Seattle is a very-high cost-of-living market — pricing guide and permit rules below.
Seattle hvac rates: $3,000-$10,000 per system. Always get 3 written quotes and verify WA licensing at Washington L&I (lni.wa.gov). Sales tax on materials: 9.5%.
Seattle requires permits when work exceeds $500 or involves full system replacement. Your licensed contractor pulls the permit — if they ask you to pull it, that's a red flag.