Idaho HVAC license: what your contractor license covers, and your first 30 days

Published November 3, 2026 · Rules checked against Idaho Code title 54 chapter 50, the HVAC Board rules (IDAPA 24.39.70) and DOPL's own pages and forms on November 3, 2026

• Free. The full 30-day checklist is on this page, and the printable version (Google Docs, Word or PDF) comes by email.
• Deepsel is our product: free estimate, invoice and scheduling software for contractors (scheduling, quotes, invoicing, card payments). The section before the FAQ says where it fits and where it doesn't.
• Not legal advice. Every rule here links to the statute, rule, DOPL page or utility page it comes from. Ask DOPL or an Idaho attorney before you bet a job on my reading.

Your Idaho HVAC contractor license lets your business contract for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration work anywhere in the state, houses or commercial buildings, with no dollar cap. That includes the gas piping to the appliance, the hookup from an in-sight disconnect and the thermostat wiring on systems up to 5 tons.^1,9 It rests on one person passing DOPL's contractor exam for the company, a journeyman card in the business, and a $2,000 bond. Idaho sets no insurance minimum for it.^2,3,4

Where it stops: the new circuit to the disconnect, the water side of a boiler or water heater, a propane tank, and any building work over $2,000 unless you also register with the Contractors Board. Every installation or replacement needs a permit, and in about 65 cities and counties (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Twin Falls among them) the local building department issues it and inspects instead of the state.^9,10,19 The rest of this page is the first month: permits, gas meters, your people, the number that goes on your ads, and the dates that expire.

The whole 30-day checklist is further down this page. It's also a printable sheet with tick boxes and blanks for your certificate, bond, permit, policy and EPA 608 card numbers: make your own copy in Google Docs (lands in your Drive), download the Word version (.docx), or download the PDF. Pick a format, enter your email and I'll send the links.

The pages that rank for "Idaho HVAC license" are apprenticeship programs, exam prep, a software blog and DOPL's rules page. All of them are about getting the license. When I checked on November 3, Google's own answer box even said a contractor needs 24 months as a journeyman, which isn't in the rules or on DOPL's application. None of them says what the license lets you take on, or what to do in the month after. That's this page.

What your Idaho HVAC contractor license covers

Idaho licenses the business and the people separately, through one board. The HVAC contractor certificate lets the company sell, bid and sign for HVAC work. The journeyman, specialty and apprentice cards belong to people, and they're what lets anyone pick up a tool. A journeyman "works in the employ and under direction of an HVAC contractor," so a journeyman card alone doesn't let you contract.²

The contractor definition is broad. It covers warm air heating and water heating systems, heat pumps, boilers, pool heaters, space heaters, gas fireplaces and solid fuel appliances, gas, propane, electric and oil-fired water heaters, ventilating systems, and air conditioning down to "temperatures below fifty (50) degrees fahrenheit," which takes in refrigeration. The system itself includes "gas piping, venting, ductwork and controls."¹ In practice:

• Residential and commercial are one license. There's no tonnage limit and no dollar limit. The only ceiling is public work: a state, city or school project estimated at $100,000 or more also needs a public works contractor license, unless you're a sub under a Class A or higher licensee on a subcontract under $100,000.¹⁷
• Ductwork and sheet metal, mini-splits, boilers and hydronic piping, oil furnaces, walk-in coolers and gas piping to the appliance are all inside it. Idaho has no separate sheet metal, oil burner, refrigeration or gas fitter license that I found.^1,9
• Repairs and maintenance count as HVAC work (you need the license), but they don't need a permit.¹⁰

Idaho HVAC license classes, and what each one allows

Sources for the table: the HVAC chapter's definitions, classes and fees, the board's rules, and DOPL's fee table.^1,2,3,5,8 If your company does only gas fireplaces, non-ducted oil furnaces or propane heaters, a specialty or limited heating certificate is enough. Work outside its scope is a civil penalty per count.³

Who holds the license: the person behind your certificate

The law makes it "unlawful for any person or firm ... to engage in the business ... of heating, ventilation and air conditioning ... unless such person or responsible person representing such firm ... has successfully passed an examination" and holds a certificate. The certificate "shall not be transferable."² DOPL's contractor application filled in the rest:⁴

• A company applies through one person, who "must represent the entity for examination."
• An individual contractor had to answer "Do you hold an active Idaho HVAC Journeyman license?" A company had to answer "Does the entity employ at least one active Idaho licensed HVAC Journeyman?"
• After the exam: proof of the "$2,000 HVAC contractor bond" and a $225 license fee. No insurance on the form.

