HVAC Replacement permit in College Station, TX
Yes — you need a permit for hvac replacement work in College Station.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | No size threshold in the code |
| Fee | Not in the ordinance — the department quotes it |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 103-136 (Mechanical Code); Sec. 2-122(3)(d) residential mechanical change-out permit |
| Based on | 2021 IRC/IMC as amended |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the College Station building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
Your contractor pulls this one, not you. Ask to see the permit before work starts.
If you skip it
Starting work before getting a required permit adds a penalty of 100% of the usual fee on top of the permit fee.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station | — | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Conroe | 51 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Houston | 77 mi | Yes | Replacing a whole air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump … |
| Sugar Land | 79 mi | Yes | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs… |
| Austin | 89 mi | Yes | Swapping an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump is mec… |
| Killeen | 92 mi | Yes | Swapping an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump is mec… |
Other work in College Station
Questions people ask
I already built it without a permit. What now?
College Station can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.
Do I pull the permit or does my contractor?
Your contractor does. A licensed contractor pulling their own permit is the normal arrangement — if one asks you to pull it in your name, treat that as a warning sign, because it moves the liability to you.