Florida HVAC help: air conditioning license classes and deposit rules
Source: Local Help Stations (localhelpstations.com). Last updated November 2, 2026.
In Florida, air conditioning and heating contractors are licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board, and the class on the license limits the size of system they can take on.
What Florida rules say
- A Class A air conditioning contractor has unlimited scope to install, repair and design central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilating systems, including duct work. (source: The Florida Senate)
- A Class B air conditioning contractor is limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 Btu of heating in any one system. (source: The Florida Senate)
- A Class C license covers servicing only, and only people who held it as of October 1, 1988 can still hold it. (source: The Florida Senate)
- The Construction Industry Licensing Board issues certified Class A and Class B air conditioning licenses and certified mechanical contractor licenses. (source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation)
- A certified contractor may contract anywhere in the state without meeting each local competency requirement. (source: The Florida Senate)
- If a contractor collects more than 10 percent up front for a home job, permit applications are due within 30 days and work must start within 90 days after permits issue. (source: The Florida Senate)
- Residential contracts over $2,500 must include a written notice about the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund. (source: The Florida Senate)
- You can check any contractor's license on DBPR by name or license number before you sign. (source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation)
This page covers statewide rules only. Cities and counties can add their own permits and licenses, so check with your local building office too.
More Florida topics
Sources
- The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes): Section 489.105, Florida Statutes (2026): Definitions (construction contracting) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): Construction Industry Licensing Board (checked November 2, 2026)
- The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes): Section 489.126, Florida Statutes (2026): Moneys received by contractors (checked November 2, 2026)
- The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes): Section 489.1425, Florida Statutes (2026): Duty of contractor to notify residential property owner of recovery fund (checked November 2, 2026)
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