California's Garage Door Battery Backup Law.
What Bakersfield homeowners need to know about SB 969, wildfire safety, and garage door operation during power outages.
ASK A LOCAL GARAGE DOOR EXPERTWhy Does Your Garage Door Need a Backup Battery?
Most homeowners rely on their automatic garage door opener every day.
But what happens when the power goes out?
Without electricity, a traditional garage door opener cannot operate normally. Although many garage doors have a manual emergency release, manually lifting a heavy door may be difficult for some homeowners.
"During an emergency, being able to open your garage door can make a critical difference."
California Senate Bill 969 was adopted to improve residential garage door safety during electrical outages.
California Wildfires Changed the Conversation.
The devastating California wildfires of 2017 raised serious concerns about emergency evacuation and access to garage doors during power outages.
When electricity fails, an automatic garage door opener without battery backup stops operating electrically.
For homeowners who cannot easily lift their garage doors manually, that can create a dangerous obstacle during an evacuation.
In response, California lawmakers passed Senate Bill 969 in 2018.
Safety Shouldn't Stop When the Power Does.
Battery backup systems are designed to allow compatible garage door openers to continue operating during an electrical outage.
This additional safety feature can help homeowners access their garage when normal electrical power is unavailable.
What Does the Law Actually Require?
Beginning July 1, 2019, California established battery backup requirements for residential automatic garage door openers.
New Garage Door Openers
Residential automatic garage door openers sold or installed in California must include a battery backup function designed to operate during electrical outages.
Replacing a Garage Door
A replacement residential garage door cannot be installed in a way that connects it to an existing automatic opener that does not meet the battery backup requirement.
Older Garage Door Openers
The law does not automatically require every homeowner to replace an older opener simply because it lacks battery backup. Replacement requirements apply when installing a new opener or replacement door.
What Happens to Your Garage Door When the Power Goes Out?
A garage door opener equipped with a functioning battery backup can continue operating during a power outage.
The number of available opening and closing cycles depends on the opener, battery condition, and operating conditions.
Battery backup systems should be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Garage Door Safety Checklist
- Check whether your opener has battery backup.
- Learn how your emergency manual release works.
- Test the battery backup according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Replace weak or failed backup batteries as recommended.
- Contact a qualified professional if your garage door is difficult to operate or appears damaged.
What Bakersfield Homeowners Ask About SB 969
Do I have to replace my old garage door opener?
Not necessarily. California SB 969 does not require automatic replacement of every existing opener without battery backup. However, if you replace your opener or install a replacement garage door, the applicable requirements must be met.
What if I replace only my garage door?
A replacement residential garage door cannot be connected to an existing automatic opener that lacks the required battery backup function.
Will my garage door work during a power outage?
If your opener has a functioning, charged battery backup, it should be able to operate during an outage, subject to the system's limitations.
Can I add a backup battery to my existing opener?
Some garage door opener models support compatible battery backup equipment, while others do not. The correct solution depends on your opener's model and design.
What if my garage door has no automatic opener?
SB 969 does not require homeowners to install an automatic opener on a manually operated garage door.
Read the Law Yourself.
We believe homeowners deserve accurate information.
California Senate Bill 969 established the battery backup requirements now found in California Health and Safety Code Section 19892.
View California HCD Information BulletinIs Your Garage Door Ready for a Power Outage?
Serving Bakersfield since 2016, Local Garage Door Services Inc. helps homeowners with garage door repairs, opener replacements, and professional installations.
CALL NOW: 661-398-6989Bakersfield, California | Established 2016 | CSLB #1038972