Three things the statute, the rules and DOPL's pages don't say: whether one person can sit for two companies, whether that person needs any ownership, and how long you have to replace them if they leave. I found no rule either way. If your certificate leans on someone else's journeyman card, call DOPL (208-334-3233) before anything changes, not after.

If someone asks you to be their responsible person, know what you're signing. Owners do start that way ("Was already doing sub work before I quit my day job 'under someone else's license,'" one wrote on r/HVAC),⁴⁰ but in Idaho the exam result and the certificate tie the company's work to you. A later article covers that deal in full.

Idaho HVAC apprentice and journeyman licenses: who can work alone

A journeyman can work alone on any job, as long as a licensed contractor employs them. A contractor certificate holder who also holds the journeyman card (the usual one-man shop) can do the work himself. Everyone else needs supervision.^2,3

• Register apprentices before they start. An apprentice "shall not perform HVAC work except under the supervision of an HVAC journeyman or HVAC contractor." Hours worked without a registration "will not count towards the required OJT time."^2,7
• Idaho sets no apprentice ratio in the statute or the rules. Supervision is still a separate violation if it's missing.³
• There's no unlicensed helper category. "Knowing employment of a person who does not hold an active certificate of competency or registration" is its own civil penalty.³
• Journeymen and apprentices keep their card with them on the job, and the contractor displays its certificate at the place of business.⁸
• The journeyman route is 8,000 apprentice hours plus 576 hours of approved classes, or 16,000 hours of experience, then the exam. DOPL lists approved programs at CEI, CSI, CWI, Idaho State, Lewis-Clark State, North Idaho College, several trade schools and the sheet metal apprenticeship committees.^3,37

Where your Idaho HVAC license stops: gas, electrical, plumbing and propane

Gas piping: yours

Idaho puts gas piping inside the HVAC license, not in a separate gas fitter's license. The HVAC system "includes gas piping, venting, ductwork and controls," and the law lets HVAC certificate holders install "Fuel piping," boilers and hydronic piping.^1,9 The plumbing law agrees: "Individuals holding a current HVAC license may install gas piping and piping for hydronic systems."¹⁴ So the line from the meter to a furnace, water heater, range or standby generator is your work, on your HVAC permit at $5 per appliance outlet in DOPL areas.³

Idaho sets its own gas test: at least 20 psig for 20 minutes on a system up to 10 inches of water column, 60 psig on a system up to 10 psig. Plastic flue vent pipe inside a house gets tested at 5 psi for 15 minutes.³

Propane: the tank isn't yours

Idaho's LP gas law governs "the outdoor installation of any liquefied petroleum gas storage tank, or outdoor piping from the storage tank through the second stage regulator," notwithstanding the HVAC and plumbing laws. That part needs an LP gas dealer license. From the second-stage regulator to the appliance is HVAC work.¹⁵ Without that license, leave the tank and the regulators to the propane dealer.

Electrical: the last 50 feet

The HVAC license covers "Electrical connections to HVAC equipment from the disconnecting means to the unit as long as the disconnect is in sight from the unit and the circuit ... is no more than fifty (50) feet long," and "control wiring of twenty-four (24) volts or less for HVAC equipment of five (5) tons or less." It also covers electric space heaters with no ductwork and ventilating fans, "except ducted range hoods in residences."⁹ On a DOPL permit that work rides on your HVAC permit; you don't buy a separate electrical permit for it.¹⁰

• The new circuit from the panel to the disconnect, and the disconnect itself, need a licensed electrical contractor. So does control wiring on equipment over 5 tons. My Idaho electrical license page covers that side.
• A mini-split's interconnect cable between the outdoor unit and the heads often carries line voltage. The statute doesn't mention it either way, so ask the inspector before you run it yourself.
• If you want more electrical scope, the Electrical Board has a limited "Refrigeration, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Electrical Installer" license: everything from a factory-packaged unit up to the load side of the disconnect, single or three phase, with the "Disconnecting device to be installed by others." It takes 4,000 hours in that category, and the company then needs a limited electrical contractor license with $300,000 of liability insurance.¹³

