Incandescent bulbs are effectively illegal to sell in California, but they are not illegal to own or use. Since January 1, 2018, state law has required general service light bulbs sold in California to produce at least 45 lumens per watt, a standard that traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs cannot meet. The rule applies to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. If you already have incandescent bulbs at home, you can keep using them until they burn out.
The Efficiency Rule Behind the Ban
California’s lighting rules sit in Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations, which sets minimum energy efficiency levels for appliances sold in the state. For general service lamps, that minimum is 45 lumens per watt. Lumens measure visible light output; watts measure electricity used. The ratio is a straight efficiency score.1California Energy Commission. Appliance Efficiency Regulations – Title 20
A typical 60-watt incandescent produces about 800 lumens, or roughly 13 lumens per watt. That’s less than a third of what California requires. Halogen bulbs reach about 20 lumens per watt and still fall short. LEDs routinely exceed 75 lumens per watt, well above the threshold.
The California Energy Commission adopted the standards in December 2008 and phased in enforcement. The 45 lumens per watt rule took effect for standard A-shape bulbs made on or after January 1, 2018. On January 1, 2020, California broadened the rule to cover more shapes by adopting wider federal definitions of what counts as a general service lamp.2California Energy Commission. Regulatory Advisory – Appliance Efficiency Regulations for General Service Lamps
Which Bulbs the Rule Covers
The standard applies to general service lamps: the bulbs most people put in ceiling fixtures, table lamps, and overhead lighting. Since California’s 2020 expansion, that category also includes candelabra-style bulbs used in chandeliers, reflector bulbs used in recessed cans, and three-way bulbs. If you need one of these shapes for a fixture in California, you’ll need to buy an LED version.2California Energy Commission. Regulatory Advisory – Appliance Efficiency Regulations for General Service Lamps
A number of specialty bulbs are exempt because federal law excludes them from the general service lamp definition, and California follows those exclusions:3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 US Code 6291 – Definitions
- Appliance lamps inside ovens, refrigerators, and microwaves
- Colored lamps designed to produce non-white light
- Plant lights intended for horticulture
- Infrared heat lamps used for warming rather than lighting
- Bug lamps and black lights
- Rough service and vibration service lamps built for industrial use
- Marine and marine signal service lamps
- Mine service lamps for underground operations
- Sign service lamps used in commercial signage
- Shatter-resistant lamps with protective coatings
What This Means If You Already Own Incandescents
You can keep using the incandescent bulbs you already have. The regulations target anyone who “sells or offers for sale” a non-compliant bulb, not people who own or use one. There is no penalty for burning through your existing supply.
Buying new ones is the problem. The ban covers online retailers and mail-order sellers shipping to California addresses, not just brick-and-mortar stores. Compliant bulbs must be listed in the CEC’s appliance database before they can be sold in the state.4California Energy Commission. State-Regulated LED and Small Diameter Directional Lamps Frequently Asked Questions
Reselling old incandescent bulbs at a garage sale or on a marketplace app is a grayer area. The regulation covers anyone who sells or offers to sell a non-compliant bulb and doesn’t carve out an exception for individuals. Major online platforms have already started removing listings for non-compliant incandescents.
Penalties for Retailers
Enforcement runs through the California Energy Commission, which 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 quickly. A retailer caught with a case of 48 non-compliant bulbs could face up to $120,000 in fines from that single case. When setting penalties, the CEC considers the seriousness of the violation and the number of units involved.6California Energy Commission. Enforcement Case Settlements That’s why non-compliant bulbs have largely disappeared from mainstream shelves.
Buying LED Replacements
Essentially every LED bulb on the market clears the 45 lumens per watt standard, so if you’re buying LEDs you’re already compliant. They now come in the same shapes, sizes, and color temperatures as the incandescents they replaced, including warm-toned versions that mimic filament bulbs.
The FTC-required “Lighting Facts” label on the packaging is the fastest way to compare bulbs. Two numbers matter: brightness in lumens and energy used in watts.7Federal Trade Commission. The FTC Lighting Facts Label: Questions and Answers for Manufacturers Rough equivalents for replacing familiar incandescent wattages:
- 40-watt replacement: about 450 lumens
- 60-watt replacement: about 800 lumens
- 75-watt replacement: about 1,100 lumens
- 100-watt replacement: about 1,600 lumens
The label also shows color temperature. If you liked the warm glow of incandescent bulbs, look for LEDs rated at 2,700K. Cooler, bluer light sits at 5,000K and above. A single LED usually lasts 15 to 25 times longer than the incandescent it replaces, so the higher shelf price pays back through both electricity and how rarely you have to change the bulb.