What does getPermit actually do?

getPermit reads your job details and tells you what a California city expects before you file: which permits the work triggers, the documents and plans you'll need, the fees to budget for, and the common reasons applications in that jurisdiction get bounced back. It produces a clear checklist you can act on. It does not submit to the city for you — you (or your permit person) stay in control of what gets filed.

Is there a human involved, or is it just AI?

Both. The AI does the research and drafts the assessment and checklist; an experienced permit coordinator reviews and approves it before it's treated as authoritative. The human check is the point — it's how we keep it trustworthy in a process where a wrong filing has real consequences.

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We're starting deep in California rather than shallow everywhere. For a city we haven't fully mapped yet, we'll give you accurate general California guidance and point you to that city's official building department — and you can join the waitlist to be notified when we cover it in depth. We will not invent city-specific fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Solo electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors, and small general contractors who don't have a dedicated permit department and lose billable hours to permit admin.

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AC changeout permits in Palo Alto, CA

General California guidance last updated May 22, 2026 · Palo Alto data verified August 10, 2026

What HVAC contractors need to know about pulling a ac changeout permit in Palo Alto (Santa Clara County).

Short answer

In California, replacing a central AC condenser, coil, or furnace needs a mechanical permit (and often electrical for the condenser circuit), pulled by a licensed C-20 contractor. The work is governed by the California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) and the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6), and most residential replacements require third-party HERS testing for duct leakage and refrigerant-charge verification.

Palo Alto accepts submittal through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) and has adopted the 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) with Palo Alto amendments. Fee details and sources are below.

Palo Alto permit data

Sourced from public City of Palo Alto documents — every field carries the source URL and verification date.

Permit portal

Accela Citizen Access (ACA)

verified Aug 10, 2026 · source · The city's online permitting portal — all permit submittals go through ACA. Inspection scheduling, permit-history search, and fee payment are available on the portal without logging in

Adopted code edition

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) with Palo Alto amendments

verified Aug 10, 2026 · source · Ordinance No. 5674 (passed October 20, 2025) adopts the 2025 California Building Code, Title 24 Part 2, Volumes 1 & 2, by reference with local omissions, amendments, exceptions, and additions

Fee schedule

Building Fees — FY 2026 Adopted Municipal Fee Schedule (Planning and Development Services)

verified Aug 10, 2026 · source · Linked as "Building Fees (PDF)" on the Building Permit Forms page; the citywide FY 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule was adopted by the City Council on June 16, 2025. No FY 2027 building-fee schedule was posted as of retrieval — re-check when the city posts one

City of Palo Alto Planning & Development Services →All verified Palo Alto data →

The general picture in California

An HVAC changeout is permitted mechanical work in nearly every California jurisdiction. California's Title 24 Part 6 energy standards require third-party HERS verification on most residential AC and furnace replacements — typically duct-leakage testing, refrigerant-charge verification, and airflow when ducts are altered. Replacements may also require updating combustion air, condensate drainage, condenser disconnects and clearances, and a smart thermostat under some prescriptive packages. Heat-pump replacements add electrical-load and circuit considerations.

For deeper background that isn't Palo Alto-specific, see the statewide ac changeout guide.

Typically needs a permit

AC changeout itself triggers a permit in nearly every California jurisdiction, Palo Alto included. Palo Alto-specific variations are confirmed with the issuing department above.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Replacing a thermostat with a like-for-like (non-smart) unit
Replacing a capacitor, contactor, or fan motor on the existing condenser (repair, not replacement)
Cleaning coils, replacing filters, or relighting the pilot

Documents & plans generally required

Mechanical permit application (and electrical permit when the condenser circuit is replaced or upsized)
Contractor license and city business registration
Cut sheets for the new equipment (condenser, coil, furnace/air handler) with AHRI match
Title 24 Part 6 compliance documentation (CF1R, plus CF2R/CF3R from the HERS rater)
Refrigerant type and line-set details (especially R-410A → R-454B / A2L transitions)
Condensate drainage route and termination
Electrical disconnect and condenser-circuit details if changed

Common reasons ac changeout applications get bounced

Code-rooted patterns across California — not a Palo Alto-specific rejection rate.

Missing Title 24 Part 6 documentation or HERS registration
AHRI match certificate missing or doesn't match the proposed condenser + coil combination
Refrigerant type / line-set compatibility not addressed (A2L compliance for new installs)
Condenser placement clearances not shown (NEC 110.26 + manufacturer's clearance + setback ordinances)
Condensate drainage to an unapproved location or without a secondary safety drain/switch
No detail on duct-leakage testing or refrigerant-charge verification on a duct-altered system

The inspection sequence

A typical order — the number of stops and exact sequence vary by jurisdiction and scope.

1Rough/in-progress not typically required for like-for-like equipment swaps
2HERS verification (third-party rater) for duct leakage and refrigerant charge as applicable
3Final inspection with the equipment installed, energized, and tested; HERS certificates filed

Licensing — who can pull it

HVAC changeouts in California are generally performed by a C-20 (Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) licensed contractor; a B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger project under CSLB rules. The licensed contractor doing the work typically pulls the permit.

Other verified Palo Alto notes

Development Center hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM virtual only, closed 12:30–1:30 PM; (650) 329-2496 (option 1 for a Building Project Coordinator) · building@paloalto.gov.
verified Aug 10, 2026 · source
All documents upload through the ACA portal and all payments are made in the portal — the city does not accept payments through third-party applications. A dedicated Project Coordinator is assigned to each application; first response within 2–3 business days.
verified Aug 10, 2026 · source
Some minor projects qualify for an instant building permit (e.g. the Heat Pump Space Conditioning Systems Instant Permit), and a new Over-The-Counter Residential MEP Permit Pilot Program covers qualifying residential mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits.
verified Aug 10, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a like-for-like AC changeout in California?

Generally yes. Even a like-for-like AC condenser or furnace replacement triggers a mechanical permit and Title 24 Part 6 compliance (HERS testing for duct leakage and refrigerant charge) in nearly every California city. Repairs to existing equipment generally don't.

What is HERS verification and why is it required?

Title 24 Part 6 requires third-party HERS (Home Energy Rating System) raters to verify specific measures on residential replacements — most commonly duct leakage and refrigerant charge. The rater's CF2R/CF3R certificates are filed with the permit; missing HERS documentation is a top reason for rejection or failed final.

Do I need an electrical permit too?

If the condenser circuit, disconnect, or breaker is replaced or upsized, yes — that's electrical work. Most jurisdictions bundle it under the mechanical permit but require electrical scope on the application. Heat-pump conversions almost always need an electrical permit.

How does the A2L refrigerant transition affect permits?

New systems shipped after the EPA's 2025 A2L transition use mildly-flammable refrigerants (R-454B, R-32) requiring listed line sets, leak-detection where applicable, and updated installation practices. The application and cut sheets should reflect the refrigerant type; some jurisdictions are still updating their checklists.

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