HVAC Replacement — Alabama license requirements
01 The project
The starting point is the work itself — HVAC Replacement in Alabama. The job determines which trades are involved, and the trades determine which license classifications may be required.
| Component | Trade |
|---|---|
| Existing heating or cooling system | HVAC |
02 Jurisdiction
This project is evaluated for Alabama — the five-board / two-threshold state. Non-residential work of $100,000 or more (pools $5,000) is the ALBGC general contractor layer; residential work over $10,000 (roofing over $2,500) is the HBLB home builder layer; and the electrical (AECB, ch. 36), plumbing/gas (PGFB, ch. 37) and HVAC/R (HACR, ch. 31) trades are licensed by their own boards. Alabama jurisdiction page.
Municipal building-permit and business-licence fees are set locally and were not read — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. Alabama publishes a single confirmed contractor bond (the HVAC/R $20,000 performance bond) and no general contractor bond, so no other bond amount appears here to verify against. State requirements are not the complete story for any locality.
03 Trade → license
Relations below are recorded per state — only this jurisdiction's classifications are shown.
Trades involved: HVAC.
- May require HACR-HVAC — Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor confirmed S-AL-HACR-LAW rule AL-HVAC-LICENSETHE HVAC/R credential: an HACR licence is required (§34-31-28); a NEW applicant must provide a $20,000 performance bond (rule 440-X-3-.04(5)). Localities may not impose further testing.
- May require HACR-REF — Refrigeration Contractor confirmed S-AL-HACR-BOND rule AL-HVAC-LICENSERefrigeration is within the HACR board's scope (Administrative Code 440-X-1-.01).
- May require GAS-MST — Master Gas Fitter confirmed S-AL-PGFB-FORMS rule AL-PLUMB-GASGas limb: gas piping/appliance connection work needs the PGFB gas fitter credential (minimum apprentice card to perform gas fitting).
- Component basis ELEC-CON — Electrical Contractor confirmed S-AL-AECB-LAW rule AL-ELEC-LICENSELine-voltage limb: electrical work outside the HVAC scope requires an AECB electrical contractor licence (§34-36-13).
04 Scope
What the official sources say about the work involved — typed assertions, never a boolean "covers". Interpretations are marked as such.
- Officially included ELEC-CON Engaging In The Electrical Contracting Business (may_perform) Code of Alabama §34-36-13 S-AL-AECB-LAW Alabama licenses the electrical contractor business; the qualifying individual is a master electrician and journeymen hold individual certificates.
- Officially excluded ELEC-CON Requiring A Separate Local Electrical Contractor License For The Same Purpose (may_not_perform) Code of Alabama chapter 36, Title 34 S-AL-AECB-LAW CERTAINTY NOTE: the exclusivity clause was not fully extracted from the binary PDF — recorded as reported, not confirmed.
- Requires another classification GAS-MST At Least An Apprentice Card To Perform Gas Fitting (requires) Code of Alabama §34-37-1; PGFB forms page S-AL-PGFB-FORMS Gas fitting has an explicit floor credential — the apprentice card.
- Officially excluded HACR-HVAC Localities Imposing Further Testing On A State Licensed Hvac Contractor (may_not_perform) Code of Alabama §34-31-28 S-AL-HACR-LAW Alabama expressly prohibits local HVAC further testing.
- Requires another classification HACR-HVAC A 20000 Dollar Performance Bond For New Applicants (requires) Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04(5) S-AL-HACR-BOND The only state contractor bond Alabama publishes; $20,000 per the official rule.
