Delaware: HVAC contractor licensing, reciprocity and contract rules.

This page lists what Delaware publishes about licensing an HVAC or mechanical contractor and contracting with homeowners: who issues the licence, whether one is required statewide, the classes and qualifications, insurance or bond minimums, reciprocity with other states, renewal and continuing education, and the state's home-improvement contract statute if it has one.

It is built for owners of residential HVAC companies, especially those hiring across a state line or opening a second territory. Every entry is a snapshot of what the cited source published on the verification date; it is a research starting point, not legal advice.

Delaware, field by field.

Contractor licensing authority

Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners. The Board page states: "The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses."

HVAC licence required

Statewide. 24 Del. C. § 1820(a): "A person shall not provide HVACR or HVACR restricted services in this State" without a licence under the chapter. § 1802(8) defines HVACR services as "the design, installation, construction, maintenance, service, repair, alteration, or modification" of heating, air-conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and process cooling or heating products or equipment, including gas piping; § 1802(7) defines HVACR restricted services as HVACR services limited to one of six specialties (heating — forced air systems, ventilation and gas piping; heating — hydronic systems and gas piping; commercial hood systems; refrigeration; air-conditioning; gas piping), and § 1802(11)-(12) define the Master HVACR licensee and the Master HVACR licensee restricted. The Board's HVACR licensure page lists the same six restricted specialties and states that providing services in more than one specialty requires the Master HVACR licence. No dollar threshold appears in § 1820; § 1820(d) sets a fine of "not less than $1,500 nor more than $3,000" for a first offence of unlicensed practice.

Licence classes & qualifications

Master HVACR and Master HVACR Restricted (24 Del. C. § 1802(11)-(12)). Under § 1821(a)(1) an applicant has "performed HVACR, or HVACR restricted services for 2 years under the supervision of a master HVACR licensee" after receiving a journeyman's certificate, or has performed those services for 7 years under a master HVACR licensee and passed the Board-approved equivalency test (the Apprenticeship By-Pass Exams, 24 DE Admin Code 1800 § 3.1.2.2; under § 3.1.2.2.3 a restricted-licence applicant passes only the exam sections designated for the restriction); § 1821(a)(2) requires a passing score on a Board-designated written examination, and 24 DE Admin Code 1800 § 3.1.1 states "A score of 70% or greater is required to pass the exam"; § 3.1.3 requires a copy of the applicant's CFC card documenting certification at the appropriate level for handling chlorofluorocarbons "by a testing organization approved by the Environmental Protection Agency". The Board's HVACR licensure page lists the same requirements (journeyman certificate from a federally approved apprenticeship program plus at least two years, or at least seven years plus the By-Pass Exam offered by ABC Delaware; 70% pass; CFC card for Master HVACR and the restricted refrigeration or air-conditioning licences; employment verification).

Insurance / bond minimum

No general-liability or surety-bond requirement appears in 24 Del. C. §§ 1820–1830, in 24 DE Admin Code 1800, or on the Board's licensure, renewal and continuing-education pages as read on 2026-10-14 (the Board page lists no insurance or bond item among the application requirements).

Reciprocity

24 Del. C. § 1823(a) licenses an applicant who presents proof of current licensure in good standing in another state whose standards are substantially similar to Delaware's; § 1823(b) requires an applicant from a state whose standards are not substantially similar to have "practiced for a minimum of 7 years after licensure". The Board's HVACR licensure page lists Connecticut, Iowa and Maryland as substantially similar (no proof of experience required) and Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia as not substantially similar ("proof of practicing a minimum of seven (7) years" after becoming a master in that jurisdiction); any other state or territory is evaluated by the Board, with that jurisdiction's law and regulations submitted.

Renewal & continuing education

Licences "expire on October 31 of even years" (Board renewal page); 24 Del. C. § 1825(b): a licence is renewable biennially on payment of the fee, a renewal form and proof of any Board-required continuing education. The renewal page allows a late renewal application for up to one year after expiration with a late fee, states "it is illegal to practice until the license is actually renewed", and states that a licence not renewed within one year terminates. Continuing education: 24 DE Admin Code 1800 § 5.3: "Licensees shall complete 5 hours of approved CE during each renewal period" — § 5.3.1.1: 3 hours in code changes; § 5.3.1.2: 1 hour in safety; § 5.3.3: HVACR licensees complete 1 hour in Energy Code; § 5.3.4.1: dual plumbing/HVACR licensees complete 6 total hours; § 5.1: CE "shall be completed by October 31 of even-numbered years starting in 2026". The Board CE page prorates the first renewal (3 hours if licensed on or after 11/1 of an even year and before 11/1 of the odd year; 0 hours if licensed on or after 11/1 of the odd year and before 7/1 of the even year; 5 hours if licensed 7/1–11/1 of the even year) and states "For all subsequent renewals, you will owe 5 hours, unless you have dual licenses." Audits: § 5.6 (Compliance Audits) — § 5.6.1: beginning with the 2026 renewals the Board randomly audits 5% of renewals, notifying selected licensees within 60 days after the renewal deadline; § 5.6.2: all late renewals are audited. The regulation ends at § 8.0; the Board CE page's reference to "Section 9.0" does not match the current regulation. Section 5.0 was last amended at 28 DE Reg. 679 (03/01/25).

Home-improvement contract rule

6 DE Admin Code 106 (Home Improvement regulation; § 1.1 cites the Director's enforcement authority under 29 Del. C. § 2520, and § 3.1 declares the listed acts unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act, 6 Del. C. § 2513(a)) defines "home improvement" as "any alteration, repair, addition, modification or improvement to any dwelling or the property on which it is situated", with "air conditioning or heating systems" among the listed examples (§ 2.0), and defines a home improvement contract as a written agreement including all amendments and addenda; § 1.2 excludes new construction of single-family dwellings. Section 3.1 (31 numbered items) makes it an unlawful practice to: fail to provide a home improvement contract that describes in a meaningful way the merchandise, price, financing terms and other material terms by the time performance is due (§ 3.1.1); fail to provide in writing an approximate completion date unless the contract clearly states that none is provided (§ 3.1.2); fail to include proper notification of the buyer's right to cancel when required by 6 Del. C. § 4404(2) (§ 3.1.6); fail to give the buyer the Consumer Protection Unit's summary of the regulation (§ 3.1.11; the Attorney General's summary is revised 10/31/2023); include a liquidated-damages provision paying the same amount regardless of work completed (§ 3.1.12); misrepresent the binding nature of a contract (§ 3.1.13); limit any warranty or remedy without a clear, conspicuous disclosure initialed by the buyer (§ 3.1.16); or mislead the buyer into believing a down payment is the full amount owed (§ 3.1.29). Door-to-door sales: 6 Del. C. § 4403(3) covers sales of consumer goods or services "with a purchase price of $25 or more" solicited away from the seller's place of business; § 4404(1) requires the contract to state "YOU, THE BUYER, MAY CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE DATE OF THIS TRANSACTION" (three business days, the same window as the federal rule); § 4403(3)e excludes a visit the buyer initiated and specifically requested for repair or maintenance of the buyer's personal property. No deposit cap appears in the regulation. Contractor registration: 19 Del. C. § 3604: "A contractor must register under this chapter before performing construction services or maintenance" with the Department of Labor; "construction services" "includes all building or work on a building, structure, or improvement of any type" (§ 3602(2)); the initial annual registration fee is $200 for a contractor without a state contract (§ 3605(c)(2)a); a knowing violation carries a civil penalty "of not less than $5,000 and not more than $85,000" per violation (§ 3609(a)).