Switching to a heat pump in Palo Alto? The permit can be instant

Palo Alto has an instant permit for heat pump jobs that fit its limits, and a C20 contractor like us can pull it.

Or call us:

Bay Area(408) 304-4329San Jose, Fremont, Oakland Central Coast(805) 769-8494Salinas, Monterey, SLO County, Santa Barbara

Main number (408) 603-8784

What Palo Alto requires

City of Palo Alto

What are Palo Alto's heat pump permit requirements for a home?

On a detached single-family home, duplex or ADU, a C20 contractor can pull Palo Alto's instant heat pump permit with no staff review, for up to 3 systems, each with a noise level rating under 65 dBA.

Palo Alto offers contractors with a C20 license an instant heat pump HVAC permit for up to 3 systems, each with a noise level rating under 65 dBA, on detached single-family homes, duplexes and ADUs.
The city says this process does not require staff review, and the permit is issued instantly.

Checked November 2026City of Palo Alto, Heat Pump Space Conditioning Systems Instant Permit

Checked on paloalto.gov, November 2026.

Palo Alto

What we do in Palo Alto

Bay Area(408) 304-4329

Mon to Fri, 8 AM to 5 PM

CSLB license 1162030, class C20, active.

Air Champs

Air Champs carries class C20 under license 1162030, so your heat pump job can go the instant route when it qualifies.
Bay Area Air District

Palo Alto is in Santa Clara County, inside the Bay Area Air District.

Bay Area Air District, Building Appliances Rule Implementation Checked November 2026
California Energy Commission

Palo Alto heat pump permits applied for on or after January 1, 2026, meet the 2025 Energy Code.

California Energy Commission Checked November 2026