05 Requirements
| Requirement | Kind | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC/R contractors must be licensed by the HACR board; localities may not impose further testing HACR chapter 31 law PDF (§34-31-18, §34-31-28) — read 2026-10-05 | license | Chapter 31, Title 34 regulates the heating, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration contractors industry (§34-31-18 definitions; §34-31-28 examination). Certification/licensing means the process of testing to determine the knowledge and skill of an individual, and 'further testing … by localities' is PROHIBITED — a locality may not impose its own additional examination on a state-licensed HVAC/R contractor. | S-AL-HACR-LAWSource S-AL-HACR-LAW — Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors (HACR)Alabama HACR — chapter 31, Title 34 (official law PDF, §§34-31-18 et seq.) — HACR chapter 31 law PDF (§34-31-18, §34-31-28) — read 2026-10-05 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Official board-published PDF of chapter 31 (read 2026-10-05 via official-domain snippet). §34-31-18 defines 'certification or license' as testing to determine knowledge/skill for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration work; §34-31-28 is the examination section — 'further testing by localities PROHIBITED' — and the exemptions. RETRIEVAL LIMITATION: binary PDF — the licence requirement and exam section are corroborated by the board home and the Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04. |
| A new HVAC/R applicant must provide a $20,000 performance bond Administrative Code 440-X-3-.04(5) — read 2026-10-05 | bond | Alabama Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04(5): 'All new heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration contractor applicants must provide a performance bond in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000)' (also required of reciprocity applicants). This is the one state contractor bond Alabama publishes for the HVAC/R industry. | S-AL-HACR-BONDSource S-AL-HACR-BOND — Alabama Legislature — Code of Alabama 1975 (ALISON) & Alabama Administrative CodeAlabama Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04 — Forms of licensing (HACR performance bond) — Administrative Code 440-X-3-.04(5) — read 2026-10-05 https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/440-X-3-.04 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read 2026-10-05 (Administrative Code chapter 440-X, Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors). Rule 440-X-3-.04(5): 'All new heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration contractor applicants must provide a performance bond in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).' Also defines the forms of licensing (business licence + qualifying individual). NOTE: some commercial surety pages circulate a $15,000 figure — the official rule states $20,000 (CONFLICT-AL-002). |
| HVAC/R bond figure — $20,000 official rule vs $15,000 commercial claim (CONFLICT-AL-002) Administrative Code 440-X-3-.04(5) — read 2026-10-05; CONFLICT-AL-002 | bond | CONFLICT-AL-002: Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04(5) states the HVAC/R performance bond is $20,000, while some commercial surety/bond pages advertise a $15,000 Alabama HVAC bond. The official rule governs; the conflict is preserved and published beside the $20,000 figure. | S-AL-HACR-BONDSource S-AL-HACR-BOND — Alabama Legislature — Code of Alabama 1975 (ALISON) & Alabama Administrative CodeAlabama Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04 — Forms of licensing (HACR performance bond) — Administrative Code 440-X-3-.04(5) — read 2026-10-05; CONFLICT-AL-002 https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/440-X-3-.04 Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read 2026-10-05 (Administrative Code chapter 440-X, Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors). Rule 440-X-3-.04(5): 'All new heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration contractor applicants must provide a performance bond in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).' Also defines the forms of licensing (business licence + qualifying individual). NOTE: some commercial surety pages circulate a $15,000 figure — the official rule states $20,000 (CONFLICT-AL-002). |
| A minimum Apprentice card is required to perform gas fitting PGFB forms page — read 2026-10-05 | license | The PGFB forms page states: 'A minimum of an Apprentice card is required in order to perform gas fitting.' Master and journeyman gas fitters use a board form to declare whether they perform or do not perform gas fitting. Gas fitting is a distinct certification from plumbing, administered by the same board. | S-AL-PGFB-FORMSSource S-AL-PGFB-FORMS — Alabama State Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board (PGFB)Alabama PGFB — Forms and Applications — PGFB forms page — read 2026-10-05 https://pgfb.alabama.gov/forms/ Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read 2026-10-05. 'A minimum of an Apprentice card is required in order to perform gas fitting.' Master/journeyman gas fitters use a form to declare whether they perform or do not perform gas fitting. The board issues annual certificates. |
