HVAC Replacement permit in New Braunfels, TX
Yes — you need a permit for hvac replacement work in New Braunfels.
Replacing a whole air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs a mechanical permit. The city only lets you skip a permit for portable heaters, portable fans, portable coolers, and swapping a single part that does not change the unit's approval or make it unsafe. A full unit swap is none of those, so you need a permit.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Replacing a whole air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump … |
| Fee | Appendix D Section B lists mechanical permit fees that are due with the application, but the amounts are not printed in this text. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 14-29, R105.2 Work exempt from permit, Mechanical items 1-7 |
| Based on | 2021 IRC as adopted by the City of New Braunfels (Sec. 14-29) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the New Braunfels 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.
If you skip it
New Braunfels's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Braunfels | — | Yes | Replacing a whole air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump … |
| San Antonio | 30 mi | Yes | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump requi… |
| Austin | 47 mi | Yes | Swapping an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump is mec… |
| Killeen | 98 mi | Yes | Swapping an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump is mec… |
| College Station | 125 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Corpus Christi | 146 mi | Yes | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs… |
Other work in New Braunfels
- Fence Depends
- Deck Depends
- Shed Depends
- Swimming Pool Depends
- Roof Replacement Yes
- Water Heater Yes
- HVAC Replacement Yes
- Electrical Panel Yes
- Demolition —
- Driveway —
- Tree Removal —
- Sign Depends
- Short-Term Rental Yes
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) Yes
- Garage Depends
- Basement —
- Above-Ground Pool Depends
Questions people ask
How much does a hvac replacement permit cost in New Braunfels?
Appendix D Section B lists mechanical permit fees that are due with the application, but the amounts are not printed in this text.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
New Braunfels 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.