Cool Roof Requirements: San Jose vs Sunnyvale
How do cool roof requirements rules compare between San Jose, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
San Jose and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
California Title 24 Part 6 sets cool-roof solar reflectance and thermal-emittance minimums for low-slope and steep-slope roofs. San Jose reach codes under SJMC Chapter 17.84 layer additional efficiency requirements on new construction and major reroofs.
View full San Jose rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Title B Building Code adopts CALGreen Title 24 Part 11 baseline plus reach-code amendments requiring cool roofing on new construction and major reroofs in unincorporated areas. Reflective materials must meet minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance ratings under Title 24 Part 6.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Jose | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| State code | Title 24 Part 6 cool roof | - |
| Low-slope reflectance | Minimum 0.63 aged | 0.55 aged minimum |
| Climate zone | San Jose Climate Zone 4 | - |
| Reach code | SJMC Chapter 17.84 | - |
| Certification body | Cool Roof Rating Council | - |
| County citation | - | SCC Code Title B Building Code |
| State baseline | - | CALGreen Title 24 Part 11 |
| Steep-slope reflectance | - | 0.20 aged in CZ 3-4 |
| Enforcement | - | SCC Planning and Development |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Jose FAQ
Does my reroof need a cool-roof product?
If you replace more than 50% of the roof area on most buildings, prescriptive Title 24 cool-roof requirements apply. Repairs under 50% generally do not trigger compliance, though local reach code may differ.
Are tile roofs exempt?
Concrete and clay tiles often comply through inherent thermal mass and color credits. Many natural-clay tiles meet the Title 24 steep-slope reflectance standard without coatings, but documentation is still required at permit.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Do I need a cool roof when I patch my existing roof?
Repairs of less than 50 percent of total roof area are exempt. Reroof projects exceeding that threshold trigger Title 24 cool-roof requirements with specific aged reflectance and emittance values matched to slope and CEC Climate Zone.
Can I get a rebate for a cool roof?
Yes. PG&E, BayREN, and Silicon Valley Clean Energy rebates plus CRRC-rated material rebates from manufacturers can offset costs. Check Energy Upgrade California listings for current cool-roof and heat-pump combined incentives.
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