CostInMyCity

Irvine, CA / HVAC replacement

HVAC replacement cost in Irvine, CA

Average $7,500; common $5,000–$12,500; up to $22,000 with new ductwork. Central AC $3,900–$7,900; gas furnace $3,800–$10,000; heat pump $4,200–$7,600; labor about $1,500.

Labor for HVAC replacement in Irvine, CA is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA of $37.07 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.

Reuses already-cited Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim May 2025 construction mean $37.07 (same OEWS metro as los-angeles-ca / long-beach-ca / anaheim-ca).

City of Irvine Community Development / Building and Safety is the issuing office. The typical permit fee recorded from City of Irvine Schedule V Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Fees, Resolution 24-41 (effective Aug 15, 2025), retrieved 2026-09-01, is $417. Fee model: flat.

The national typical for this job is $7,500. Materials stay at the national figure while labor is wage-indexed for Irvine, CA.

Typical all-in

$8,322

Job cost plus the recorded local permit fee at this size.

Low
$5,432
Typical
$8,322
High
$23,639

Breakdown

Labor (allocated)$2,372
Materials (allocated)$5,533
Job subtotal$7,905
Permit$417
All-in typical$8,322

Labor is adjusted for construction wages in this metro. Materials stay at the national figure. This is an estimate, not a contractor quote.

Permit fee

Fee model
Flat fee
Typical fee
$417
Range
$162 – $451
Retrieved
2026-09-01
  • Permit issuance (residential) — $31Included.
  • Furnace/burner up to 100,000 BTU (residential) — $116Included in typical. 80,000 BTU companion for a 3-ton split.
  • Residential air conditioning system — $232Included in typical.
  • Automation fee 10% — $38Included.

Typical 3-ton (36,000 BTU) like-for-like split = $30.87 + furnace $115.95 + AC $232.17 + auto $37.90 = $416.89. Low = furnace only $161.50. High = furnace 100,001-500,000 BTU $147.33 + AC + issuance + auto = $451.41.

City of Irvine. Mechanical unit fees except new residential structures. Typical 3-ton like-for-like split = issuance + furnace <=100k BTU + residential AC + 10% automation.

City of Irvine Schedule V Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Fees, Resolution 24-41 (effective Aug 15, 2025)

Citations

  1. How Much Does HVAC Replacement Cost? [2026 Data] Retrieved Aug 12, 2026. Average $7,500; $5,000–$22,000; labor about $1,500; national permit range $50–$500 (not city-specific).
  2. City of Irvine Schedule V Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Fees, Resolution 24-41 (effective Aug 15, 2025) Retrieved Aug 31, 2026. City of Irvine. Mechanical unit fees except new residential structures. Typical 3-ton like-for-like split = issuance + furnace <=100k BTU + residential AC + 10% automation.
  3. BLS OEWS construction wages — Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to laborShare only. Not a city-specific bid survey.

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