| No person may engage in electrical contracting or work as a master/journeyman electrician without an AECB license AECB chapter 36 law PDF (§34-36-12/13, §34-36-7) — read 2026-10-05 | license | §34-36-13 'License required; exemptions': no person shall engage in the electrical contracting business or perform work as a master or journeyman electrician without a licence from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, subject to the section's exemptions. §34-36-7 requires every applicant for an electrical contractor or journeyman electrician licence to submit a completed application, application fee and supportive documentation of qualifications before taking the examination. A licence must be displayed (§34-36-12). | S-AL-AECB-LAWSource S-AL-AECB-LAW — Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors (AECB)Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors — chapter 36, Title 34 (official full-text law PDF) — AECB chapter 36 law PDF (§34-36-12/13, §34-36-7) — read 2026-10-05 https://aecb.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Section34LAW.pdf Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Official board-published PDF of chapter 36 (read 2026-10-05 via official-domain metadata/snippet — the PDF is binary and not fully extractable by this harness, so facts are limited to what the board publishes in text elsewhere). Defines 'electrical contracting' and the JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN ('A person who possesses necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to install electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment…'). §34-36-13 is the licence-required/exemptions section; §34-36-7 examinations with reciprocity; §34-36-12 display of licences. RETRIEVAL LIMITATION: binary PDF — the operative licence-required text is corroborated through the official Administrative Code filing (S-AL-ADMINCODE-303) and the board home (S-AL-AECB). |
06 Rule: AL-HVAC-LICENSE
Chapter 31, Title 34, regulates the heating, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration contractors industry; the HACR board licenses by examination (§34-31-28) and further testing by localities is PROHIBITED. A new applicant must provide the $20,000 performance bond (rule 440-X-3-.04(5)). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| license-required | hvac_contractor_license_required |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-AL-HACR-LAWS-AL-HACR-BOND
07 Rule: AL-PLUMB-GAS
The PGFB certifies gas fitters as well as plumbers; 'a minimum of an Apprentice card is required in order to perform gas fitting'. Master and journeyman gas fitter certificates authorise engaging in the gas-fitting business/working under a master, requiring annual registration. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| gas-fitting | gas_fitting_certification_required |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-AL-PGFB-FORMSS-AL-PGFB-LAW
08 Rule: AL-ELEC-LICENSE
§34-36-13: no person shall engage in the electrical contracting business or perform work as a master or journeyman electrician without a licence from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, subject to the section's exemptions. The business credential is the electrical contractor licence (with a qualifying master electrician); a journeyman holds an individual certificate. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| license-required | electrical_contractor_license_required |
|
| exception | electrical_license_exception |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-AL-AECB-LAWS-AL-ADMINCODE-303
09 Rule: AL-HVAC-BOND
Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04(5): all NEW heating/air-conditioning and refrigeration contractor applicants (and reciprocity applicants) must provide a $20,000 performance bond. CONFLICT-AL-002 preserves the $15,000 commercial figure. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| bond-required | hvac_performance_bond_required |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-AL-HACR-BOND
10 The HVAC/R licence and the $20,000 bond
| Question | Alabama answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC/R contractor credential | an HACR licence (§34-31-28) — the board licenses the heating, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration contractors industry; further testing by localities is prohibited (rule AL-HVAC-LICENSE) | S-AL-HACR-LAW |
| Performance bond | a NEW applicant (and reciprocity applicant) must provide a $20,000 performance bond — Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04(5) | S-AL-HACR-BOND |
| Bond conflict | some commercial surety pages circulate $15,000 — the official rule states $20,000 (CONFLICT-AL-002) | S-AL-HACR-BOND |
| Gas limb | gas piping/appliance connection work needs the PGFB gas fitter credential (minimum apprentice card to perform gas fitting) | S-AL-PGFB-FORMS |
| Line-voltage limb | electrical work outside the HVAC scope requires an AECB electrical contractor licence (§34-36-13) | S-AL-AECB-LAW |
11 Permit and verification layer
Alabama separates the credential from the permit: the STATE boards decide who may work (the ALBGC / HBLB / AECB / PGFB / HACR licences and certificates), while the municipal building department issues the building permit and the city/county issues a business licence. §34-8-9 ties building-permit issuance for covered work to the state licensure framework. Permit and business-licence fees are set locally and were not read — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. S-AL-GC-LAW
Verify the credential that actually applies on the official lookup before relying on any outcome here. S-AL-CODE-34-8-2
Source S-AL-HACR-BOND — Alabama Legislature — Code of Alabama 1975 (ALISON) & Alabama Administrative Code
Alabama Administrative Code rule 440-X-3-.04 — Forms of licensing (HACR performance bond) — Administrative Code 440-X-3-.04(5) — read 2026-10-05
https://admincode.legislature.state.al.us/administrative-code/440-X-3-.04
Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05
Read 2026-10-05 (Administrative Code chapter 440-X, Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors). Rule 440-X-3-.04(5): 'All new heating and air conditioning, or refrigeration contractor applicants must provide a performance bond in the amount of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000).' Also defines the forms of licensing (business licence + qualifying individual). NOTE: some commercial surety pages circulate a $15,000 figure — the official rule states $20,000 (CONFLICT-AL-002).