What's Required in Sacramento
- Every residential HVAC change-out or new installation needs a minor permit.
- The building permit fee is a flat $175 plus technology, General Plan and green building fees.
- Minor HVAC permits are for one- and two-family homes only.
- Homeowners and licensed contractors can apply online through the Public Permit Portal.
- A unit in a new location must be screened from all street views; rooftop units go on back slopes below the ridge.
- HERS documentation is required to close the permit.
- Minor HVAC permits use virtual inspections.
Do you need a permit to replace an AC or furnace in Sacramento?
Yes. The City of Sacramento Building Division handles residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning work at one- and two-family homes as a minor permit: no construction plans, with compliance checked by the inspector. A like-for-like change-out and a cut-in (a system where there was none) use the same permit, which covers projects exclusively involving the installation of a new or replacement heating and air conditioning system. Licensed contractors pull it online, and homeowners can pull a residential HVAC change-out online themselves through the Public Permit Portal for a single-family home or duplex. Since January 12, 2026, Minor HVAC permits use virtual inspections.
How much does an HVAC permit cost in Sacramento?
The building permit fee is a flat $175 on the current fee table (Table B.1, effective July 19, 2025), with no plan review fee. The city adds a technology surcharge of 10 percent of the permit fee, a General Plan fee of $2.60 per $1,000 of job value, a green building fee of $1 per $25,000, and the business operations tax (value x 0.0004) when a contractor holds the permit.
- Furnace and AC change-out, $8,000, owner-builder: $175 + $17.50 + $20.80 + $1 = $214.30.
- Heat pump system, $20,000, contractor: $175 + $17.50 + $52 + $1 + $8 = $253.50.
The city’s average-cost page lists $225 for an HVAC change-out or new unit, in line with a job of about $12,000. HERS rater fees are separate and set by the rater, not the city.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Same-spot furnace, AC or heat pump replacement | HVAC minor permit, $175 | Planning Express form: new unit in the same location |
| New system where none existed (cut-in) | HVAC minor permit, $175 | Same Table B.1 category |
| Condenser moved to a new spot | HVAC permit plus Planning Express | Must be fully screened and not visible from the street |
| Rooftop package unit | HVAC permit plus Planning review | Back roof slope, below the ridge; CDD-0283 if not |
| Historic district or landmark | Preservation form CDD-0031 | Express form cannot be used |
| Duct testing and other energy code checks | Part of the permit | HERS documents needed to close the permit |
| Apartment or commercial building | Not a residential minor permit | Minor HVAC is one- and two-family only |
What about HERS testing?
The California Energy Commission says HERS testing may be mandatory depending on the work, that properly permitted work triggers any testing required, and that even when no test is performed, HERS documentation is still required to close the permit. You may hire a HERS rater who is independent of your contractor. Ask your contractor which energy code tests apply to your system before you sign. If your home is outside city limits, Sacramento County issues HVAC permits online through its own portal instead.
How to Get a HVAC Permit in Sacramento
Confirm jurisdiction
Use the Assessor Parcel Viewer to confirm the home is in the City; County homes use the County portal.
Check the location
Same-spot replacements qualify for the Planning Express form; a new location must be screened from the street.
Pull the permit online
Homeowners and contractors apply for the residential HVAC change-out through the Public Permit Portal and pay the $175 fee plus surcharges.
Arrange HERS verification
Ask your contractor which energy code tests apply and line up a HERS rater if required.
Complete the virtual inspection
Schedule the virtual inspection and upload the HERS documents so the permit can be closed.