HVAC Replacement permit in Plano, TX
Yes — you need a permit for hvac replacement work in Plano.
Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs a mechanical permit. Plano changed only the Building part of the exempt-work list, so the standard Mechanical exemptions still apply, and they cover narrow things like portable units and swapping a single part. Changing the whole unit goes past that.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs… |
| Fee | You pay the mechanical permit fee set in the City of Plano building inspections fee schedule. The ordinance does not print a dollar amount. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | IRC Section R105.1 with R105.2 Mechanical category (left unchanged by Sec. 6-710); mechanical code amendments Sec. 6-254 |
| Based on | IRC 2024 as adopted and amended by the city (Sec. 6-709, Ord. No. 2025-6-15) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Plano 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.
Either of you can pull it. When a contractor does the work, it is normally their job.
If you skip it
Doing the work without a required permit is a violation, and every day it continues counts as a separate offense.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano | — | Yes | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs… |
| Richardson | 6 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Allen | 6 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| McKinney | 11 mi | Yes | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs… |
| Mesquite | 22 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Denton | 26 mi | Yes | Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump needs… |
Other work in Plano
Questions people ask
How much does a hvac replacement permit cost in Plano?
You pay the mechanical permit fee set in the City of Plano building inspections fee schedule. The ordinance does not print a dollar amount.. 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?
Plano 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.