Plumbing: the water side

Boilers and hydronic piping are yours.^9,14 The plumbing system, though, includes "Water supply systems and distribution and disposal pipes," "Water treating and water using equipment attached to a plumbing system," soil, waste and vent pipes, and water heaters.¹⁴ My reading: a boiler fill line, a humidifier's water tap and the water connections on a water heater are plumbing, so a plumber does them. The condensate line is piping "in connection with" the AC system, so it's yours up to an approved place to drain; don't cut into a drain or vent line to take it. Two more edges:

• The boiler carve-out covers boilers "not otherwise subject to inspection by the industrial commission or its authorized agent." Ask DOPL before you bid a commercial boiler.⁹
• Building work outside HVAC (framing a chase, drywall, a remodel) over $2,000 needs a Contractors Board registration, or a general contractor who has one. My Idaho contractor license page covers it.¹⁶

Federal rules: EPA 608, A2L refrigerants and lead-safe work

EPA Section 608. Anyone who services, installs or disposes of equipment that holds refrigerant needs a 608 card (Type I, II, III or Universal), and the cards don't expire. The supply house can sell refrigerant only to a certified technician or a company that employs one, so keep a copy of every card on file; an office manager can buy with that copy and a list of who's authorized.²⁶ Idaho's HVAC Board put it plainly in 2025: "While inspectors do not currently verify that Journeymen and Apprentices have an EPA 608 Certificate, individuals must have one on file to purchase refrigerant."²⁷

A2L refrigerants (R-454B, R-32). Idaho still uses the 2018 mechanical, fuel gas and residential codes.⁵ In March 2023 DOPL wrote to the industry that, as code official, it "has approved for installation any new equipment listed to UL 60335-2-40 & 89, as well as any design and installation requirements in compliance with ASHRAE 15." That approval covers every area where DOPL is the code official; cities and counties with their own programs were "encouraged" to do the same, so ask a local inspector before your first A2L install there.²⁸ A 2023 bill to put that in law went to committee and no further.²⁹ On the federal side, EPA's May 2026 rule lets residential and light commercial AC and heat pump equipment made or imported before January 1, 2025 "continue to be installed," so leftover R-410A stock isn't stranded.³⁰

Lead-safe work. Idaho isn't an EPA-authorized state, so EPA runs the renovation rule here, and it covers "all firms, even sole proprietorships." In a home built before 1978, cutting more than 6 square feet of painted wall or ceiling in a room (20 outside) for a duct run or a line set needs an EPA-certified firm and a certified renovator.³¹

Idaho HVAC permits: who pulls them and who inspects

The permit is yours to buy. DOPL issues HVAC permits "to a HVAC contractor," registered "in the name of the HVAC contractor," and a commercial permit needs "a verified copy of bid acceptance."³ The law requires a permit for any "construction, installation, improvement, extension or alteration" of an HVAC system, "except that no permit shall be required to perform work related to repair or maintenance of an existing HVAC system."¹⁰ A change-out is an installation. DOPL's FAQ: "A permit is required when any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work is performed." Boise lists "replacing furnaces and air conditioning units" among the jobs that need a mechanical permit.^7,21

DOPL issues permits and inspects everywhere except the cities and counties that run their own mechanical program. Far more places do that for HVAC than for electrical. DOPL's permit map (its data last edited September 29, 2026) sends HVAC permits to a local office in these areas:^19,20

Not sure about an address? DOPL's map takes the address and gives you the permit office. Check before you pay: DOPL won't refund a permit bought for an address outside its area.¹⁸ Two things hold everywhere. Your state certificate is the only license you need: no city or county may require its own HVAC certification or registration, or charge you a fee to work there.⁹ Idaho Falls says HVAC contractors need state licensure only, and Pocatello just wants a copy of your state license.²² And cities may still set "stricter public safety rules," so a local inspector can want things a state inspector wouldn't.⁹

