Replacing the HVAC in a condo or townhome
Updated October 2026
In a house, you pick a system and we install it. In a condo there's a third party: the HOA. And the HOA usually takes longer than the install.
Start the HOA paperwork the day you decide, not the day you want the install. Board approvals often take weeks and they don't move faster because your AC died in July.
What most HOAs ask for
We can provide the spec sheets, sound ratings and insurance certificates. Tell us it's a condo when you book so we plan for it.
- Equipment spec sheets with the dimensions of the new unit.
- Where the equipment goes: a roof plan, balcony or pad location, and any screening.
- Sound ratings. Noise is the most common HOA objection, especially for rooftop and balcony units.
- The contractor's license, liability insurance and workers' comp, often with the association named on the certificate.
- Work hours, how the crew gets to the roof or mechanical area, and any elevator or parking reservations.
- A promise to repair any common area the work touches.
What makes condo installs different
- Roof units. Many condos have the outdoor unit on the roof, which can mean a crane, a roof curb or rules about roof access.
- Refrigerant lines through common walls. Replacing or rerouting them can need HOA sign-off on its own.
- Electrical in common areas. If the panel or disconnect is in a shared room, the HOA controls access.
- Equipment size limits. The pad, closet or roof spot sets the maximum size, so the new system has to fit where the old one was.
Mini-splits and heat pumps in condos
A ductless mini-split is often the easiest condo install: a small outdoor unit, a thin line set, and no ductwork to touch. A heat pump also removes the gas furnace, which helps in buildings where venting is a headache.
If you're an LADWP customer, a condo unit can qualify for LADWP's heat pump rebate like a house can, as long as the equipment qualifies. ADUs are excluded, condos aren't.
Ducted (central split and packaged)
| Efficiency | Rebate |
|---|---|
| 15.2+ SEER2 / 7.7+ HSPF2 | $1,000 per ton |
| 16+ SEER2 / 8+ HSPF2 | $1,050 per ton |
| 16.9+ SEER2 / 8.1+ HSPF2 | $1,100 per ton |
| 17.8+ SEER2 / 8.1+ HSPF2 | $1,150 per ton |
| 18.7+ SEER2 / 8.5+ HSPF2 | $1,200 per ton |
| 19.6+ SEER2 / 8.9+ HSPF2 | $1,250 per ton |
Ductless (mini-split and multi-split)
| Efficiency | Rebate |
|---|---|
| 15.2+ SEER2 / 7.8+ HSPF2 | $1,500 per ton |
| 16+ SEER2 / 8.1+ HSPF2 | $1,650 per ton |
| 16.9+ SEER2 / 8.3+ HSPF2 | $1,800 per ton |
| 17.8+ SEER2 / 8.5+ HSPF2 | $1,950 per ton |
| 18.7+ SEER2 / 8.7+ HSPF2 | $2,100 per ton |
| 19.6+ SEER2 / 8.9+ HSPF2 | $2,250 per ton |
| 20.5+ SEER2 / 9.1+ HSPF2 | $2,500 per ton |
Source: LADWP Consumer Rebate Program, checked October 14, 2026. Amounts change and funding is limited. Check LADWP before you count on it.
Permits still apply
The HOA approval is on top of the city permit, not instead of it. Replacing a system in a condo needs a permit and usually an independent field test, same as a house. Our permit fees are quoted separately.
A realistic timeline
- Get your price online and pick a system. About 2 minutes.
- Send the HOA package. We provide the contractor documents; you submit it under your name.
- Wait for board approval. This is the long part and it varies by HOA.
- Pull the permit and schedule the install. Most installs are one day.
- Final inspection.
Questions people ask
Do I need HOA approval to replace my condo AC?
Usually yes, especially if the outdoor unit is on the roof, a balcony or common ground. Check your HOA's architectural rules or ask the management company before you buy.
Can I put a mini-split in my condo?
Often, yes, with HOA approval for the outdoor unit location and the line set. Mini-splits are one of the easier condo installs because there is no ductwork.
Does a condo qualify for the LADWP heat pump rebate?
Yes, if you are an LADWP residential customer and the equipment meets the efficiency minimum. LADWP excludes ADUs and new construction, not condos.
How long does a condo HVAC replacement take?
The install itself is usually one day. The HOA approval before it is what takes time, so start that paperwork first.