Thinking about swapping out your A/C or furnace in Marietta before the next heat wave? It is tempting to move fast, but your HVAC replacement is regulated work that usually requires a permit and an inspection. Taking the right steps protects your safety, your insurance coverage, and your home’s future resale. In this guide, you’ll learn when permits are required, who pulls them, what inspectors check, and the real risks of skipping the process. Let’s dive in.
Do you need a permit in Marietta?
The short answer is yes. The City of Marietta requires a mechanical permit for all work on heating, air conditioning, ventilation, exhaust, and gas supply systems. Load calculations are required for new equipment, and change-outs must be inspected within 30 days of installation or operation. You can review the city’s rules on the Mechanical Permits page and schedule inspections through its online portal.
Marietta’s Mechanical Permits page outlines the requirements.
What triggers a permit
- New HVAC system installations, partial system replacements, and alterations to ductwork
- Any work on gas piping that serves HVAC equipment
- Electrical connections associated with conditioned-air equipment, depending on scope
- Routine maintenance like filter changes typically does not require a permit, but when in doubt, check with the local office
You can confirm general permitting guidance on the city’s Building Permits page.
See Marietta’s Building Permits information.
Marietta or unincorporated Cobb County
If your property is outside Marietta city limits in unincorporated Cobb County, permits are still required for mechanical work. Cobb’s ordinance makes unpermitted mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work a violation and warns that after-the-fact permits may not be granted if the work does not meet code. Inspections are scheduled through county portals, and some trades are coordinated.
- Review Cobb’s permit requirement ordinance: §18‑27 Permits required
- See county inspection scheduling and coordination details: Cobb inspection information
What inspectors check
Marietta pairs the permit with key code checks aimed at comfort and safety.
- Load calculations: You or your contractor must submit Manual J or equivalent calculations for new equipment at permit application time.
- Duct testing: New residential construction and major duct remodels require blower-door and duct-tightness testing, with results posted for the final inspection.
- Gas piping: Gas-line work requires permits and inspections, and utilities may be notified after passing.
- Electrical connections: Georgia’s definitions treat certain electrical connections for conditioned air equipment as part of conditioned-air contracting, which affects whether a licensed contractor must perform the work.
Read Georgia’s conditioned-air definitions.
Who pulls the permit
Most homeowners have their licensed HVAC contractor apply for the permit and schedule the inspections through Marietta’s online system. A homeowner can sometimes act as their own contractor if they meet state requirements and file the proper affidavit, but Georgia licensing rules still govern conditioned-air contracting. The practical path is to hire a licensed, insured contractor who handles permits and inspections for you.
- Schedule or request inspections online: Marietta inspection scheduling
- Georgia licensing rules for conditioned-air contractors: State licensing requirements
- Verify a contractor’s license: Georgia Secretary of State license lookup
Timeline and fees
Plan to apply before work starts, provide load calculations with your application for new equipment, and keep documents handy. Marietta requires change-out inspections within 30 days of installation or operation, and you will need to provide inspector access. Fees vary by scope and are posted in the city’s resources and online portal.
- Check current city fees and permitting details: Marietta Building Permits
Risks of skipping the permit
- Legal and administrative actions: Cobb County can issue fines, stop-work orders, and may refuse after-the-fact permits if the work fails code.
- See the ordinance: Cobb permit requirements
- Insurance, appraisal, and lender issues: Insurers and lenders can flag unpermitted work, which may lead to claim denials, reduced coverage, or financing delays.
- Learn more about common risks: Consumer guidance on unpermitted work
- Safety hazards: Skipping permits bypasses inspections that are designed to catch issues like unsafe gas piping, improper ventilation, or faulty electrical connections. The city’s permitting process exists to protect you and your home.
Step-by-step checklist
- Hire a licensed contractor
- Ask for license number and insurance, then verify through the Georgia Secretary of State lookup.
- Apply before work begins
- Have your contractor apply through Marietta’s online system. For new equipment, include load calculations. Confirm if gas or electrical subpermits are needed.
- During installation
- Keep load calcs, equipment specs, and invoices on hand. If gas piping is involved, coordinate related inspections. Do not cover work before inspection.
- Testing and final sign-off
- Complete required duct testing where applicable and post results for the final. Obtain final inspection sign-off and keep copies.
- If work was done without a permit
- Contact the local building department. Be prepared to provide documentation, make corrections, and schedule inspections. Some noncompliant work cannot be permitted after the fact in Cobb County.
What to ask your contractor
- Will you pull the mechanical permit and any needed subpermits?
- What is your Georgia conditioned-air license number, and can I verify it?
- Will you provide load calculations for new equipment?
- Which tests are required for my project, and who performs them?
- How will you schedule the inspection within 30 days and share the final sign-off?
Documents to keep
- Permit application and issued permit
- Load calculations and equipment specifications
- Duct and blower-door test results, if required
- Final inspection approval or card
- Paid invoices and warranty information
Having this paper trail helps with insurance, refinancing, and resale. If you plan to sell in the next few years, keeping permits and final inspections organized can prevent delays at the closing table.
When you are weighing an HVAC replacement as part of a larger move or prep-to-sell plan, we can help you think through timing, disclosure, and documentation. For local guidance and vetted vendor introductions, reach out to the Barnes Young Team.
FAQs
Marietta HVAC replacement permit: Do I need one?
- Yes. Marietta requires a mechanical permit for heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and gas supply work, including replacements and change-outs.
Homeowner pulling HVAC permits in Marietta: Is it allowed?
- Sometimes. A homeowner may act as their own contractor if they meet state requirements and file the proper affidavit, but conditioned-air contracting generally requires a licensed contractor.
HVAC change-out inspections in Marietta: What is the timeline?
- Marietta requires mechanical replacements to be inspected within 30 days of installation or operation, and inspections are scheduled online.
HVAC permit fees in Marietta and Cobb: What should I expect?
- Fees vary by scope and jurisdiction. Marietta posts fee details in its permitting resources, and Cobb uses county fee schedules that can change.
Verifying a Georgia HVAC license: How do I check?
- Ask for the contractor’s Georgia conditioned-air license number and verify it through the Georgia Secretary of State’s license lookup.
Unpermitted HVAC work when selling in Marietta: What can happen?
- You may face repair demands, financing delays, or price concessions, and insurers or lenders may flag the issue. Retroactive permits can require corrections and are not guaranteed if work is not code compliant.
