Bay Area Air District Zero-Emission Appliance Rule Workshop

Join us for a contractor-focused workshop on the Bay Area Air District's Zero-Emission Appliance Rule (Rule 9-6) and what it means for your work in the field.

Beginning January 1, 2027, newly installed residential water heaters must meet zero-nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions standards at the point of sale. These requirements will apply to all new equipment installed across the nine-county Bay Area (covering portions of Sonoma County that includes Santa Rosa).

For plumbers and contractors, this represents a shift in how routine replacement jobs are approached, from equipment selection to installation planning.

This workshop focuses on the practical side of that transition, including:

• How the rule applies to replacement scenarios
• Heat pump water heater options, including standard 240V systems, 120V retrofit solutions, and split configurations for challenging sites
• Solutions for space constraints
• What license types can do heat pump water heater install electrical work
• Available rebates and incentives, including Sonoma Clean Power programs

Presentations will be provided by:

• Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) on behalf of the Bay Area Air District
• Sonoma Clean Power (SCP)
• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) of the Redwood Empire and Better Business Bureau (BBB) SF Bay Area, with brief updates on contractor resources and support

The session includes time for Q&A, along with free food and networking opportunities with peers and industry partners.