Santa Barbara HVAC swaps, from the permit portal to the property line

What Santa Barbara requires

A building permit is required for new installation, replacement, alteration or major repair of any HVAC system, commercial or residential.

• A like-for-like HVAC replacement at a single-unit home or duplex can get its permit online through the On-Demand Permit Portal, if it meets the city's criteria.
• New residential HVAC units that do not qualify for On-Demand can get an Express Mechanical Permit, issued no later than 5 business days after it is accepted for review.
• Units must be set back at least 5 feet from the nearest property line, and at least 10 feet from the front lot line if the unit is in a front yard.
• Inside the Coastal Zone these rules can differ, so the parcel is checked first.
• Equipment must not exceed 53 dB at the property line.
• Your HOA may have its own approval process, and a condominium must submit the HOA's approval letter.
• Mechanical and On-Demand permits are applied for through an Accela Citizen Access account.

Checked on the city's HVAC Permit Checklist, November 2026.