The short answer
Yes, a heat pump still needs a permit in California. SB 222, the Heat Pump Access Act, was signed in September 2026. It doesn't remove the permit. It makes the permit smaller, cheaper, and faster:
- One permit per installation, administratively approved. No hearing, no discretion.
- Fee capped at $150 for a heat pump water heater and $200 for a heat pump heating and cooling system.
- Instant online permits for like-for-like replacements by a licensed contractor.
- Inspections without the wait for the contractor and inspector to be there at the same time.
- No permit at all for a plug-in window heat pump or AC: 120 V or less, self-contained, no new circuit, no panel upgrade, no drainage or structural work.
- HOAs can't block it. More below.
SB 222 covers one heat pump water heater or one heat pump HVAC system serving one home. It doesn't apply to new construction.
When each part starts
| What changes | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| The law takes effect | Jan 1, 2027 | SB 222 |
| Inspections that don't need contractor and inspector there together | Jul 1, 2027 | SB 222 |
| At most one permit per installation | Jan 1, 2028 | SB 222 |
| Remote inspection by video or photos, on request | Jan 1, 2028 (Jul 1, 2028 in cities of 50,000 or fewer) | AB 1738 |
| Instant online permit for a like-for-like swap | Jul 1, 2028 | SB 222 |
Cities under 5,000 people and counties under 150,000 (and the cities inside them) are exempt from the online-permit, fee-cap, and remote-inspection requirements.
What the fee cap does and doesn't cover
- Covered: the permit for the heat pump itself, capped at $150 or $200, and never above the city's reasonable cost. No charges above the published fee.
- Can go higher: only if the city adopts a written finding with evidence of its cost. The fee must then be a fixed, publicly listed amount.
- Not covered: a separate permit for a new electrical panel or structural work, which the law still allows, and third-party technology fees.
Cities must also post every heat pump requirement and fee on their website and accept applications and signatures electronically.
The instant online permit, and who it's for
By July 1, 2028, larger cities and counties must issue permits in real time for a swapout: a heat pump going in where the old equipment was. To qualify:
- No new electrical panel and no structural work.
- No more than 25 feet of new ductwork, and no switching between packaged and split systems.
- The permit is issued to a licensed contractor. For heating and cooling, the contractor certifies under penalty of perjury that a proper load calculation (Manual J) was done.
That load calculation is worth asking for anyway. It's how a contractor sizes the unit to your house rather than to the one it replaces.
HOAs can't stop the switch
SB 222 adds Civil Code section 4737. HOA rules that prevent replacing a gas appliance with a code-compliant electric one are void. An association may not:
- Prohibit or restrict a heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system in your own unit or lot.
- Charge you a fee for installing, replacing, or using one.
- Require a specific contractor or product.
The exceptions are narrow: the installation would break federal, state, or local law, or a required permit was denied. An HOA can still hold you responsible for damage to common areas.
Deciding whether to go electric?
What a heat pump does to your bill depends on your rates, your climate, and, if you have solar, how much your panels already cover. If you own a SunPower or Enphase system, WattHacker's energy review goes through it with you one to one, using your own numbers.
- We measure your system first, so the plan starts from what your roof actually makes.
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Still have questions about your own system? I'll go through it with you — your panels, your bill, and what's worth doing about it.
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Common questions
Do I need a permit to install a heat pump in California?
Yes. SB 222, the Heat Pump Access Act, does not remove permits. It limits a city or county to one administratively approved permit per heat pump installation, caps the fee, and by July 1, 2028 requires an instant online permit for straightforward replacements done by a licensed contractor. Plug-in window units of 120 volts or less that need no new circuit or panel upgrade need no permit at all.
How much does a heat pump permit cost in California?
Under SB 222, no more than $150 for a heat pump water heater and $200 for a heat pump heating and cooling system, and never more than the city's reasonable cost. A city can charge more only by adopting a written finding with evidence, and the fee must then be a fixed, published amount. Very small cities and counties are exempt from the cap. Separate electrical-panel or structural permits are not capped.
When does SB 222 take effect?
The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with later deadlines: inspections that don't need the contractor and inspector there together by July 1, 2027, the one-permit limit by January 1, 2028, and instant online permits by July 1, 2028.
Can my HOA stop me installing a heat pump?
No, in most cases. SB 222 adds Civil Code section 4737: HOA rules that prevent replacing a gas appliance with a code-compliant electric one are void, and an association may not prohibit or restrict a heat pump in your own unit or lot, charge you a fee for it, or make you use a particular contractor or product.
Can I get a remote inspection for a heat pump or solar?
Yes, starting January 1, 2028 (July 1, 2028 in cities of 50,000 people or fewer). AB 1738 requires cities and counties to offer remote inspection by video or photos for heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC, solar up to 15 kW, batteries, reroofs, and smoke alarms, at no greater cost or delay than in person. The inspector can still require a visit.
Can I pull a heat pump permit myself as a homeowner?
SB 222 doesn't say. Its instant online permit is issued to a licensed contractor; the law neither creates nor removes a homeowner route. Ask your building department how it handles owner-builder permits.
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