Do HVAC contractors need a license in Ohio?

Yes. In Ohio, a contractor doing heating, ventilating and air conditioning or refrigeration work on a commercial construction project must hold an HVAC or refrigeration contractor license from the Ohio construction industry licensing board, though one-, two- and three-family homes are outside the state license. The chapter’s "construction project" excludes a residential building, which Ohio Rev. Code § 3781.06 defines as a one-, two- or three-family dwelling house and its accessory structures, so residential HVAC licensing is left to local governments. A licensed contractor may install and service control wiring of less than 25 volts for equipment related to its own license. This is Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4740.01, 4740.13, 3781.06.

WhatOhio
HVAC licenseState contractor license (commercial work only)

Source

Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4740.01, 4740.13, 3781.06

Read the statute in the Ohio Revised Code (Ohio Legislative Service Commission): codes.ohio.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.

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