Orange County, FL HVAC permit requirements

County page: 'Orange County abides by the current version of the Florida Building Code which includes these volumes: Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Existing and Accessibility.' The current version is the 8th Edition (2023), effective 12/31/2023, per floridabuilding.org.

Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, current version, which is the 8th Edition (2023) statewide.

New Residential Structure Permit page: 'When applicable, Energy Calculations, ACCA manuals J, S, D and Energy Performance Level (EPL) display card are required when installing HVAC equipment.'

Same page: 'ACCA manuals J, S, D ... are required when installing HVAC equipment. When installing or modifying ductwork, a mechanical duct layout is required.'

A mechanical permit is filed on Fast Track. Required info: building class, type of building, type of work, job value, system type ('split system, package unit, heat pump or straight cool'), number of units and tonnage, and 'If work is a Change-Out (replacing AC), does the work require ductwork? Yes or No.' No load calculation is listed for change-outs. 'If value of work exceeds $15,000, a Notice of Commencement is required.' HB 803 (Ch. 2026-63, effective July 1, 2026) under-$7,500 exemption: 'No electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work. Those categories still require permitting, regardless of whether the job is under $7,500.'

County pages say only 'Energy Calculations' plus the EPL display card. The older 7th-Ed. checklist (Rev. 02/19/2021) cited 'FBC-Energy Conservation R401.3, R402, R405'. For the 8th Ed., the statewide paths are R402, R405 and R406.

New residential: 'Energy Calculations, ACCA manuals J, S, D and Energy Performance Level (EPL) display card', plus 'a mechanical duct layout' when ductwork is installed or modified. Mechanical/change-out permits go through Fast Track with system type, units, tonnage and the change-out ductwork yes/no question. Owner-builders must complete an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement.

The statewide 9th Edition (2026) FBC is scheduled to take effect 12/31/2026 per the Commission workplan. HB 803 permit exemption has been effective since July 1, 2026 and excludes mechanical work (county page).

fasttrack.ocfl.net/OnlineServices