AC Replacement Cost in Delray Beach, FL

Prices reviewed October 2026

Complete AC replacement in Delray Beach

$7,900 – $15,000

A Delray Beach company on Poinsettia Drive says a complete residential AC replacement in the city typically runs about $7,900 to $15,000, depending on the system's size and efficiency and what the installation needs. A Boca Raton company that works in Delray reports a lower middle: across 32 replacements it invoiced in Delray Beach, the median was about $6,515, and the jobs ranged from $5,300 to $19,017.

Neither company says what system size or efficiency those figures assume, and the Delray company posts the same range for all of Palm Beach County. For a 3-ton system, use the size table below.

Where these prices come from: a Delray Beach company's replacement range and a Boca Raton company's Delray Beach invoices, with sizes from a West Palm Beach company's guide. See all 26 sources for this page.

Find a local AC company in Delray Beach

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Delray Beach AC cost by system

Complete central AC system
$7,900 – $15,000 / system
Complete replacement, Delray company
Heat pump with air handler
$9,500 – $12,500 / system
3-ton system, Florida-wide
Ductless mini-split
$3,000 – $6,000 / zone
Single zone, Palm Beach County

The central AC range is the Delray Beach company's. The heat pump range is HVAC.com's May 2025 Florida figure for a 3-ton heat pump with air handler. The mini-split range comes from a Greenacres company's July 2026 Palm Beach County guide.

3-ton and other sizes near Delray Beach

System size	Home size	Installed cost
2 to 2.5 tons	Smaller homes	$6,800 – $10,500
3 to 3.5 tons	1,400 – 1,900 sq ft	$9,000 – $13,500
4 to 5 tons	Larger homes	$11,500 – $18,500

From a West Palm Beach company's April 2026 cost guide for Wellington. Its worked example, a one-story 1,500 sq ft home with a 3-ton, 16 SEER2 system, minor duct sealing, and a smart thermostat, comes to $10,500 to $12,800. The guide doesn't say whether permit fees are included. No Delray Beach company we found publishes a price by size.

What affects AC prices in Delray Beach

Efficiency tier moves the quote the most. The Wellington guide's budget systems run $6,800 to $9,500, mid-range $9,600 to $13,500, and high-efficiency $13,600 to $19,500 or more, across 2 to 5 tons.
A condo near the water costs more than its size suggests. The same guide prices a 2.5-ton, 15.2 SEER2 condo system with corrosion-resistant hardware at $9,400 to $12,300.
Ductwork is extra. The guide puts minor duct work at $600 to $2,500 and a full redesign at $3,000 to $7,000 or more.
Sometimes a repair is enough. A West Palm Beach company's July 2026 Delray guide puts most repairs at $180 to $1,200, but a compressor at $1,500 to $3,500 or more and an evaporator coil at $900 to $2,000 or more.

AC permits in Delray Beach

The city's Building Division is at 100 NW 1st Ave.; the city's main line is 561-243-7200. Permits are filed through the city's eServices portal.
Delray Beach treats an AC change-out as an express permit and says it's issued within three days. If a system dies and is replaced right away, the city can still permit it when the application goes in within 24 hours of the work.
The city's mechanical plan review checklist asks for heat load figures only for systems that aren't exact change-outs, and for tie-down details on equipment exposed to wind.
The building fee schedule posted on the city's site is dated 2012, so ask the Building Division for the current change-out fee.
Under s. 713.135 and the county-wide permit application, an HVAC repair or replacement under $15,000 doesn't need a Notice of Commencement. The city's building FAQ lists a general $2,500 threshold without that exemption, so confirm with the city.
Homes outside city limits permit through Palm Beach County's Building Division at 2300 N. Jog Rd.

Rebates and help paying in Delray Beach

FPL serves Delray Beach (tariff). Its AC rebate is a $200 instant credit on the invoice for a new system, indoor and outdoor units, rated 15.2 SEER2 or higher and installed by an FPL Participating Independent Contractor.
The rebate certificate has to be itemized on your invoice, signed by you, and is void 90 days after installation.
The city's Housing Rehabilitation Program, for code violations, electrical and plumbing problems, and health and safety issues on projects up to $85,000 or 51% of the home's value, is temporarily closed. Its page doesn't list air conditioning.
Palm Beach County's SHIP Emergency Repairs program took applications June 8 to 26, 2026 and is closed. It covers roofing, electrical, plumbing, hurricane hardening, and structural repairs, not AC.
The federal tax credit for heat pumps and central AC doesn't apply to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS).

Rebates and assistance programs open, close, and change as funding allows. Confirm current status with the program before you plan around it. Details reviewed October 2026.

Choosing an AC replacement company in Delray Beach

Delray Beach issues change-out permits within days, so a company that says the job doesn't need one is the first to cross off.

Ask whether the company is registered with the city. Delray Beach requires contractor registration for licensed work in the city, with an active Florida license, workers' comp, and liability insurance certificates naming the city.
Look up the license on MyFloridaLicense.com. A Class C air-conditioning license covers servicing only, not installing a new central system (s. 489.105).
Read the contract for the recovery fund notice. Florida requires residential contracts over $2,500 to tell you about the Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund (s. 489.1425).
If you're counting on FPL's $200, confirm before you sign that the company is a Participating Independent Contractor and that the system is rated 15.2 SEER2 or higher.

Doing it yourself as an owner-builder? The city's owner-builder disclosure says you must sign the permit application in person at the building department and supervise the work on site.

Common questions

How much does a new AC cost in Delray Beach?

A Delray Beach company on Poinsettia Drive puts a complete residential replacement at about $7,900 to $15,000. A Boca Raton company reports a median invoice of about $6,515 across 32 replacements it did in Delray Beach.

What does a 3-ton AC cost near Delray Beach?

No Delray Beach company we found publishes a price by system size. A West Palm Beach company's 2026 guide for Wellington puts a 3 to 3.5-ton system at $9,000 to $13,500, and a 3-ton, 16 SEER2 job in a 1,500 sq ft home at $10,500 to $12,800.

How long does an AC permit take in Delray Beach?

The city treats AC change-outs as express permits and says they're issued within three days. An emergency change-out can be permitted if the application is submitted within 24 hours of the work.

Does a new AC in Delray Beach need a Notice of Commencement?

State law and the county-wide permit application exempt an HVAC repair or replacement under $15,000. The city's building FAQ gives a general $2,500 threshold without mentioning that exemption, so ask the Building Division which it applies.

Ready for real numbers? Talk to a Delray Beach AC contractor(877) 265-6848Free to call. No obligation.

Florida rules that affect your AC

Federal efficiency minimums, the refrigerant change, the end of the federal tax credit, and how the cities compare are on our Florida AC cost page.

Paying over time? Our Florida AC financing guide compares utility loans, PACE, FHA Title I, and contractor offers.

Other Florida cities, nearest first

Also near Delray Beach:

Boynton Beach
Boca Raton
Highland Beach
Gulf Stream