Skip to content

Reno · Sparks · Washoe County

Furnace, AC and swamp cooler help in Reno, with the costs and permit rules up front

Before you book anyone: what the City of Reno charges for a permit, how big a deposit Nevada allows, and which license to ask for. Matching with independent, licensed local contractors opens soon.

How matching works See how a job goes →

Independent, NSCB-licensed contractors in Reno, Sparks, Spanish Springs, Sun Valley and across the Truckee Meadows.

Two facts before you call anyone

City of Reno permit for an A/C change-out
$45 + $45 issuance
Furnace: $89. Fees effective July 1, 2026.
Maximum legal deposit on a residential job (Nevada)
$1,000 or 10%, whichever is less
NRS 624.970. A bigger deposit request is a red flag.

How an HVAC job goes in Reno

Five stages, and the one Nevada rule that matters at each

Read it once before you book anyone. The facts are cited; the contractor is independent and licensed; the choice stays yours.

  1. Stage 1: Something stops working

    No cool air in July, a furnace that clicks but never lights, a swamp cooler that smells. Before anyone comes out, note the symptom, the equipment age and what the thermostat shows.

    Ask: Is this an emergency (no heat below freezing, a gas smell) or can it wait for a scheduled visit?

    Reno fact: Reno has a real heating season: more than one in ten HVAC searches in Washoe County are for furnaces and heating, and swamp coolers show up as their own category (Keyword Planner, Oct 2025–Sep 2026).

    When it counts as an emergency →

  2. Stage 2: Matching and the license check

    Once matching opens: You describe the job; an independent, licensed contractor contacts you. Matching is limited to contractors licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board under classification C-21.

    Ask: Ask for the license number (Nevada requires it in all advertising) and look it up before the visit.

    Reno fact: A C-21b licensee can install, repair and service equipment. A C-21d "maintenance" licensee can replace parts but NOT a complete condenser, an air handler, or anything that changes the system design (NAC 624.380).

    How to check a Nevada HVAC license →

  3. Stage 3: Quote and deposit

    A written quote should name the equipment (brand, model, capacity), the labor, the permit, and the disposal of the old unit.

    Ask: How much is the deposit? Who pulls the permit?

    Reno fact: Nevada caps the deposit on a residential job at $1,000 or 10% of the contract, whichever is less (NRS 624.970), unless the contractor has a $100,000 consumer-protection bond on file with the Contractors Board. Make the check out to the exact licensed business name.

    See the 2026 Reno cost report →

  4. Stage 4: Permit

    Inside Reno city limits an equipment change-out is an "EZ permit" through Development Services. Sparks and unincorporated Washoe County run their own schedules.

    Ask: Will the permit be in the contractor's name, and is its cost in the quote?

    Reno fact: City of Reno fees effective July 1, 2026: A/C change-out $45, furnace $89, plus a $45 issuance fee. Unpermitted work is charged a valuation-based fee after the fact.

    Permit rules for Reno, Sparks and Washoe County →

  5. Stage 5: Work, inspection, paperwork

    The contractor you were matched with does the work and schedules the inspection the permit calls for. Keep the permit record, the invoice and the equipment serial numbers for the warranty.

    Ask: Who schedules the inspection, and when does the manufacturer warranty get registered?

    Reno fact: Nevada's Residential Recovery Fund can reimburse up to $40,000 per claim against a licensed contractor, but only for a contract with a licensed residential contractor, and a claim needs the contract and copies of checks payable to the contractor (NRS 624.510). Pay the exact licensed name so those records match.

Sources: NAC 624.380 and NRS 624.720 / 624.970 (Nevada Legislature, read 2026-11-05 and 2026-07/08); City of Reno FY27 EZ permit fee schedule (read 2026-11-05); NSCB Residential Recovery Fund alert. Washoe County mechanical fee table (read 2026-11-06). The Sparks permit fee is not published and is not stated here.

NSCB-licensed only

Matching is limited to contractors with a Nevada C-21 license, and you can verify the number yourself.

Costs with sources

Reno permit fees and Nevada deposit rules are quoted from the city and the statute, with dates.

Two seasons covered

Furnaces, heat pumps and swamp coolers, not just summer AC.

No obligation

You get a contact, not a contract. Hire whoever you choose.

Rules & verification

The three pages worth reading before you sign

FAQ

Questions people in Reno ask

Do I need a permit to replace my AC or furnace in Reno?

Inside Reno city limits a like-for-like change-out goes through a City of Reno EZ permit: $45 for an A/C change-out or $89 for a furnace, plus a $45 issuance fee (fees effective July 1, 2026). Unincorporated Washoe County charges per item (for example $20 for a furnace up to 100,000 Btu/h, plus $45 issuance). Sparks requires a permit but does not publish its fee.

How much deposit can an HVAC contractor ask for in Nevada?

On a residential job, no more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less (NRS 624.970), unless the contractor has a $100,000 consumer-protection bond on file with the Contractors Board. Pay the exact licensed business name, never a nickname or subsidiary.

What license should a Reno HVAC contractor have?

A Nevada State Contractors Board C-21 license (Refrigeration and air-conditioning). Subclass C-21b covers installing, repairing and servicing equipment. A C-21d maintenance-only license cannot replace a complete condenser or air handler or change the system design (NAC 624.380). Nevada also requires the license number in all contractor advertising (NRS 624.720).

Does this site do the repair work?

No. Reno Heat & Air is an independent referral service and is not a contractor. It connects you with independent, NSCB-licensed contractors who perform and are responsible for the work.

Do you cover furnaces and swamp coolers, or just AC?

Both. Reno has a real heating season, and evaporative coolers are common in the Truckee Meadows, so furnace, heat pump and swamp cooler work are all covered.

Want a licensed contractor who pulls the permit for you?

Matching with independent, NSCB-licensed Reno contractors opens soon. Here is how it will work, and what to check with any contractor in the meantime.

How matching works

Coming soon

Contractor matching opens soon

Quote requests open soon.

This page is publishing its cost, permit and license guides first. Matching with independent, NSCB-licensed contractors in Reno, NV opens in a later update. Until then, you can verify any contractor yourself at the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Open the NSCB license search
How matching works