Yes, incandescent bulbs are effectively illegal in California, but only on the sales side. Since 2018, state law has required general service light bulbs to produce at least 45 lumens per watt, and standard incandescent and halogen bulbs cannot meet that threshold. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers cannot sell them in the state. If you already own incandescent bulbs, you can keep using them until they burn out. You will not be fined for having them in your lamps.
Why Incandescents Fail the Standard
California’s efficiency rule for lighting lives in Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations. It sets a minimum of 45 lumens per watt for general service lamps, the everyday bulbs that go in ceiling fixtures, table lamps, and overhead lighting.1California Energy Commission. Appliance Efficiency Regulations – Title 20 Lumens measure the light a bulb puts out; watts measure the electricity it uses. The ratio is a measure of efficiency.
A typical 60-watt incandescent produces about 800 lumens, which works out to roughly 13 lumens per watt. That is less than a third of what the state requires. Halogens do a little better, around 20 lumens per watt, and still fall well short. LED bulbs routinely clear 75 lumens per watt, so almost any LED on the market complies.
The 45 lumens per watt rule first applied to standard A-shape bulbs made on or after January 1, 2018. On January 1, 2020, California pulled in more shapes under the same rule, including candelabra-style, reflector, and three-way bulbs.2California Energy Commission. Regulatory Advisory – Appliance Efficiency Regulations for General Service Lamps
Which Incandescent Bulbs Are Still Allowed
The ban targets general service lamps. A long list of specialty bulbs sits outside that category and can still be sold as incandescents.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 US Code 6291 – Definitions Exempt types include:
- Appliance lamps inside ovens, refrigerators, and microwaves
- Colored lamps that produce non-white light by design
- Plant lights designed for horticulture
- Infrared heat lamps, used for warming rather than illumination
- Bug lamps and black lights
- Rough service and vibration service lamps built for industrial environments
- Marine and marine signal service lamps
- Mine service lamps
- Sign service lamps for commercial signage
- Shatter-resistant lamps with protective coatings
One category trips people up. Federal law originally exempted candelabra-shaped bulbs for chandeliers, three-way bulbs, and reflector bulbs for recessed cans. California closed that gap in 2020 and now treats all three as general service lamps.2California Energy Commission. Regulatory Advisory – Appliance Efficiency Regulations for General Service Lamps If you need a flame-tip bulb for a chandelier or a reflector for a recessed light in California, you will need to buy the LED version.
If You’re a Buyer
Nothing in the regulations penalizes you for owning or using incandescent bulbs. Bulbs you already have are yours to keep burning. The restriction is on anyone selling or offering non-compliant bulbs within California, including online sellers and mail-order retailers shipping to California addresses.4California Energy Commission. State-Regulated LED and Small Diameter Directional Lamps Frequently Asked Questions
Reselling is a trickier question. The regulations apply to anyone who “sells or offers for sale” a non-compliant product, with no exception written in for private individuals at garage sales or on resale sites. Major online platforms have started pulling listings for non-compliant incandescents, which suggests enforcement is moving in that direction.
Penalties on the Retailer Side
The California Energy Commission enforces the standard and can impose administrative civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each non-compliant unit sold or offered for sale.5California Legislative Information. California Public Resources Code 25402.11 Because the fine is per bulb, exposure adds up fast. A case of 48 non-compliant bulbs could carry up to $120,000 in theoretical penalties.
When setting the actual amount, the CEC weighs factors like the seriousness of the violation and the number of non-compliant units involved.6California Energy Commission. Enforcement Case Settlements That is the main reason you will not find traditional incandescents on the shelves at major retailers in the state.
Shopping for Replacements
Almost every LED bulb sold today meets the 45 lumens per watt standard, so buying LEDs puts you in compliance by default. LEDs come in the same shapes, sizes, and color temperatures as the incandescents they replaced, including warm-toned versions made to mimic old filament bulbs.
The FTC-required “Lighting Facts” label on the package is the fastest way to compare. Look at brightness (lumens) and energy used (watts); divide lumens by watts for efficiency.7Federal Trade Commission. The FTC Lighting Facts Label: Questions and Answers for Manufacturers Rough equivalents for the wattages you probably know:
- 40-watt incandescent: look for around 450 lumens
- 60-watt incandescent: look for around 800 lumens
- 75-watt incandescent: look for around 1,100 lumens
- 100-watt incandescent: look for around 1,600 lumens
The label also lists color temperature in Kelvin. If you liked the warm glow of an incandescent, choose an LED rated at 2,700K. Higher numbers up to 5,000K and above give you cooler, bluer light. A single LED typically lasts 15 to 25 times longer than the incandescent it replaces, so what you spend upfront comes back in electricity and replacement bulbs you no longer have to buy.