The rules on a DOPL HVAC permit

• A house or duplex permit is $100, plus $30 for the first appliance (furnace, furnace-AC combination, heat pump, AC, mini-split, boiler, gas fireplace and the like, ducts and vents included) and $15 for each additional one, $15 for the first exhaust duct, $5 per gas outlet and $5 per hydronic zone. By my reading a furnace swap starts at $130. Commercial work is $60 plus 2% of the system cost up to $10,000, on a sliding scale above that.³
• Schedule inspections in eTRAKiT or on 208-332-4700 (rough-in 701, final 704, gas pressure 713); next-day requests close at 7 p.m. Code questions go to 208-334-3950.^7,18
• Anything that will be covered gets a work-in-progress inspection first, and the final tag goes on the equipment.^3,10
• Idaho's own amendment: "Where work requiring a permit occurs in existing dwellings, an approved carbon monoxide alarm must be installed outside of each separate sleeping area" in homes with a fuel-fired appliance. Carry CO alarms on the van and price them into change-outs.³
• New houses in DOPL areas: an approved Manual S, J and D report before the inspection. Email it with the permit number, allow about 10 business days, and a $25 review fee goes on the permit. The inspector checks the installed make and model against the report. It's for new residential only, not change-outs.²³
• New in 2026: if an inspection you requested isn't done within 48 business hours, you may hire a qualified third-party inspector and get the inspection fee back. If a job fails and you don't get a reason within three business days, 10% of the fee comes back. Cities and counties are bound by it too.¹⁰
• A permit lasts 365 days from purchase or the last inspection; another year costs $65. A transfer needs the original holder's notarized consent and a $45 fee.³

Put the permit on the quote as its own line, at the real fee. Misstating permit or inspection fees to a customer is a separate violation.³

The homeowner exemption

An owner (or contract purchaser) may do HVAC work on their own house or duplex without a license, but needs a homeowner permit.^12,3 DOPL sells those only when the owners "are doing" the work themselves, and Boise says that if anyone else does the work, it "must be a State of Idaho registered and licensed contractor in that trade."^7,21 You can't work under a customer's homeowner permit. If they pulled one and want you to finish, buy your own.

Gas meters: what the utility wants first

• Intermountain Gas (most of southern Idaho) doesn't install appliances; it sends customers to "an HVAC dealer contractor." Before a meter set it asks: "Has the Pressure Test been inspected or tagged by the City/County/State? Has the house piping been tied to the meter bar?" and wants the appliances and their BTU loads. A new service line takes 2 to 6 weeks, a main extension 4 to 10. Treasure Valley 208-377-6408, elsewhere 1-800-548-3679.²⁴
• Avista (North Idaho) "will only connect a new gas service ... to equipment which has passed local inspection and has a visible inspection tag attached on the house line," and reconnects a modified service only after it verifies the inspection.²⁵

So the gas pressure inspection sits between you and the customer's first heat on every new gas line. Book it the day you finish the piping.

Can I take this job? Common Idaho HVAC jobs

Your first 30 days: the Idaho HVAC contractor checklist

This is the whole list. The printable version has the same items with tick boxes and blanks for the numbers permit counters, gas utilities and general contractors ask for. On the order of things, owners say insurance comes after the entity: "To get insurnace i need registered LLC in my state. So basically, they're looking for an established entity."³⁹

Week 1: certificates, bond and people

1. Look up the company certificate and every person's card in DOPL's license search. Write down the expiry dates. DOPL's table lists 3-year terms for contractor and journeyman certificates, and new licenses issued since October 30, 2026 run at least two years and expire on the licensee's birthday, so trust the date eDOPL shows.^5,6
2. Keep the $2,000 compliance bond in force for the whole certificate period. Note the surety, the bond number and its renewal date.^2,3
3. Know whose journeyman card your certificate depends on, and what you'll do if they leave. Ask DOPL before any change.⁴
4. Register every apprentice before their first day, and check that every helper holding a tool has a card. Post the certificate at your place of business.^3,7,8
5. Decide whether you'll take non-HVAC construction over $2,000 or public work estimated at $100,000 or more. Each needs its own registration or license first.^16,17

