Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler) replacement cost in Miami, FL
Installed, 3 ton system
A typical heat pump (3 ton system) costs about $5,700 installed in the Miami area, 1% below the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $28 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Miami
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton system | $3,900 | $4,800 | $6,900 | $4,850 |
| 3 ton system | $5,000 | $5,700 | $7,550 | $5,750 |
| 4 ton system | $6,450 | $7,050 | $9,200 | $7,150 |
| 5 ton system | $7,650 | $8,350 | $10,750 | $8,450 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Miami metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23 | $23 |
| Median | $28 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $35 | $37 |
The Miami market
The City of Miami's Easy Permit catalog lists water heater change-outs under plumbing, gas and electrical trades, and A/C change-out under electrical. Mechanical Easy Permits are limited to like-for-like replacements. Florida's Building Commission has held that the state code requires a permit to replace a gas or electric water heater unless the local jurisdiction has an exemption. The city's minimum permit fee is $110. Miami-Dade County guidance says only licensed contractors or owner-builders may obtain a permit, though that brochure is old, and the city's Easy Permit page mentions only qualified contractors in good standing. Inspection details were not found, so ask the city. This is an all-electric, cooling-first market: EIA found 88% of Florida homes heat water with electricity and 90% have central air. Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah and the Palm Beach cities issue their own permits.
Heat pumps provide main heat in 31% of Florida homes, nearly the same share as furnaces, and in Miami they are effectively an air conditioner that can also warm the house on cool nights. The same salt-air and wind questions apply to the outdoor unit. Florida's state rebate program status could not be confirmed from the state energy office, so do not rely on a quoted state rebate without seeing the program name.
Permits in Miami
| Permit for this job | Yes (A/C change-out listed as an Easy Permit item; mechanical Easy Permits limited to like-for-like replacements) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | City of Miami fee schedule: minimum permit fee $110.00 (Sec. 10-18, building/plumbing/mechanical/electrical). No itemized A/C change-out or water heater permit line found (water heater appears only as an annual inspection item at $85). |
| Who can pull it | Licensed contractor or owner/builder (county guidance); City Easy Permits are issued to qualified contractors in good standing |
| Inspection | Not stated on the city pages we checked |
Rebates in Florida
HEAR: status unclear. HOMES: status unclear. Source: FDACS Office of Energy, checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Miami
Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler) cost in other metros
Sources
- City of Miami: Get an Easy Permit
- City of Miami building fee schedule
- Miami-Dade County home renovation brochure
- Florida Building Commission declaratory statement on water heater replacement permits
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split heat pump (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)