California cities face months of delays in building code approvals

A California law called AB130, passed to speed up affordable housing, has also put a years-long freeze on local building code updates. The law allows some exceptions for cities and counties that want to adopt stronger energy rules tied to their existing climate plans, known as "reach codes." These local rules go beyond state efficiency standards, often by encouraging homeowners to replace a broken air conditioner with a heat pump, a system that both heats and cools, instead of installing another one-way AC.

Since the freeze began in October 2025, 21 cities and counties have passed these reach codes, but 17 of them, from places including Alameda, Glendale, Marin County, Palo Alto, and San Luis Obispo, are still waiting on approval from the state's Building Standards Commission. Some have waited nearly a year, far longer than the days such reviews used to take. The commission says the stalled ordinances have more complex provisions and it hopes to issue decisions soon. Local officials say the delay is blocking efforts to cut pollution from gas appliances and slowing other cities from even starting the process.

If you live in one of these places, this means any extra incentives or requirements your city planned to roll out for heat pumps or other electrified upgrades may be on hold. It does not affect state-level rebate programs or existing incentives, but it's worth checking with your own city or county to see whether a local reach code is still pending before you plan upgrade timing around it.