AC Installation Houston: $5,500 to $11,000 + Permits (2026)

The first two rows are Houston prices. The rest are national figures from HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide.

Houston permits for a new AC: the 2% fee

A Houston HVAC permit costs 2% of the total job cost plus $47, with a $33.56 admin fee, and the licensed contractor must register their license with the City before pulling it, the Houston Permitting Center says. An inspection is required, and the contractor's registration has to be in good standing to schedule it (Mechanical Section, 832-394-8850). A separate Residential A/C Utility Release permit costs $94 plus the $33.56 admin fee and is valid for 180 days.

Ask the installer to show the permit fee as its own line on the quote, so you can compare bids on the same basis.

Efficiency rules: 14.3 SEER2 in Houston

A new split central AC under 45,000 Btu/h installed in Texas must meet at least 14.3 SEER2, the Department of Energy's 2023 Southeast standard, and split heat pumps must meet 14.3 SEER2 nationwide. HomeGuide's 2025 prices rise with efficiency: $6,700 to $9,300 for a 14.0 to 14.7 SEER2 system and $7,500 to $10,600 for 15.0 to 17.2 SEER2.

How hard a Houston AC works

Houston's airport averages 111.3 days a year at or above 90 F and 3,287.7 cooling degree days, NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show. HomeAdvisor says a central AC lasts 15 to 20 years, and HomeGuide suggests considering replacement past 10 to 12 years. If yours is failing in midsummer, see emergency AC repair in Houston first; a repair can buy time to collect quotes.

Tax credits and rebates in 2026

No federal tax credit applies to an AC or heat pump installed in 2026: the IRS says the 25C credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. We could not find a CenterPoint residential AC or heat pump rebate on an official CenterPoint page, so ask the installer whether any utility or manufacturer rebate applies to the model they quote.

Choosing an AC installer in Houston

1. Check the TDLR air conditioning contractor license. TDLR says a Class A license covers any size unit and Class B covers cooling systems of 25 tons and under.
2. TDLR requires Class B contractors to carry at least $100,000 per occurrence in insurance and Class A at least $300,000; ask for the certificate.
3. Confirm the contractor is registered with the City of Houston, or they cannot pull the permit.
4. Ask for the tonnage, SEER2 rating and whether ducts will be replaced, on paper.
5. Ask who handles refrigerant; EPA Section 608 certification is required.

All Houston heating and cooling topics are on AC repair in Houston. The national AC replacement cost, heat pump installation cost and mini split installation guides compare system types. Compare AC installation in Phoenix and AC installation in Miami, or see home repair costs.