractors doing a same-location replacement that needs no new electrical panel or structural work. For heating and cooling systems, the contractor must certify a proper equipment-size calculation under penalty of perjury. An inspector may require an in-person follow-up when the work needs testing, repair, or access to an area. Cities with fewer than 5,000 people and counties with fewer than 150,000 people are exempt from the automated permit requirement. Asynchronous inspections must be offered beginning July 1, 2027. Automated permitting must be in place by July 1, 2028.
Cities and counties may require up to one routine permit per installation, must waive permits for certain plug-in window units, and must follow limits on permit fees. These rules apply to local permits for heat pump water heaters and heating or cooling systems serving one home. The window-unit exception covers qualifying window air conditioners and heat pumps. A local building official may allow more permits if written findings based on substantial evidence show a specific health or safety impact with no feasible way to avoid or reduce it. Separate permits may still be required for panel replacement or structural work. The permit-fee caps are $150 for a heat pump water heater and $200 for a heating or cooling system, unless the local government documents and publicly lists a higher reasonable fee. Smaller cities and counties are exempt from these caps. A plug-in window unit needs no permit or inspection only if it is self-contained, rated at 120 volts or less, and requires no new circuit, panel upgrade, drainage, or structural work.
Most cities and counties must publish heat pump permit requirements and fees online and accept electronic applications and signatures. The requirements cover local permits for residential heat pump water heaters and heating or cooling systems. Cities with fewer than 5,000 people and counties with fewer than 150,000 people are exempt.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 28Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 738, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 28Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 30Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 32. Noes 5. Page 5739.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB222 Wiener et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 222 Wiener Senate Third Reading By Bennett. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 24Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 60. Noes 8. Page 6385.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 17Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 17Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 17June 17 hearing postponed by committee.
- Jun 15From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.Major
- Jun 9June 10 hearing postponed by committee.
- May 18Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.Minor
- Jan 26In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB222 Wiener et al. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 8. Page 3279.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Jan 21Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jan 20From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jan 15Set for hearing January 20.
- Jan 15Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jan 14From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 3224.) (January 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 8Set for hearing January 14.
- Jan 7From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 3183.) (January 6). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.Minor
- Jan 6
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 5Re-referred to Coms. on HOUSING and L. GOV.Minor
- Jan 5Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Jan 5Withdrawn from committee.Major
- Jan 5From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jan 5Set for hearing January 6 in HOUSING pending receipt.
- 2025
- Apr 8April 8 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 705.) Reconsideration granted.Minor
- Vote recorded [First] hearing set for [04-09-2025]: Failed passage in Committee. Reconsideration granted. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Insurance]. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 28From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Mar 25Set for hearing April 8.
- Feb 5Referred to Coms. on JUD. and INS.Minor
- Jan 28From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 27.
- Jan 27Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
- Apr 8April 8 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 705.) Reconsideration granted.Minor
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