What needs a permit, and who can do it
From Portland Permitting & Development's residential mechanical permits and do you need a permit pages (read 24 October 2026):
| The City's rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| A permit is needed to change a heating or cooling system that has ductwork | A furnace or central AC replacement is permit work |
| Installing exterior heat pump or AC condenser units needs a permit | Any outdoor heat pump or AC unit, ducted or not |
| Gas piping between the meter and an appliance needs a permit | A new gas line to a furnace, range or water heater |
| "Homeowners can do their own mechanical work"; recorded owner, not an LLC | You can pull it yourself |
| Contractors need a state license, and "the permit application must list the CCB license number" | Check the number before you sign |
| You'll likely also need an electrical permit for most mechanical equipment | Budget for two permits on a heat pump |
The pages list no mechanical work as exempt.
Where the outdoor unit can go
Heat pumps count as outdoor mechanical equipment under zoning. The City says they are "not allowed" in the required front setback, and in a side or rear setback they can be no taller than five feet and must be screened from neighbors. Settle the location before the installer quotes.
How to apply and get it inspected
- Apply on DevHub, the fastest route, with no PDF form; email (PPDTradePermits@portlandoregon.gov) or a drop-off appointment use the PDF. Permits are issued within 24 hours after payment.
- Rough-in inspection after new ductwork and gas piping are in and before walls close: "Do not cover work until approved."
- The "699 Final Mechanical Permit" inspection closes the permit. A permit expires if more than 180 days pass between inspections; the City recommends Remote Video Re-Inspection for a confirmed re-inspection time.
Fees "are based on fixtures and the work being done"; the City points to its fee schedule under "Mechanical permit" and lists no amounts on the page.
What 16,519 Portland HVAC permits show
| Measure | Portland HVAC permits |
|---|---|
| Issued October 2024 to September 2026 | 16,519 (21% of all permits) |
| October 2024 to September 2025 / October 2025 to September 2026 | 8,090 / 8,429 (4% more) |
| Residential 1 & 2 family mechanical | 14,122 (85%) |
| Finished, permits issued October 2024 to September 2025 | 97.7% (0.9% expired) |
| Usual days, issue to final | 29 (middle half 14 to 79) |
| Busiest / quietest calendar month (index) | October (117) / August (86) |
| ZIPs with the most | 97219 (1,493), 97206 (1,175), 97202 (1,092) |
October, the start of the heating season, is the busiest month; August is the quietest, which makes late summer the easiest time to get on an installer's calendar. Southwest Portland's 97219 leads. Monthly counts are on Portland HVAC permits, timing on how long a Portland permit takes, the totals on Portland permit statistics, and the rows on browse Portland permits.
Before you hire
Check the installer's CCB license as How to check a contractor's license in Oregon shows, and the permits on the house with the Portland building permit search guide. Other cities' rules are in do I need a permit to replace my furnace or AC; filed costs elsewhere in HVAC replacement cost.
What this does not tell you
The City's file names no contractor, and only a few hundred mechanical permits carry a value, so we show no firm rankings and no typical cost. The matching electrical permit on a heat pump job is counted under electrical.
How we know this
Rules, setbacks and inspection steps are quoted from Portland Permitting & Development's residential mechanical permits and do-you-need-a-permit pages, read 24 October 2026. Our counts are the City's PortlandMaps All Permits layer, read 18 October 2026: mechanical permits issued October 2024 to September 2026 inside the City of Portland; finished share and days to final use permits issued October 2024 to September 2025.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 18, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to install a heat pump in Portland, Oregon?
Yes. Portland Permitting & Development lists heat pumps among projects that need a mechanical permit, says installing an exterior heat pump or AC condenser needs one, and says most mechanical equipment projects will likely need an electrical permit as well.
- Where can I put a heat pump outside in Portland?
Not in the required front setback. In a side or rear setback the equipment can be no more than five feet high and must be screened from neighbors, the City's mechanical permit page says.
- Can a homeowner pull a mechanical permit in Portland?
Yes. The City says 'Homeowners can do their own mechanical work' if they are the recorded property owner and not an LLC. A contractor's application must list its CCB license number.
- Do I need a permit to replace a furnace in Portland?
Yes. Changing a heating or cooling system that has ductwork needs a mechanical permit, and so does gas piping between the meter and the appliance. The City says a mechanical permit is required even when no building permit is.
- How long does a Portland HVAC permit take?
The City issues trade permits within 24 hours after payment. In our file the usual HVAC permit issued October 2024 to September 2025 reached final 29 days after issue, middle half 14 to 79 days.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
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