BWP pays to replace gas
$1,000 per ton, up to $2,500 for standard customers ($5,000 for income-qualified residents), on a central or mini-split heat pump. Each unit must replace an existing natural gas appliance.
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AC installation in Burbank
Burbank has its own utility, so the rebate that matters is Burbank Water and Power's: $1,000 per ton, up to $2,500, for a heat pump that replaces gas equipment. Burbank also issues its own permits, and its airport averages 53.9 days a year at 90 °F or above.
Reviewed · 5 named sources · No named reviewer yet; see our editorial policy.
Burbank at a glance
$1,000/tonBWP heat pump rebate, up to $2,500 (standard customers)
53.9 daysa year at 90 °F or above at Burbank airport
23%of homes built in the 1940s, the city's biggest decade
What differs in Burbank
Rebate needs a finaled permit
BWP asks for proof the job passed inspection by Burbank's Building and Safety Division and a copy of the finaled permit. An unpermitted install gets nothing.
Burbank's own permit office
Burbank, not LADBS, issues mechanical permits. The city portal takes simple mechanical permits online.
The BWP rebate, worked through
| Heat pump size | $1,000 × tons | Paid (standard cap $2,500) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 tons | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| 2.5 tons | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| 3 tons | $3,000 | $2,500 |
| 4 tons | $4,000 | $2,500 |
Our arithmetic from the BWP form's per-ton amount and cap. Income-qualified residents have a $5,000 cap. A $750 panel incentive can be added to a heat pump rebate, not claimed alone.
The condition that decides it
The heat pump has to replace gas equipment, usually a gas furnace. Swapping an old AC for a new AC, or adding a heat pump while keeping the furnace, does not fit the rule as the form states it.
How hot Burbank gets
Burbank sits in the eastern San Fernando Valley, and NOAA's station is at the airport itself. It averages 53.9 days a year at 90 °F or above, roughly eleven times LAX, and 7.2 days at 100 °F.
Days a year at 90 °F or above
| Station | Days ≥90 °F | Days ≥100 °F | Avg summer high | Cooling degree days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX airport USW00023174 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 74.6 °F | 720 |
| Downtown LA (USC) USW00093134 | 25.6 | 1.8 | 81 °F | 1,296 |
| Burbank–Glendale–Pasadena airport USW00023152 | 53.9 | 7.2 | 85.3 °F | 1,481 |
| Pasadena USC00046719 | 74.1 | 9.5 | 88 °F | 1,604 |
| Woodland Hills (Pierce College) USC00049785 | 115.3 | 35.6 | 93.7 °F | 1,819 |
Sizing note
Burbank needs more capacity than the coast but less than the west Valley. A Manual J load calculation sets the size. Burbank is in CEC climate zone 9 (verify the address with the CEC tool).
What Burbank houses are like
Burbank's housing boomed in the 1940s: 23% of homes date from that decade, more than any other, and the median year built is 1961. Post-war houses often have a gas furnace and ducts in the attic or crawlspace, which makes a ducted heat pump the common upgrade, and the BWP rebate fits that swap.
1961median year housing in Burbank was built
37%of homes built before 1950
43%of homes in buildings of five or more units
Burbank homes by decade built
Expect the ducts on a 1940s house to need sealing to pass the Title 24 leakage test; LA sources publish duct repair at $800–$4,500.
Which system fits which Burbank house
| House | Usual fit | BWP rebate? |
|---|---|---|
| Gas furnace with ducts | Ducted heat pump replacing the furnace | Yes, $1,000/ton to the cap |
| Gas wall heater, no ducts | Mini-split heat pump replacing the wall heater | Yes, if it replaces the gas heater |
| Old AC, furnace stays | Central AC | No |
| Hillside home in a fire zone | Any of the above, with better filtration | As above |
What installation costs
Burbank AC and heat pump prices are not published reliably, so the figures below are the Los Angeles published ranges from 6 named LA sources, not Burbank quotes.
| Job | Published LA range, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Central AC, 3 tons, existing ducts | $8,000–$16,000 |
| Ducted heat pump, 2 / 3 tons | $9,000–$11,500 / $12,000–$15,000 |
| Mini-split, 1 / 2 zones | $4,000–$7,500 / $9,000–$12,500 |
| Panel upgrade (adder) | +$2,000–$7,500 |
Sources and dates: AC installation cost in Los Angeles. The federal 25C credit applied to qualifying equipment placed in service before 31 December 2025. A system installed in 2026 does not qualify.