Week 1 to 2: insurance, tax and EPA cards

6. General liability, including completed operations. Idaho sets no minimum for the certificate, but on any home job over $2,000 the homeowner has the right to "proof that the general contractor has a general liability insurance policy including completed operations in effect," and workers' comp for employees.³⁴ One owner's start-up budget was "about $2k in tools, and a $300/mo insurance policy plus licensing."⁴¹ Another just asked r/HVAC: "filed my HVAC LLC curious if yall have any suggestions for insurance companies?"³⁸ Ask two agents; general contractors and property managers often name a limit.
7. Workers' comp from your first employee. The owner of a sole proprietorship, working partners and LLC members, and corporate officer-directors with 10% or more are exempt.³²
8. Register with the Tax Commission through Idaho Business Registration: a withholding account once you have employees (the same application sets up the Department of Labor and Industrial Commission accounts), and a seller's permit if you sell parts you don't install. On materials you install, you're the consumer: pay sales tax when you buy them.³³
9. Copy every technician's EPA 608 card into your files and give the supply house what it needs to sell you refrigerant.²⁶
10. If you'll cut into walls in pre-1978 homes, get the EPA lead-safe firm certification and a certified renovator.³¹

Week 2: permits, gas utilities and subs

11. Set up eTRAKiT for DOPL permits and inspections, then an account in each local portal where you'll work (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Coeur d'Alene and the rest in the table above). Bookmark the permit map.^18,19
12. Save the Intermountain Gas or Avista contacts, and learn what each wants before a meter set or reconnect: the pressure test inspected and tagged.^24,25
13. Stock CO alarms for change-outs in homes with gas appliances.³
14. Line up an electrician (new circuits), a plumber (water connections) and a propane dealer, so you can quote a mini-split, a boiler or a generator line the same day.^9,14,15

Week 3 to 4: ads, quotes and contracts

15. Put your HVAC contractor certificate number in every ad: website, Google profile, social pages, directories, flyers, door hangers. The rule names "newspaper, telephone directory, community flier ads or notices; telephone, television, radio, internet, or door-to-door solicitations," and says advertising "includes, but is not limited to" those, so the van gets it too. Idaho has no separate vehicle lettering rule for HVAC that I found.³
16. Add the certificate number and a permit line to your quote and invoice templates.
17. For homeowner contracts over $2,000, give the Idaho Code 45-525 disclosure before the contract is signed. It's not needed when the homeowner calls you for a bona fide emergency (by my reading, a no-heat call in January is one). If you ever file a lien on the job, the signed acknowledgment has to go with it. My Idaho contract template includes the disclosure page.³⁴

The calendar

18. Renewal dates for the company certificate, the bond, each journeyman and apprentice card, the liability policy and workers' comp, each with a reminder 60 days ahead. DOPL lets you renew up to 60 days early, and on the two-year cycle the renewal fee doubles because you pay both years at once.^6,8
19. An expired certificate can be revived within one year: a $35 revival fee on top of the renewal fee, plus every unpaid civil penalty and permit fee.⁸
20. Continuing education: none for Idaho HVAC licenses.⁷
21. Watch the 2027 legislative session. DOPL told the board in August it's bringing a bill to move code adoption from the rules into statute and change how code updates happen, and the board's November 5, 2026 agenda has a "Rules to Statute Update." Check what passes before you rely on a code edition.³⁵

What crossing the line costs in Idaho

• HVAC work without a certificate is a misdemeanor, and so is work without a permit. On top of that, each count carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000, and "Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense."^3,11
• In practice, DOPL's staff issue notices of violation. In August 2026 the board told staff to keep issuing them "with $200 civil fines for the first offenses and $500 for unregistered (unlicensed) practice."³⁵ There were 47 notices in the six months to May 2025.²⁷
• Skip the permit and you can be charged a double fee, and a triple fee for any repeat within 12 months.¹⁰
• Each of these is its own count: knowingly employing someone without a card, apprentices without supervision, a specialty holder working outside scope, not fixing corrections in time, misstating permit fees to a customer, and advertising without your certificate number.³
• Collecting: the HVAC chapter doesn't say whether an unlicensed HVAC contractor can sue. My reading of the registration law: its exemption covers people "licensed pursuant to" the HVAC chapter, so an unlicensed company that isn't registered either can't sue to collect or file a lien on a job over $2,000. The Idaho Supreme Court's general rule is that "a contract prohibited by law is illegal and unenforceable." That was a public works license case, so treat it as a risk, not a settled answer.^16,36
• Setting a propane tank without an LP gas dealer license is a misdemeanor: up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both.¹⁵
• Going without workers' comp when you're required to have it is a misdemeanor, with a penalty of $25 a day or $2 per employee per day (whichever is more), and the officers or LLC managers who should have bought it are personally liable for an injured worker's benefits.³²
• Whether your liability policy pays a claim on unlicensed or unpermitted work depends on its wording. I found no Idaho rule on it, so ask your agent and get the answer in writing.
• Lead-safe violations on a pre-1978 house can cost up to $49,772 each under federal law.³¹

