Crane for a rooftop unit in Tallahassee
State offices, campus buildings, medical offices and apartments around Tallahassee all carry rooftop units that need a crane to swap. Most go on a boom truck. Downtown jobs often have to fit the city's lane closure hours.
How much does a crane cost to swap a rooftop unit in Tallahassee?
A rooftop unit close to a parking lot usually takes a 28-ton boom truck at $180 to $220 an hour, so $720 to $880 inside a 4-hour minimum. Units deep on a large roof or set from a downtown street can need a 75 to 100 ton crane, about $1,260 to $1,420 for four hours with the permit fee.
- Distance from the truck to the unit decides the crane more than the unit's weight does.
- Downtown, a lane closure is limited to weekdays 9 AM to 4 PM or overnight 7 PM to 6 AM.
- Swap every unit that needs it on the same visit.
Where the rooftop work is
As the state capital and home to two universities, Tallahassee has a lot of flat-roofed buildings with packaged units on top: state offices downtown and along Apalachee Parkway, campus buildings, medical offices near the hospitals and apartments built for students. Leon County permitted 1,384 units in apartment-size buildings in 2025 alone.
Units on those roofs wear out on a schedule, and replacements are steady crane work even in years when new construction slows, as it has in 2026.
Boom truck or crane
Capacity drops fast as the boom reaches out, which is why the load chart, not the unit weight, decides. Rough guide:
- Unit near the edge, truck in the parking lot: 28-ton boom truck, $180 to $220 an hour, $720 to $880 for four hours.
- Unit in the middle of a big roof or 3 to 5 stories up: 50 to 75 ton crane, $860 to $1,260 with the permit fee.
- Downtown building set from the street: often 100 tons, $1,420 for four hours with the fee, sometimes overnight.
Downtown lane closures
If the crane needs a lane, the City of Tallahassee’s right of way manual sets the windows: weekdays 9 AM to 4 PM or overnight 7 PM to 6 AM. It also wants 48 hours’ notice and a traffic control plan. Plan the crane booking around the permit, not the other way around.
Make the minimum count
Have the curb adapter, electrical disconnect and the mechanical crew ready before the crane arrives. If a building has three tired units, swap all three on the same visit. The 4-hour minimum usually covers it.
Questions we hear
Can a crane lift a rooftop unit at night in Tallahassee?
Yes. The city allows overnight lane closures from 7 PM to 6 AM with a permit. It costs more in overtime but avoids traffic on busy downtown streets.
What do I need to give the crane operator?
The unit's weight from the submittal or nameplate, the building height, the distance from where the truck can park to the unit and anything overhead.
Do campus and state buildings have extra rules?
Often. Universities and state agencies usually have their own contractor and safety requirements and want a lift plan. Ask your facility contact before booking.
Sources
- City of Tallahassee, Right-of-Way Management Manual
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1417, operation and load charts
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- Tennessee Tech University, Crane/Boom Truck bid tabulation, Nov 18, 2025
- Hurd Oilfield Service, crane rates (Jack County, Texas)
Have a Tallahassee crane operator price it
Guesses are fine. The operator asks the follow-up questions.
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