Getting the permit in Burbank
- The contractor applies to the City of Burbank, in their name, under their CSLB C-20 license.
- Add the electrical permit if the heat pump needs a new circuit or panel.
- Install and test. Duct sealing and leakage test, refrigerant checks, third-party verification (Title 24).
- Final inspection by Burbank Building and Safety. Keep the finaled permit.
- Apply to BWP with the form, invoice and finaled permit.
Burbank installation checklist
- BWP electric account confirmed.
- Is gas equipment being replaced? If not, there is no BWP rebate.
- Heat pump size chosen from a Manual J, not the rebate cap.
- Panel capacity checked; add the $750 BWP panel incentive if eligible.
- Hillside address checked on the CAL FIRE map.
- Permit pulled by the contractor; final inspection booked.
- Rebate paperwork: form, invoice, model numbers, finaled permit.
Compare quotes in the quote comparison tool.
Sources
- Burbank Water and Power, Electrification Rebate Program application form (v07.09.26) (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Burbank, online permitting for simple mechanical permits (retrieved 2026-10-18) — verify before relying on it
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones (retrieved 2026-10-18) — verify before relying on it
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal station files (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year, tables B25034, B25024, B25035, B25003 (via Census Reporter) (retrieved 2026-10-18)
Questions
How much does AC installation cost in Burbank?
Use the Los Angeles published ranges, because no reliable Burbank-only figure exists: a 3-ton central AC at $8,000–$16,000 and a 3-ton ducted heat pump at $12,000–$15,000. Cost pages that quote a few thousand dollars usually leave out permits, tests and ducts, and one widely cited "Burbank" range is for Burbank, Illinois.
How much is the Burbank Water and Power heat pump rebate?
BWP pays $1,000 per ton on a central heat pump or mini-split heat pump, capped at $2,500 for standard customers and $5,000 for income-qualified residents. Each unit must replace an existing natural gas appliance.
Does the BWP rebate cover a new central AC?
No. It is an electrification rebate: it pays for a heat pump that replaces gas equipment, such as a gas furnace. A cooling-only AC does not qualify.
Is there a BWP rebate for an electrical panel upgrade?
BWP lists a $750 panel incentive that can be added to a heat pump rebate but cannot be claimed on its own.
What does BWP need before it pays?
Proof the installation passed inspection by Burbank's Building and Safety Division and a copy of the finaled permit, with the application form.
Who issues HVAC permits in Burbank?
The City of Burbank Building and Safety Division, not LADBS. The city portal takes simple mechanical permits online.
How hot does Burbank get?
NOAA's Burbank airport station averages 53.9 days a year at 90 °F or above and 7.2 at 100 °F, with an 85.3 °F average summer high. LAX averages 4.8 days at 90 °F.
Are hillside Burbank homes in a fire zone?
Parts of the Verdugo Mountain foothills are mapped as fire hazard severity zones. Check your address on CAL FIRE's map, and ask the contractor about filtration and where the outdoor unit can sit.
Should a Burbank house with a gas furnace get a heat pump?
It is worth pricing. A heat pump replaces both AC and furnace, and the BWP rebate only pays when gas equipment is replaced. On a 2-ton heat pump the rebate ($2,000) is a large share of the published $9,000–$11,500 range.
Next step
Free quote request
Get a quote to check against these numbers
- Tell us about the job. Service, ZIP, property and timing. The form says right away if your ZIP is outside the area.
- We check the license first. Requests go only to contractors whose CSLB C-20 license we have matched on the state register. If none covers your ZIP yet, we email you and say so.
- Compare what comes back. Line the written quote up against the published ranges and the quote checklist.
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