More for new HVAC contractors

• HVAC pricing guide: what to charge for a service call, your labor rate and the first jobs, with a free rate sheet.
• HVAC tune-up checklist: the visit in order, the target readings and what to charge, with a free report card.
• Opening a supply house account: what to bring, cash or credit, and how dealer programs work, with a free checklist.
• Quoting your first system replacement: the price, the scope and what the quote must include, with a free proposal template.
• Starting an HVAC business while still employed: side work, your boss's customers, non-competes and when to go.
• Register every install: maker deadlines, your labor warranty and what a callback costs, with a free close-out sheet.
• Your first slow season: the customer list and the one reminder that fills a calendar, with a free log.

Where Deepsel fits

Deepsel won't track your certificate, your bond, your insurance or your permits. It has no field for a license number, a policy expiry date or a permit, and it doesn't connect to eTRAKiT, a city portal or a gas utility. Three things in it help with this list. The quote terms and the invoice footer are set once in the shop settings and copied onto every new quote and invoice the customer sees, so your certificate number goes in once and shows up everywhere after that. Checklists attach to each quote for your own use (customers never see them), so you can make a permit checklist template (permit bought, gas test tagged, CO alarm installed, final tag) and add it to every change-out. And each customer's equipment records hold the brand, model, serial number, year, filter size, tonnage, refrigerant, SEER2 or AFUE, and a nameplate photo, which is what an inspector or a warranty call asks about later. The rest is the everyday side of the business: requests, quotes with options and on-screen signatures, scheduling, invoices and card payments. The Free plan covers 30 estimates and 30 invoices a month for your whole team; Pro is $29 a month for unlimited estimates and invoices. Details are on the pricing page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Idaho require an HVAC license?

Yes. Any person or company doing heating, ventilation or air conditioning work for pay in Idaho needs a state certificate of competency from DOPL's HVAC Board: a contractor certificate for the business, and a journeyman, specialty or apprentice card for each person doing the work. The main exceptions are an owner working on their own house or duplex (with a homeowner permit), farm buildings outside city limits, and an employer's own maintenance staff on its premises. Cities and counties can't add a license or a license fee of their own.

What are the Idaho HVAC contractor license requirements?

One person passes DOPL's contractor exam for the business. DOPL's application asked an individual to hold an active Idaho HVAC journeyman license, and a company to employ at least one. After the exam you file a $2,000 compliance bond that stays in force for the whole certificate period, and pay $225 plus a $35 application fee (DOPL's fee table lists a three-year term). Idaho sets no liability insurance minimum for the certificate, and the certificate can't be transferred.

How do I get an Idaho HVAC apprentice license?

Register with DOPL before your first day of work. DOPL's fee table lists $10 for a one-year registration; under the statute and DOPL's October 2026 changeover, apprentice registrations move to two years and expire on your birthday. You may only work under the supervision of a licensed journeyman or contractor, and hours worked without an active registration don't count toward the 8,000 apprentice hours (plus 576 hours of approved classes) that lead to the journeyman exam.

Does the Idaho HVAC license cover gas piping?

Yes. Idaho's HVAC law defines an HVAC system to include gas piping and venting, and lets HVAC certificate holders install fuel piping, boilers and hydronic piping. That covers the gas line from the meter to a furnace, water heater, range or generator, under your HVAC permit, with a pressure test of at least 20 psig for 20 minutes on a normal low-pressure house system. Propane is split: the tank and the outdoor piping through the second-stage regulator need an LP gas dealer license.

Can an Idaho HVAC contractor wire the condenser?

