Replacing an air conditioner, furnace or heat pump in Los Angeles requires a permit, even when the new unit goes exactly where the old one sat. Some contractors skip it to win on price. It tends to cost the homeowner later.
Which office issues the permit
It depends on the city, not the ZIP code. Homes in the City of Los Angeles, including the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, are permitted through LADBS. Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Burbank and Glendale each run their own building departments. Some homes with a Beverly Hills mailing address sit inside the City of LA, so we check the parcel.
What Title 24 adds
Title 24 is California's energy code. When you change out a system, it usually requires checks that the new equipment and the ducts perform as they should. The most common is a duct leakage test. Depending on the project, there can also be airflow and refrigerant checks.
The HERS rater
Many of those checks must be verified by an independent HERS rater, not just the installer. The rater tests the system and registers the results, which the city inspector then looks for.
Why it is worth doing
- Utility rebates generally require a permitted installation.
- Unpermitted work can surface during a home sale inspection.
- Testing catches leaky ducts that would waste the efficiency you paid for.
- The inspection is a second set of eyes on gas, electrical and venting work.
Why it belongs in every quote
Permit fees, testing and any duct sealing needed to pass are a real part of the project. We include them in every quote so you can compare contractors on the same basis.
