The rule
From SDCI's Furnace & Refrigeration FAQ and Refrigeration Permit page (read 23 October 2026):
- A refrigeration permit is needed "whenever a refrigeration system is assembled on site", which covers ducted and ductless split heat pumps.
- "You need a City of Seattle refrigeration contractor's license to obtain a City of Seattle refrigeration permit." The person installing "must have a valid City of Seattle refrigeration mechanic's license that is appropriate for the refrigerant used in the system."
- "Homeowners need to hire a contractor to get the permit." You cannot even finish the online application "without a licensed refrigeration contractor associated with your project."
- A separate mechanical permit may be needed, and the new circuit needs an electrical permit.
This is stricter than Seattle's furnace rule: a homeowner can pull a furnace permit, but not a heat pump one.
The noise limit
Seattle checks heat pump noise at the property line. From the same FAQ:
| Equipment | Daytime limit (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) | Night limit | Noise review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump | 45 dB | 45 dB | Needed for equipment in a side yard |
| Air conditioner | 55 dB | 45 dB | Needed for equipment in a side yard |
| Ductless system | as above | as above | Not unless the City gets a complaint |
On a narrow Seattle lot the side yard is often the only place for the outdoor unit, so ask the installer for the unit's rated sound level and distance to the property line before you sign.
What it costs
From SDCI's 2026 Fee Subtitle (read 23 October 2026):
| Item | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Refrigeration permit basic fee (Table D-10) | $42.50 |
| Plus per compressor, 0 to 5 tons | $35.55 |
| Refrigeration repair or alteration, work up to $1,000 / $1,001 to $5,000 | $35.55 / $51.70 |
| Heat pump under the mechanical equipment table (Table D-8) | $60.35 per unit |
| Renewing a refrigeration permit | ¼ of the base fee |
| Technology fee | 5% of all fees |
A one-compressor home heat pump is $78.05 on the refrigeration permit, before the technology fee and any mechanical and electrical permits. Your installer's quote should say which permits it is pulling.
How it gets inspected
Book in the Seattle Services Portal or on the 24-hour line, (206) 684-8900, before 7:00 a.m. for a same-day slot. The refrigeration permit needs "a cover and final inspection", which "can be done at the same time, if everything is ready"; SDCI asks that any mechanical inspections be scheduled together with them. SDCI says it issues "most refrigeration permits within a couple days".
Check the contractor's L&I registration on L&I Verify and its City refrigeration license with "Find Trade Licenses by Last Name" on the portal (Refrigeration Licensing).
What 15,441 Seattle heat pump permits show
| Measure | Seattle heat pumps and AC |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 15,441 |
| Firms | 272 |
| Usual filed value | $8,000 |
| Middle half of firms' usual value | $6,000 to $15,000 |
| Completed (permits a year or more old) | 85.6% |
| Usual days from issue to completion | 105 |
| 10th / 90th-percentile firm (10+ permits) | 64.8% / 96.7% |
| Firms matched to an active L&I registration | 76.1% |
| Busiest / quietest month | June (index 130) / January (80) |
Heat pumps take longer to close than Seattle's other common home permits: 105 days, against 66 for furnaces and 42 for electrical, 43 for solar and 67 for re-roofs. The spread between installers is wide too: 17 of the 118 firms with 10 or more permits completed fewer than 70%. Ask who books the final inspection, and hold the last payment until it passes. Filings peak in June (index 130) and are lowest in January; values by job size are on the Seattle heat pump cost page.
See every Seattle heat pump installer by permits completed →
Related
The decision itself: heat pump vs furnace in Seattle and what is a heat pump. The furnace rule: Seattle furnace and HVAC permit. Choosing the installer: hiring an HVAC contractor in Seattle. Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for HVAC replacement. Seattle counts by month: Seattle permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Our heat pump category includes air conditioners, which follow the same refrigeration rule. License status is our name match to L&I's registration file; we do not match SDCI refrigeration licenses, so check that one yourself. The filed value is the installer's estimate, before rebates.
How we know this
The permit rule, licensing, noise limits and inspection steps are quoted from SDCI's Furnace & Refrigeration Permits & Inspections FAQ, Refrigeration Permit page and Refrigeration Licensing page, and fees from Tables D-8 and D-10 of SDCI's 2026 Fee Subtitle, read 22 and 23 October 2026. Counts are SDCI trade permits on Seattle homes in our Heat Pump & AC category, October 2023 to September 2026; "completed" uses permits a year or more old marked completed or closed. License status is our name match to Washington L&I.
Numbers come from City of Seattle (SDCI) building, trade and electrical permits on single-family and duplex homes (the city's open-data exports), data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to install a heat pump in Seattle?
Yes. SDCI says 'You need a refrigeration permit for any split system heat pump, air conditioner, or any job that requires refrigeration piping.' Ductless mini-splits are split systems, so they need one too.
- Can a homeowner pull a heat pump permit in Seattle?
No. SDCI says only licensed refrigeration contractors can get the refrigeration permit and 'Homeowners need to hire a contractor to get the permit.' The installer must also hold a City refrigeration mechanic's license for the refrigerant used.
- How much is a heat pump permit in Seattle?
The 2026 refrigeration permit is a $42.50 basic fee plus $35.55 per compressor up to 5 tons, plus a 5% technology fee. SDCI's mechanical fee table also lists heat pumps at $60.35 per unit, and the electrical circuit is a separate permit.
- How loud can a heat pump be in Seattle?
At the property line, SDCI says heat pumps must be no more than 45 decibels. Equipment in a side yard needs a noise review; ductless systems do not unless the City gets a noise complaint.
- How long does a heat pump permit take in Seattle?
SDCI says it issues most refrigeration permits within a couple of days. In our file the usual Seattle heat pump permit was completed 105 days after issue, longer than Seattle furnace (66) or electrical (42) permits.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Decommissioning a heating oil tank in Seattle: the $184 Fire Department permit, removal vs. fill in place, and the paperwork to keep
- Washington's 2024 building and energy codes take effect 3 May 2027: what changes for new homes, additions and AC replacements
- Burlington, VT building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Heat pump vs furnace: what Seattle homeowners filed
For one city
- Furnace & Refrigeration Permits & Inspections FAQ — SDCI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Refrigeration Permit — Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (accessed 2026-10-23)
- 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-8 and D-10 — SDCI (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Refrigeration Licensing — SDCI (2026-10-22)
- Seattle Services Portal — City of Seattle (2026-10-23)
- Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business — Washington L&I (2026-10-22)