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.

Which cities do you cover?

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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It's pre-launch. Join the waitlist and you'll get founder pricing, your jurisdiction prioritized, and a direct line to the team. No spam, no credit card.

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AC changeout permits in Texas

Last updated September 13, 2026

Early Texas guides. getPermit is California-first — these pages share what we've verified in Texas so far, and they don't mean getPermit covers Texas yet. Join the waitlist with your city to tell us where to go deeper.

A plain-English starting point for HVAC contractors. This is general Texas guidance — fees, forms, and timelines are set by each city.

Short answer

In Texas, replacing central air conditioning generally needs a mechanical permit — Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano treat AC replacement as permitted work, and their guidance doesn't carve out like-for-like swaps. The contractor pulling it needs a TDLR air conditioning and refrigeration (ACR) contractor license and must meet the city's contractor registration rules. The work follows the mechanical code each city adopts.

The general picture

Texas splits permitting authority: the state licenses air conditioning contractors through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), while each city adopts its own mechanical code edition, registers contractors, and issues permits. In Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano, replacing central AC needs a mechanical permit, and none of their guidance carves out like-for-like replacements — Fort Worth's residential permit guidance covers changing, moving, or repairing a central heating and air conditioning system. Check the verified notes for Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Plano before you file.

Typically needs a permit

Replacing a condenser, air handler, coil, or heat pump — Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano don't carve out like-for-like swaps — as well as relocating or upsizing equipment. Fort Worth's residential permit guidance, for example, says changing, moving, or repairing a central heating and air conditioning system requires a mechanical permit.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Portable or window units that plug into an outlet
Replacing minor parts that don't alter the equipment's listing
Routine maintenance: filters and coil cleaning

Documents & plans generally required

Mechanical permit application — a standalone trade permit where the city offers one
TDLR ACR contractor license number and city contractor registration
Cut sheets for the new condenser, coil, and air handler or furnace
Electrical scope if the circuit or disconnect changes
Energy code documentation where the city asks for it

Common reasons ac changeout applications get bounced

Code-rooted patterns across Texas — not a city-specific rejection rate.

Contractor not registered with the city where registration is required
Electrical work beyond the equipment connection filed without electrical scope
Condensate disposal not addressed
Disconnect location or working clearances not shown (NEC 110.26)
Installed equipment doesn't match the submitted cut sheets

The inspection sequence

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

1Rough inspection when ducts, gas piping, or wiring are altered
2Final inspection with the equipment installed and running

Licensing — who can pull it

AC changeouts in Texas are done by a TDLR-licensed air conditioning and refrigeration (ACR) contractor; a Class B license covers systems up to 25 tons of cooling. Texas's electrician licensing law lets ACR licensees make the electrical connections supplying the equipment, including its disconnect. Dallas, Arlington, and Plano also require trade contractors to register with the city.

How this works in your Texas city

Cities marked have verified local data — portal, fee schedule, adopted code edition, and local permit notes sourced from public city and county documents. Every city page links to its official building department.

Dallas Fort Worth Arlington Plano

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace an AC unit in Texas?

In Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano, yes — AC replacement is permitted mechanical work, and their guidance doesn't carve out like-for-like replacements. Texas cities adopt their own mechanical codes, so confirm with the city where the job is.

Who can pull an AC permit in Texas?

A TDLR-licensed ACR contractor who meets the city's registration rules. Dallas, for example, requires air conditioning contractors to hold a TDLR license and a City MEP registration.

Can the AC contractor handle the electrical connection?

Texas exempts ACR licensees making the electrical connections that supply the equipment, including its disconnect, from electrician licensing. Work beyond that, such as a new circuit from the panel, may need a licensed electrical contractor — confirm with the city.

Other common jobs

Battery storage EV charger install Furnace replacement All jobs All Texas guides

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