How to check an AC contractor's license in Arizona
Ask for the company's Arizona Registrar of Contractors license number and look it up at roc.az.gov before work starts. For home AC work, the classification should cover air conditioning: usually the residential R-39 or the dual CR-39.
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On this page
Which license covers AC work
Arizona's contractor rules list the classifications and what each one allows. The ones you will usually see on a home AC job:
| Classification | Type | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| R-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar | Residential | Install and repair comfort air conditioning, including refrigeration, evaporative cooling, ventilating and heating, with or without solar. |
| CR-39 Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating | Dual (residential and commercial) | The scopes of the commercial C-39 and the residential R-39R. |
| CR-79 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration including Solar | Dual | The scopes of the commercial C-79 and the residential R-39. |
| R-39R (several subclasses) | Residential | Older narrower classes, such as warm air heating and evaporative cooling. The rule says no new R-39R licenses will be issued. |
Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-103 and R4-9-104. A commercial-only license (C-39) isn't a residential license.
How to look it up
- Ask for the license number. It should be on the quote or the company's site.
- Search it at roc.az.gov. Check that the name matches the company you're dealing with.
- Check that the license is active and the classification covers the work. The complaint history is on the same page.
The under $1,000 exemption
Arizona lets an unlicensed person do some small jobs. A.R.S. 32-1121 exempts work where the total price for labor and materials is less than $1,000. The exemption doesn't apply if the work needs a local building permit, and anyone relying on it who advertises has to say "not a licensed contractor" in the ad.
In practice a capacitor swap might come in under the limit. A new system never does. I'd use a licensed company for any AC work anyway, because of the next section.
What the license gets you
Arizona runs a residential contractors' recovery fund for homeowners harmed by a licensed contractor's work. The maximum award is $30,000 (A.R.S. 32-1132.01). It doesn't cover work by an unlicensed person.
Every company we refer holds a current ROC license for this kind of work. Check it anyway. It takes two minutes.
Questions Mesa homeowners ask
What license does an HVAC contractor need in Arizona?
A Registrar of Contractors license whose classification covers air conditioning. For homes that is usually the residential R-39 or the dual CR-39 (or CR-79). A commercial-only C-39 doesn't cover residential work.
Can a handyman fix my AC in Arizona?
Only small jobs. A.R.S. 32-1121 exempts work under $1,000 total that needs no building permit. Anything bigger needs a licensed contractor.
Where do I check an Arizona contractor's license?
At roc.az.gov, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. The search shows whether the license is active and what it covers, along with any complaints.
Sources
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-103: residential contractor license classifications and scopes of work
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-104: dual contractor license classifications and scopes of work
- A.R.S. 32-1121: persons not required to be licensed (the under $1,000 exemption)
- A.R.S. 32-1132.01: residential contractors' recovery fund, maximum award
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors: license search