What's Required in Jacksonville
- Replacing or installing AC units, heat pumps or furnaces needs a mechanical permit.
- Mechanical fees are itemized by tonnage, BTU, duct airflow and gas piping, with a $60 minimum.
- Electric HVAC replacements of $5,000 or less at single-family homes may skip inspection on the homeowner's notarized request.
- Gas, propane and oil equipment replacements are not eligible for the inspection waiver.
- HVAC work must be done by a CTQB- or state-certified HAR contractor, or by the owner under the owner-builder rules.
- No Notice of Commencement is needed for HVAC repair or replacement under $15,000.
- A Manual J is required when the work adds new heated or cooled space.
- A failed inspection triggers a $45 reinspection fee.
Do you need a permit to replace an AC or furnace in Jacksonville?
Yes. The Building Inspection Division's FAQ lists replacing air conditioning units and installing heating equipment as work that needs a permit, and a like-for-like swap is included. The exempt list covers only these:
- portable heaters, coolers and fans
- replacing a part within a single piece of equipment
- self-contained refrigeration systems with 10 pounds or less of refrigerant and motors of 1 horsepower or less, such as a window unit
Small electric change-outs get a lighter path. Under Ordinance Code 320.408(f)(8), replacing existing HVAC equipment at a single-family home can be permitted without plan review or inspection if the installation cost is $5,000 or less and the homeowner requests it. This doesn't cover propane, natural gas or oil equipment. You file the city's Property Owner Request for Inspection Exemption form, notarized, with BID's mechanical section. There's no fee for the request, and BID may deny it. The permit is still required and still paid for.
How much does an HVAC permit cost in Jacksonville?
Mechanical permit fees in Section 320.409 are itemized:
- Air conditioning: $11 per ton for systems from one to ten tons
- Furnace: $22 for the first 200,000 BTU an hour
- Duct system: $17 for the first 2,000 cubic feet a minute
- Gas piping: $80
- Minimum mechanical permit: $60
- 3-ton heat pump change-out: 3 × $11 = $33, so the $60 minimum applies.
- 5-ton AC with a 100,000 BTU gas furnace and new ductwork: $55 + $22 + $17 = $94.
- Same system with new gas piping: $94 + $80 = $174.
Florida's 1 percent and 1.5 percent building-code surcharges, with a $2 minimum each, apply to permit fees. A failed inspection costs a $45 reinspection fee.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Window AC unit | No permit | Self-contained, 10 lb refrigerant or less |
| Replace a capacitor or motor in the unit | No permit | Part within a single piece of equipment |
| 3-ton heat pump swap, under $5,000 | Mechanical permit; owner may waive inspection | $60 minimum |
| Gas furnace replacement | Mechanical permit with inspection | Gas equipment not eligible for the waiver |
| 5-ton AC + furnace + ducts | Mechanical permit | $94 |
| Adding gas piping | Mechanical line item | $80 |
| HVAC job of $15,000 or more | Notice of Commencement | Not required under $15,000 |
Who can pull an HVAC permit in Jacksonville?
A heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HAR) contractor certified by the Construction Trades Qualifying Board or the State. Class B covers single cooling systems up to 25 tons and heating systems up to 500,000 Btu, which includes any house. Homeowners can permit their own primary residence as owner-builders if they're on the deed, appear in person and show proof of homestead exemption.
A Notice of Commencement isn't needed to repair or replace an existing heating or air-conditioning system when the contract is under $15,000. The city's residential page sets the mechanical threshold at $15,000 as well. Sealed engineering documents aren't required for HVAC work on a one- to four-family home. A Manual J load calculation is required when the work adds new heated or cooled space.
How to Get a HVAC Permit in Jacksonville
Choose a certified contractor
Hire a HAR contractor certified by the CTQB or the State, and verify the license with DBPR or the CTQB at (904) 630-2657.
Contractor files in JaxEPICS
The contractor creates the mechanical permit online with the equipment tonnage, BTU and any duct or gas piping work, then pays the itemized fee.
Decide on the inspection waiver
For an electric replacement costing $5,000 or less, the homeowner may send the notarized inspection exemption request to [email protected].
Install the equipment
Keep the permit posted on site. Gas equipment and new duct systems follow the normal rough and final inspection sequence.
Final inspection
Request the mechanical final at (904) 255-8500 option 4 or online, unless the inspection waiver was granted and the permit auto-expires.