How to Check If an AC Contractor Is Licensed in Florida (Before You Let Them In)

What License Does an AC Contractor Need in Florida?

Florida requires a Certified Air Conditioning Contractor license (occupation code CAC) or a Registered Air Conditioning Contractor license for HVAC work. This is state law under Florida Statute Chapter 489. General handymen, even experienced ones, are not legally allowed to repair or replace central AC systems, handle refrigerant, or work on ductwork.

Technician tip from our team: always ask for the license number before anyone touches your system. A legitimate contractor puts it on their truck, their estimate, and their website. Ours is CAC1822848, and we encourage you to look it up.

How to Look Up a License on the DBPR Site, Step by Step

1. Go to myfloridalicense.com and click “Verify a License.”
2. Search by license number (fastest) or by the licensee’s name.
3. Open the license detail page and check three things: the license type, the status, and the expiration date.
4. Confirm the status reads Current, Active. Anything else (Delinquent, Expired, Null and Void, Revoked) means the contractor is not authorized to work.
5. Confirm the license type matches the work. For AC, you want Certified or Registered Air Conditioning Contractor.
6. Check that the name on the license matches the business on your quote.

The whole process takes about a minute. If a contractor hesitates to give you their number, that is your answer.

Certified vs. Registered: What Is the Difference?

Both are state-issued licenses, but they are not identical. A Certified contractor (license numbers starting with C) passed the state exam and met uniform state requirements, and may work anywhere in Florida. A Registered contractor (numbers starting with R) qualified through a local jurisdiction and may work only in the jurisdictions where registered. For a homeowner in Broward County, either is legal, but certified is the broader credential.

Florida also classifies AC licenses by scope: Class A is unlimited, Class B is limited to 25 tons of cooling per system, and Class C covers servicing only. For a typical home, any of these can handle the work, but it is worth knowing what the letters mean.

Red Flags That Mean Walk Away

• Cash only, no written estimate. Legitimate contractors take traceable payments and put everything in writing.
• No license number on the truck, website, or estimate. Florida requires it to be displayed.
• No permit pulled for a full replacement. In Broward County, replacing an AC system requires a Mechanical Permit, and only a licensed contractor can pull it. No permit means no inspection, which becomes your problem at resale.
• Pressure to decide today. A real diagnosis does not expire at midnight.

Do You Need a Permit for a New AC in Broward County?

Yes. Installing or replacing an air conditioning system in Broward County requires a Mechanical Permit, including equipment ratings documentation and hurricane tie-down details. The permit application must be submitted by a licensed contractor. This protects you: the inspection verifies the installation meets code before you pay the final invoice. If you are getting quotes for a new system, ask each bidder who pulls the permit. The right answer is always “we do.”

Our License, Shown as an Example

Cooling On Demand Inc. holds Florida Certified Air Conditioning Contractor license CAC1822848, currently active through 2028. Look it up yourself at myfloridalicense.com. We would rather you verify us than trust us, because that is how it should work for every contractor you invite into your home. More about our company and what our customers say.