Your AC dies in August. The contractor can install a new one tomorrow. Do you really need a permit?
Yes. Replacing an air conditioning system in Florida needs a mechanical permit, even if the new unit is the same size and sits on the same pad. AC work is specifically left out of Florida's new 2026 small-project exemption. The good news is that a straight changeout is one of the simplest permits there is, and it often moves fast.
Quick answer
- Replacing an AC system (condenser, air handler or both): mechanical permit required.
- Electrical changes (new disconnect, breaker or wire size) may need an electrical permit too.
- Broward uses one countywide AC replacement data form. It has been mandatory since 2019.
- A same-size changeout usually needs the old and new equipment information, not a full redesign.
- The Notice of Commencement filing rule doesn't apply to AC repair or replacement contracts under $15,000.
Why does an AC swap need a permit?
An AC replacement involves refrigerant, high-voltage wiring, a condensate drain and an outdoor unit that has to stay put in hurricane winds. The inspector checks that the system is sized right, wired safely, drained properly and anchored to Florida's wind requirements.
It also protects you. A permitted, inspected install is cleaner proof for your warranty, your insurance and your future buyer.
What does the permit need?
In Broward, the Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA) made a uniform data form for residential and light commercial AC replacements mandatory countywide in 2019. Each city adds its own checklist. A typical package includes:
- The AC replacement data form with the existing and new equipment details (tonnage, efficiency, heat strip size)
- An AHRI certificate, which proves the condenser and air handler are a matched system
- Proof of cost: a signed contract covering labor and materials
- Contractor license and insurance, on file with that city
- Sizing calculations (such as a Manual J) when the existing unit's data isn't available or the size changes
- Anchoring details for the outdoor unit, per the city's requirements
Same size vs. different size
Same tonnage, same location: the simplest case. Some cities issue exact changeout permits the same day.
Bigger or smaller unit: expect the city to ask for load calculations showing the new size fits the house. A bigger unit isn't automatically better in Florida. An oversized system cycles on and off too fast and doesn't pull humidity out of the air.
Moving the unit or adding ductwork: more review, and often zoning questions about where the outdoor unit can sit.
How fast can it go?
A complete AC changeout package can move quickly. It's often the fastest permit a homeowner will ever pull. What slows it down is paperwork, not the city:
- A missing AHRI certificate
- A contractor whose insurance isn't on file with that specific city
- Proof of cost that doesn't show labor and materials
- Electrical changes that weren't included on the application
What about the Notice of Commencement?
Florida law normally ties a Notice of Commencement to jobs over $5,000. For AC repair or replacement contracts under $15,000, the statute's rule about filing the NOC with the building department doesn't apply (section 713.135). Bigger HVAC jobs, or jobs combined with other work, can still need one. Read our Notice of Commencement answer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run the new AC before the inspection?
Usually yes, once the permit is issued. Your contractor typically starts the system, then the city inspects. Ask your city, and don't skip the final inspection. An open permit causes problems later.
Do I need a permit to repair my AC, not replace it?
Small repairs and part swaps usually don't. Replacing major equipment does. If you're unsure, ask your city before the work starts.
Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?
Normally the licensed HVAC contractor. You don't need to pull it yourself. Just make sure it's actually pulled and closed.
Need an AC permit moved fast?
We handle mechanical and HVAC permits for contractors and property owners across Broward and Palm Beach County: the data forms, AHRI certificates, submittal and inspection scheduling. Call us or request a callback.