State Fluorescent Ban: What Maintenance Teams Can Buy Now (2026)
Updated October 2026.
California and a growing list of other states have passed laws ending the sale of fluorescent lamps. If you maintain apartments, schools, hotels or offices in one of those states, your supply house can no longer sell you a replacement F32T8. The fixtures on your ceiling are still legal, and so are the lamps already in them. Each state sets its own dates and details. California's law is the most detailed example, so we use it below to show what changed, what you can still buy, and how to replace each lamp type without guessing.
California's law: what it bans, and when
California's AB 2208 (2022) prohibits selling or distributing new fluorescent lamps in the state:
- January 1, 2024: screw-base and bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps (the spiral CFLs).
- January 1, 2025: pin-base compact fluorescent lamps (the PL, quad and triple-tube lamps in downlights and wall sconces) and linear fluorescent tubes, in every length from 6 inches to 8 feet, including T5, T8, T12, U-bend and circline lamps.
The law covers sales, not use. You can keep running the fluorescent lamps and fixtures you have, and you can install lamps you already own. There was no sell-through period for distributors, so California buyers can't purchase new stock.
A short list of specialty lamps is exempt, mainly for image capture and projection, disinfection and other UV uses, tanning, medical treatment, and scientific research. Ordinary building lighting is not exempt.
Other states with bans
California is not alone. Several states have passed similar laws on their own schedules. As a company policy, we do not ship fluorescent lamps to California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island or Vermont. If you manage buildings in more than one state, check each state's dates before you stock up.
What to buy instead, by lamp type
| What you have now | LED replacement | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| T8 tubes (F17T8, F25T8, F32T8, F28T8) | LED T8 tubes, Type A, Type B or hybrid | The ballast. See the Type A vs Type B section below. |
| T5 and T5HO tubes (F28T5, F54T5HO) | LED T5 tubes | T5HO high bays often justify a new LED fixture instead of tubes. |
| T12 tubes (F40T12, F96T12) | Type B LED tubes or a new fixture | T12 fixtures usually run on old magnetic ballasts, which most Type A tubes don't support. |
| U-bend tubes (FB31T8, FB32T8) | LED U-bend tubes in the LED tube collection | Leg spacing (6 inch or 1-5/8 inch) and the ballast. |
| Pin-base CFLs (CFQ, CFTR, PL lamps) | LED CFL replacement lamps | The base (e.g., G24d, G24q, GX24q, GX23, 2G11) and the ballast. 2-pin lamps run on a magnetic ballast, 4-pin on electronic. |
| Circline lamps (FC8T9, FC12T9) | LED circline lamps | Diameter (8 or 12 inch) and the install type: Type A plugs into the existing ballast; ballast bypass lamps wire to line voltage. |
| Screw-in spiral CFLs | LED A-shape lamps or LED reflectors | Wattage equivalent, color temperature, and whether the fixture is enclosed or dimmed. |
Type A vs Type B: the decision that matters
Most of the cost and most of the callbacks in a fluorescent replacement come down to one choice.
- Type A (plug and play) runs on the existing fluorescent ballast. Installation is a lamp swap, but the tube only works on ballasts listed on its maker's compatibility chart, and when the ballast fails you are buying a ballast again.
- Type B (ballast bypass) removes the ballast and runs the tube on line voltage. It takes an electrician the first time, then there is no ballast left to fail. Apply the retrofit label that comes with the tubes so the next technician knows the fixture was converted.
- Hybrid (Type A+B) runs on a compatible ballast now and can be converted to bypass later. It costs more per tube but helps when one building has a mix of ballasts.
Our usual advice: if the ballasts are newer electronic instant start and on the compatibility list, Type A is the cheapest way through. If the ballasts are old, magnetic or failing, go Type B and stop buying ballasts.
What to do with the fluorescent lamps you have
- Use them up. Lamps already in your storeroom can be installed.
- Don't put them in the trash. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury and are regulated as universal waste in California. Prepaid lamp recycling kits make disposal simple. See our recycling guide for details.
- Plan the switch by area, not by failure. Converting a whole corridor or building at once is cheaper in labor than replacing tubes one call at a time, and it keeps color temperature consistent.
Get the right replacement the first time
Text a photo of the lamp label, or the ballast label, to 949-589-3020 and a Lighting Specialist will match the LED replacement. Property teams can also get a building-specific order form listing the exact LED parts for each property, so maintenance staff reorder the right part every time.
This article summarizes California AB 2208 for maintenance and purchasing teams. It is not legal advice; check your state's statute or environmental agency for your specific situation.
