Before you hire someone to replace a furnace, AC or heat pump, check their license. They should hold the license or registration your state requires. The rules differ across the five states we cover. This guide shows where to look in Arizona, Washington, Texas, Florida and Ohio. It also lists the bond, insurance and recovery-fund rules we found as of October 2026. For the rest of the hiring process, see our guide on how to hire an HVAC contractor.
License rules by state
| State | Who licenses or registers HVAC contractors | Bond or insurance rules we found | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | State law bars contracting without a license in good standing, unless exempt | Specialty residential: $1,000 to $7,500 bond or cash deposit. Residential and dual: also a $200,000 bond or the recovery fund | We could not reach the registrar's website in October 2026 |
| Washington | L&I registration; HVAC/R is one of 63 specialties | $15,000 bond for specialty contractors, $30,000 for general contractors; liability insurance | L&I Verify tool |
| Texas | TDLR air conditioning and refrigeration license, Class A or Class B | Class A: $300,000 per occurrence. Class B: $100,000 per occurrence | TDLR License Data Search (active licenses only) |
| Florida | State certification or registration in the proper classification | Insurance required in amounts set by board rule, which we did not check | DBPR license search |
| Ohio | State licenses commercial HVAC contractors; residential contractors are not required to be licensed in Ohio | Exam applicants must carry liability insurance in an amount the board sets; we could not confirm the amount | Ohio Commerce verification page and your local building department |
Arizona
Arizona law, A.R.S. 32-1151, makes it unlawful to act as a contractor "without having a contractor's license in good standing." This rule does not apply to a person or business that is exempt. We could not reach the website of Arizona's registrar of contractors (ROC) in October 2026. So this guide does not describe the ROC's lookup steps or name the license class an HVAC company holds.
The bond rules are in A.R.S. 32-1152. It says specialty residential contractors "shall furnish a surety bond or cash deposit" of at least $1,000 and no more than $7,500. Dual licensed and residential contractors must also do one of two things. The statute says they must either furnish a $200,000 bond or "participate in the residential contractors' recovery fund."
Under A.R.S. 32-1132, that fund is for "claimants that are damaged by an act, representation, transaction or conduct of a residential contractor that is licensed ... and that is in violation of this chapter." The statute then sets limits on who is eligible.
A.R.S. 32-1162 sets a deadline for complaints about projects other than new builds. For those projects, a complaint must be filed "within two years after the completion of the specific project." A.R.S. 32-1155 limits when the registrar may cite a contractor for poor workmanship. The registrar may not do so if the contractor "is not provided an opportunity to inspect the work within fifteen days after receiving a written notice from the registrar."
Washington
Washington's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) says, "Washington State requires all construction contractors to register with L&I." It adds that state law also requires construction contractors "to be bonded and insured to protect the public." L&I says it regulates 63 specialties that each require registration. HVAC is one of them.
The state's contractor specialty rule describes the HVAC/R specialty. It says an HVAC/R contractor "fabricates, installs, services, and maintains equipment for the purpose of heating and cooling of indoor air." It adds that this work "may also require electrical licensing per chapter 19.28 RCW and/or plumber certification per chapter 18.106 RCW."
L&I lists a "Washington Continuous Contractor Surety Bond" of $30,000 for general contractors and $15,000 for specialty contractors. It also requires a general liability insurance policy of $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit.
To check a contractor, L&I says to use its Verify tool. L&I says the tool shows whether a business has "an active contractor registration" and "an active and paid-to-date workers' comp account covering any employees." It adds that you can check "for safety violations, other information, lawsuits against their surety bond and more." Things may not go as planned with a registered contractor. If so, L&I's Protect My Home page says you can "learn whether you may qualify for the Homeowner Recovery Fund."
The City of Seattle has its own license for refrigeration and air conditioning contractors. The city's refrigeration licensing page says this license "allows your business to install, repair, or alter refrigeration or air conditioning equipment." It says the business must have "an employee with a journeyman refrigeration mechanic license designated to do the work." The city license is in addition to state registration.
Texas
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) says contractors who install, repair or maintain systems related to air conditioning, refrigeration or heating must have a TDLR license. It also says ACR companies "must employ an ACR contractor in each permanent location."
TDLR's application page says, "The Class A license allows you to work on any size unit." It says the Class B license covers cooling systems of 25 tons and under, and heating systems of 1.5 million BTUs/hour and under. It lists these minimum insurance amounts:
| Coverage | Class A license | Class B license |
|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence, property damage and bodily injury | $300,000 | $100,000 |
| Aggregate, property damage and bodily injury | $600,000 | $200,000 |
| Aggregate, products and completed operations | $300,000 | $100,000 |
To look up a license, use TDLR's License Data Search. TDLR labels it "Active Licenses only." TDLR's complaints page lists Air Conditioning & Refrigeration among the programs you can file a complaint about.
Florida
Florida law, Fla. Stat. 489.115, says, "No person may engage in the business of contracting in this state without first being certified or registered in the proper classification."
Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) explains the categories. It says a Class B air-conditioning contractor's services "are limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating in any one system." DBPR lists Class A air-conditioning contractors and mechanical contractors as unlimited. It also says certified contractors, whose codes begin with "C," can contract "in any jurisdiction in the state." Registered contractors, whose codes begin with "R," "may contract only in such jurisdictions" where they are registered.
The statute also covers insurance. Each applicant must attest that it has workers' compensation, public liability and property damage insurance. The coverage must be "in amounts determined by rule of the board." We did not check the board rule that sets those amounts. You can check a license by name or number with DBPR's license search.
DBPR's complaint page says, "The Department cannot represent you in civil matters to recover fees paid or seek remedies for injuries." It lists "Some fee and price disputes" and "Some quality of workmanship issues" among issues that may be outside its authority. DBPR's recovery fund page says you may be eligible if you suffered damages "caused by the financial mismanagement of a licensed contractor." It adds, "The fund is a last resort after all civil remedies have been exhausted."
Ohio
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses qualified HVAC and other trade contractors "who successfully pass the PSI licensing examination." It says, "The Licensing Board regulates commercial contractors who perform the above five specialty trades."
Ohio has a license verification page dated February 28, 2025. It says, "Note: residential contractors are not required to be licensed in Ohio." The OCILB page says, "All local building and health departments regulate residential contractors." It adds that state law allows those departments "to require the State commercial license for their residential contractors." For a home job, ask your local building department what it requires.
Ohio Revised Code 4740.06 sets rules for people who want to qualify for the license exam. One rule is that they must "Maintain contractor's liability insurance in an amount the appropriate specialty section of the board determines." We could not confirm the dollar amount the board sets.
A Commerce page dated April 21, 2021 sends commercial complaints to the OCILB. For residential complaints, it says to "Contact the Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Section at 1-800-282-0515, or contact your local building department."
After you check the license
Our guides on HVAC permit rules by city and how to hire an HVAC contractor cover permits, bids, contracts and warranties.