Broward County energy calcs & Manual J.
A countywide change-out form, and a load calc only when the old data is gone.
For A/C replacements, Broward uses a countywide uniform data form, and sizing calculations are needed only when the existing unit's data isn't available; ACCA Manual N, J or an equivalent is accepted. New ducted systems need a Manual J. The county itself permits only unincorporated Broward. Broward is climate zone 1A.
- Department
- Broward County Building Code Division, Broward Municipal Services Districtunincorporated · BMSD ePermits1
- Code edition
- FBC Energy Conservation, 8th Ed. (2023)9th Ed. (2026) scheduled for Dec 31, 2026 · what changes2
- Climate zone
- Zone 1A1% cooling 91°F · 99% heating 48°F3
- Price
- $195 · $445 · $595Energy calc from · full package · sealed. Same in all 67 counties · price list
- Ready by
- 2–3 business daysExpedited: within 24 business hours, +$150. Clock starts when complete plans pass intake (3:00 PM ET cutoff) · how it works
- Evidence
- 9 primary sourcesEvery number on this page links to its source · references
What Broward reviewers ask for
Broward's Board of Rules and Appeals publishes a Uniform Data Form for residential and light-commercial A/C replacements, used across the county's jurisdictions.4 The form asks for sizing calculations only when data for the existing unit isn't available, and it accepts ACCA Manual N, Manual J or an equivalent method.4
The rest of the Broward submittal notes2 more paragraphs
New systems are different. The county's MEP permit checklist calls for a Manual J or load calculation on a new A/C system with ductwork, not on a routine change-out.5 If the replacement adds ducts or a new zone, plan on a full Manual J.
BORA also publishes residential energy guidelines for the 8th Edition, which plan reviewers across the county lean on.6 We read them before each Broward job; check BORA's current PDF for the exact wording of the replacement form.
Building departments
1 department · addresses, phones, portals
Broward County's Building Code Division permits the Broward Municipal Services District, the unincorporated pockets, plus areas it serves by contract.1 Broward's cities run their own building departments; for a city address, use that city's own building page.
| Department | Address | Phone | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broward County Building Code Division, Broward Municipal Services District (unincorporated) | See official page | Official page | BMSD ePermits1 |
Design conditions
91°F cooling · 48°F heating · zone 1A · weather stations
Cooling station: North Perry (ASHRAE). Heating station: North Perry (ASHRAE).3
North Perry airport supplies both Broward design limits: 91°F for 1% cooling and 48°F for 99% heating, identical to Miami-Dade's values.3 Broward is zone 1A.2 Our view: with the two counties sharing numbers, the real Broward variable is the house, and a 1960s Hollywood block home and a 2015 Parkland build differ far more than any weather file.
Worked example
1,650 sq ft house → 29,930 Btu/h, 2.49 tons · illustrative
Illustrative · not a Manual J
Because a plain change-out often needs no calc in Broward, we modeled the case that does: a renovated 1,650 sq ft 1960s block home getting new ductwork, with impact windows already installed. The window values are our assumptions.
| House | 1960s single-storey block home, new ducted system after a renovation |
|---|---|
| Conditioned area | 1,650 sq ft, 1 storey, 8 ft ceilings |
| Bedrooms / occupants | 3 / 4 |
| Glazing | 15% of floor area (248 sq ft), U 0.45, SHGC 0.35 |
| Walls / ceiling | R-4.1 walls, R-30 ceiling under a vented attic |
| Air leakage | 7 ACH50 |
| Ducts | in the attic, 12% gain allowance |
| Ventilation | none (existing home) |
| Outdoor design | 91°F cooling / 48°F heating (sourced above) |
| Indoor design | 75°F cooling / 70°F heating |
| Design grains difference | 55 gr/lb (assumption) |
Illustrative only. A simplified block-load estimate with the inputs shown, not an ACCA Manual J, and not for permitting. A real calc goes room by room with your plans, orientation and equipment data. Code ceiling for single-stage cooling at 1.15× total load: 34,420 Btu/h.8
Local housing
Median year built 1981 · 39.9% single-family detached · Census ACS
Broward's median home dates to 1981; 48.3% of units were built before 1980 and only 19.2% since 2000, the oldest profile here after Pinellas.9 Single-family detached is 39.9% of units, and 89.3% of occupied homes heat with electricity.9 That's change-out country, which is why the BORA replacement form matters so much.
Utility rebates
FPL
- FPL. FPL credits $200 at install for a SEER2 15.2+ central A/C or heat pump when both units are replaced by a participating contractor; mini-splits are excluded.7
Utility programs change often; check the program page before you count on a rebate.
Broward County questions
3 answers · Do I need a Manual J for an A/C change-out in Broward County?
Do I need a Manual J for an A/C change-out in Broward County?
Often not. Broward's uniform replacement data form asks for sizing calculations only when data for the existing unit isn't available, and accepts Manual N, Manual J or an equivalent. A new system with ductwork is different: the county's MEP checklist calls for a Manual J or load calculation in that case.
Who issues permits in unincorporated Broward?
The Broward County Building Code Division, through the Broward Municipal Services District and its ePermits system, plus areas it serves by contract. Inside a city, that city's building department handles the permit. Confirm the jurisdiction first, because the uniform A/C form is shared but portals and fees aren't.
Is Broward in climate zone 1 or 2?
Zone 1A. The 8th Edition Florida energy code assigns Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach to zone 1A, and every other county to 2A. Broward's design limits, 91°F cooling and 48°F heating, come from the North Perry airport station.
Price
One statewide price in all 67 counties. Building departments decide what they accept; we don’t guarantee approval. Revisions for plan-review comments on the same design are free.
Nearby and related
Sources
9 primary references · numbered to match the citations
- 01Broward County, Building Permits: Permit Processbroward.org
- 022023 Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation (8th Ed.), Table R301.1, climate zones by countyup.codes
- 03RESNET / ENERGY STAR, Appendix A: HVAC Design Temperature Limits by State and County (v4, 2019). 1% cooling and 99% heating values drawn from the ASHRAE 2013 Handbook of Fundamentals and ACCA Manual J 8th Ed.resnet.us
- 04Broward County BORA, Uniform Data Form for Residential and Light Commercial Air Conditioning Replacements (PDF)broward.org
- 05Broward County, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permit checklists (PDF)broward.org
- 06Broward County BORA, 2023 Residential Energy Guidelines (8th Edition) (PDF)broward.org
- 07FPL, Ways to Save: A/C Rebatefpl.com
- 08Florida Building Commission, R405-2026 documentation checklist example (quotes R403.7.1.1 cooling equipment sizing limits)floridabuilding.org
- 09U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates (B25018, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25040), via Census Reportercensusreporter.org