TDLR Licensed HVAC Contractor

Definition

Texas regulates HVAC contractors at the state level through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The licensing framework comes from Chapter 1302 of the Texas Occupations Code and the implementing rules in 16 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 75.

Two HVAC contractor classes:

• TACLA (Class A): can install, service, and maintain any size HVAC equipment — residential, commercial, industrial. No tonnage cap.
• TACLB (Class B): capped at residential and light-commercial — 25 tons of cooling and 1.5 million BTU/hr of heating maximum.

Both classes require a master license-holder named on the company's license, who has passed the state HVAC exam, carries general liability insurance, and remains in good standing with TDLR. The license number (TACLA##### or TACLB#####) must appear on contractor estimates, invoices, and vehicles.

Cheap Cold Air holds a TACLA Class A license — TACLA160390E — registered with TDLR. You can verify any Texas HVAC contractor's license at the TDLR license lookup.

Why it matters in Austin

Hiring an unlicensed HVAC contractor in Texas creates four problems: (1) the city of Austin won't pull a mechanical permit for the work, which is required for replacements and ductwork changes — so the install is technically illegal and can come up in a home sale; (2) manufacturer warranties typically require licensed-contractor installation — an unlicensed install voids the equipment warranty; (3) homeowners insurance can deny claims related to unlicensed HVAC work; (4) there's no state regulatory recourse if the work is defective.

The license is the simplest single trust signal. Verify it on every quote.