HVAC in San Mateo, California
San Mateo is our home city. Here are its rules.
Replacing a furnace, adding an AC or going electric in the City of San Mateo comes with its own permit answers and rebate terms. They're below, each from the city or the utility, with the date we checked it.
Do I need a permit to replace a furnace in San Mateo?
Yes. The City of San Mateo lists a furnace replaced or installed in the same location among the mechanical permits it can approve over the counter, so a like-for-like replacement doesn't have to wait for plan review.
Moving the furnace, or changing what kind of system heats the house, is a different job and a different conversation with the Building Division.
Source: City of San Mateo Building Division FAQ, checked 2026-10-17
What does San Mateo ask for a new AC?
The city's air conditioning guide for homes sets these rules to plan around before the outdoor unit goes in:
- Plans that state the equipment's model, its capacity and its decibel level.
- A clear 3-foot path between a side-yard condenser and the property line.
- The noise ordinance: if the city later finds a unit breaks it, the unit must be moved, replaced or modified until it complies.
So the quietest unit that fits the house, in a spot that keeps the side path clear, is the one to pick.
Source: City of San Mateo Building Division, Air Condition Guide for Residential 1 and 2 Dwelling Units (revised 10/25/2019), checked 2026-10-17
Is there a rebate for a heat pump in San Mateo?
Yes, from Peninsula Clean Energy, which serves all of San Mateo County. Its current terms pay $1,500 per heat pump condensing unit, or packaged unit, that replaces a gas heater or furnace, with a limit per electric account.
The rebate covers any fully electric system, ducted or ductless. A hybrid dual-fuel system, a heat pump with gas backup heat, does not qualify.
Source: Peninsula Clean Energy, Home Upgrade Rebates Terms and Conditions (updated May 18, 2026), checked 2026-10-17
Planning a replacement in San Mateo?
Call and tell us what you have now and what you're thinking of, or book a visit online.
Tell us what it's doing. We'll take it from there.
Call and describe the problem: the noise, the smell, the room that never warms up. Or book a visit online.
