What's typical in Lafayette homes
- Homes from around 1960 (Census median year built), many with crawlspace ducts or low attics
- Additions and converted garages without duct runs, a natural fit for ductless heads
- Hot summers inland of the Berkeley hills, so cooling capacity matters
- Hillside lots where outdoor unit placement and line-set routing take planning
Permits: County building inspection
Lafayette contracts with Contra Costa County for building plan check and inspection (City of Lafayette; County permits). Expect the same Title 24 requirements as anywhere in California: duct leakage testing on change-outs and ECC-Rater verification.
MCE rebates apply
Lafayette is an MCE member city. As of October 4, 2026, eligible homes can get up to $400 per 500 sq ft for heat pump heating and cooling and up to $675 for a heat pump water heater, with an MCE-listed contractor. Full rebate table.
Moraga
Moraga is also an MCE city and also uses Contra Costa County for plan check and inspection, so the same rebate and permit path generally applies. Orinda, next door, is different: it isn't an MCE city. See Orinda.
Systems that fit
Furnace + AC to heat pump
Reuse ducts if they pass testing; plan crawlspace access for the air handler. Furnace to heat pump
Mini-splits for additions
One or two heads for rooms the central system can't reach. Mini-splits
Lafayette questions
Do Lafayette homes qualify for MCE heat pump rebates?
Lafayette is an MCE member city, so owner-occupied single-family homes that meet MCE's rules can get up to $400 per 500 sq ft for heat pump HVAC and up to $675 for a heat pump water heater, as of October 4, 2026.
Who issues HVAC permits in Lafayette?
Lafayette handles planning and zoning but contracts with Contra Costa County Building Inspection for building permits and inspections. Your contractor should pull the permit through that path.