LightingControlSystems

Washington's lighting rules
have a countdown on them.

On January 1, 2029, fluorescent tubes and CFLs come off the shelves in Washington — and Clean Buildings compliance deadlines start hitting large commercial buildings in June 2026. If your building still runs on fluorescent lighting, the smart money retrofits on your schedule, not the deadline's.

Plan the upgrade. Don't get caught by the clock.

The compliance clock

DateWhat happens
June 1, 2026Clean Buildings compliance due — buildings over 220,000 sq ft
June 1, 2027Clean Buildings — 90,000–220,000 sq ft
July 1, 2027Clean Buildings Tier 2 reporting — 20,000–50,000 sq ft + multifamily over 20,000 sq ft
June 1, 2028Clean Buildings — 50,000–90,000 sq ft
Jan 1, 2029Sale of CFL and linear fluorescent lamps prohibited in WA (HB 1185)
July 1, 2029Retailers' existing fluorescent stock sell-through ends

Sources: WA Dept. of Commerce — Clean Buildings · HB 1185 session law

The 2029 Fluorescent Ban, Explained

What HB 1185 actually prohibits, what's exempt, and why "we'll just stock up on tubes" is a plan with an expiration date.

Lighting Controls Basics

Occupancy, vacancy, and daylight-responsive controls — what they do, where the energy code wants them, and what a retrofit actually involves.

LED Retrofits

Fixture-for-fixture swaps, tube conversions, and full redesigns — matched to your building and budget, with utility rebates factored in.

Daylighting & Sensors

Daylight zones, photocells, and automatic dimming that satisfy the energy code and cut the bill at the same time.

Get ahead of the deadline

Elevated Systems LLC is a licensed Washington electrical contractor serving the Puget Sound area. We'll walk your building, inventory what the 2029 ban touches, and give you a straight answer on what an upgrade costs — including the utility rebates that shrink it.

We’ll take it from there — or email us instead.

Compliance information summarized from Washington state sources linked above; verify requirements for your specific building with the Department of Commerce or your code authority. This page is general information, not legal advice.