The short version
California regulates HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants more aggressively than the federal government. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) authorized under California's AB-32 climate law has phased down HFC sales ahead of the federal AIM Act schedule. Some equipment classes were restricted as early as 2022, others by 2025. Selling refrigerant into California without registering with CARB and labeling product to CA-specific standards exposes the seller to state enforcement.
Delta Refrigerants is a Houston, TX based supplier shipping nationwide via UPS Ground. Our checkout blocks California shipping addresses to keep us compliant with our federal-only distribution model. The other 49 US states are unaffected.
What CARB regulates
CARB's refrigerant rules cover three things: GWP caps on refrigerant in new equipment classes (similar to the AIM Act but on a faster timeline and broader equipment scope), leak-rate inspection requirements for certain commercial refrigeration systems above 50 lbs charge, and distributor reporting and labeling for HFC refrigerant sold into the state. The third bucket is what affects out-of-state suppliers like us — even shipping a single 25 lb cylinder of R-410A into CA triggers the labeling and reporting obligation.
The AB-32 / SB-1383 background
California's 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act (AB-32) directed CARB to develop regulations for high-GWP greenhouse gases, including refrigerants. SB-1383 (2016) accelerated the timeline, requiring CARB to reduce HFC emissions 40% below 2013 levels by 2030. CARB's implementation includes the Stationary Refrigeration Programs (effective 2018, expanded 2022) and the Refrigerant Management Program. The state-level rules pre-date the federal AIM Act of 2020 and remain stricter on several equipment classes.
What this means if you're in California
You're not without options. Major national HVAC distributors all maintain CARB- registered fulfillment in California — Johnstone Supply, Baker Distributing, Heritage Building Products, and Ferguson HVAC all run CA branches. Manufacturer-direct programs (Honeywell, Chemours, Daikin) also have CA-licensed authorized dealers. Most CA contractors order through one of those channels. Pricing typically runs 5-15% higher than out-of-state due to compliance overhead.
We ship to all 49 other US states
Texas (our home market with same-day Houston delivery), Florida, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, New York, Illinois, and 37 others all ship via free UPS Ground from our Richmond, TX warehouse. EPA Section 608 verified at checkout, factory-sealed AHRI-700 cylinders, no surcharges, no minimums.
