California needs to streamline permits for heat pump installations

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OPINION – Last summer, my old air conditioning system was on its way out, so I started looking for a replacement to keep my home cool. That’s when I learned that modern heat pumps are three to five times more efficient than gas appliances and can help households save money by providing heating and cooling in one system year-round. After weighing my options, I decided this was the best long-term investment for my home.

With available incentives and rebates, a heat pump, which can replace both my gas furnace and the air conditioner (A/C), would have actually cost less than installing a new A/C alone, and I was ready to move. But what I didn’t anticipate was how complicated the approval process with my Home Owner’s Association (HOA) would be.

I submitted the required request to my HOA in July and expected a routine review. The new unit would sit exactly where my existing system was, and it would be even quieter for my neighbors. But weeks turned into months of contradictory guidance from the HOA, unexplained lapses in communication, out-of-pocket fees, and constant back and forth with management.

At one point, my resubmitted application was rejected with the claim that “Heat pumps are not allowed,” even though no such rule exists in the HOA’s governing documents. I ultimately had to hire an attorney to help me pursue a resolution, who found that my HOA was in breach of contract.

As a result of seven months of delays, I have missed out on incentives and federal tax credits that, combined with fees I paid, would have amounted to nearly $6,500 in savings. My experience proves that even when homeowners are ready to upgrade their homes, intractable HOAs can stall projects and drive up costs. That needs to change.

A clear, standard heat pump permitting process statewide would make home upgrades faster and less expensive for homeowners like me, and make these installations easier for contractors. SB 222, the Heat Pump Access Act, aims to do exactly that by modernizing the permitting process, streamlining approvals, and preventing jurisdictions and HOAs from imposing additional unreasonable rules, zoning, or planning requirements. According to the California Association of Homeowners Associations, there are over 50,000 HOAs in California, housing over fourteen million people.

California is already working to encourage heat pump adoption through its 2025 Energy Code, but our policymakers should be doing more. Homeowners need to be able to install equipment in a timely, predictable, and affordable way, especially during critical emergency replacements in Sacramento’s sweltering summers.

In addition to passing SB 222, state leaders must restore funding for TECH Clean California, the state’s popular heat pump incentive program that has helped install over 73,000 heat pumps in homes. Funding for the program ran out earlier this year, and homeowners like me lost out when permitting complications pushed projects past eligibility windows. Stable funding, paired with a consistent statewide permitting process, would create meaningful support for households across California.

My hope is that my story can help homeowners plan ahead and encourage policymakers to recognize the importance of making installation pathways faster, simpler, and more affordable. The state should pass SB 222 so families aren’t penalized by red tape, and restore funding for TECH Clean California to make these upgrades accessible. Because when the process works, more Californians can choose technologies that save us money, reduce energy use, and make our homes more comfortable year-round.

Sharon Larence is a retired civil servant who resides in an ADA-accessible condo in Folsom.