Partly. The HVAC license covers the connection from the disconnect to the unit when the disconnect is in sight of the unit and that run is 50 feet or less, plus 24-volt control wiring on equipment of 5 tons or less. The circuit from the panel to the disconnect, and the disconnect itself, need a licensed electrical contractor. Control wiring on bigger equipment needs an electrical license too.

Do I need a permit to replace a furnace or AC unit in Idaho?

Yes. The law exempts only repair and maintenance of an existing system; a replacement is an installation, DOPL's FAQ says a permit is required when any HVAC work is performed, and Boise lists replacing furnaces and air conditioning units among the jobs that need a mechanical permit. In DOPL areas a house permit is $100 plus $30 for the first appliance and $15 for each additional one. In a home with any fuel-fired appliance, permitted work also means a carbon monoxide alarm outside each sleeping area.

Does an Idaho HVAC contractor need to register with the Contractors Board?

Not for HVAC work. Idaho Code 54-5205 exempts people licensed under the HVAC chapter, and DOPL's Contractors Board FAQ says HVAC installers don't register unless they contract beyond the scope of their license. Take on framing, drywall or a remodel over $2,000 and you need the registration too ($120 to start, with $300,000 of liability insurance). Without it you can't file a lien or sue to collect on that work.

Does Idaho require continuing education for an HVAC license?

No. DOPL's HVAC FAQ says there are no continuing education requirements for HVAC, and the board's rules have no CE section. Renewal needs the fee, a bond still in force for a contractor, and every civil penalty and permit fee paid. Idaho also has no reciprocity agreement, so an out-of-state license doesn't carry over.

Sources

1. Idaho Code 54-5003, definitions: (1) HVAC "means and includes the business, trade, practice or work, materials and fixtures used in the design, construction, installation, improvement, extension and alteration of all piping, venting, ductwork, appliances and appurtenances in connection with any heating, ventilation or air conditioning system"; (3) an HVAC contractor "fabricates, installs, maintains, services and repairs warm air heating and water heating systems, heat pumps, ... boilers, pool heaters, space heaters, decorative gas and solid fuel-burning appliances, and gas, propane, electric or oil-fired water heaters; ventilating systems ...; air conditioning systems ... of air, liquid or gas temperatures below fifty (50) degrees fahrenheit"; (5) to (7) specialty classes; (8) an HVAC system includes "gas piping, venting, ductwork and controls"; (10) "Specialty limited heating" (LP gas appliances, piping and venting; excludes boilers, hydronic, ducted forced air, ventilating and AC, systems over 300,000 BTU input; journeyman two years plus 120 hours of LP gas education or the exam). legislature.idaho.gov (chapter 50 text as of the 2026 session), read November 3, 2026.
2. Idaho Code 54-5007 ("HVAC contractors and specialty contractors shall provide a bond in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) or evidence of such coverage by a corporate industry group bond acceptable to the board"), 54-5008 (unlawful to engage in HVAC "unless such person or responsible person representing such firm ... has successfully passed an examination ... and has been issued a state certificate of competency. Such certificate of competency shall not be transferable") and 54-5009 (an apprentice "shall not perform HVAC work except under the supervision of an HVAC journeyman or HVAC contractor"; a journeyman "works in the employ and under direction of an HVAC contractor"; contractor and specialty contractor classes; hearth and barbecue certificates include "all low voltage work necessary"). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
3. IDAPA 24.39.70, Rules Governing Installation of HVAC Systems (current edition, June 2026): 100.02 journeyman (8,000 apprentice hours and 576 hours of board-approved instruction, or 16,000 hours, plus the exam); 100.03 contractor: "pass an examination designated by the Board and provide a compliance bond in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000) which is effective for the duration of the certificate period"; 100.04 specialty journeyman and its scope ("hearth appliances, and non-duct connected oil furnaces, the associated fuel gas piping, and venting dedicated exclusively thereto. Does not include any plumbing, electrical or duct work"); 300 civil penalty "not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each separate count or offense," including .03 outside specialty scope, .04 "Knowing employment of a person who does not hold an active certificate of competency or registration," .05 supervision, .06 permits and inspections, .07 corrections, .08 "Misrepresentation of the permit or inspection fees to the customer," .09 advertising "without including the contractor certificate of competency number," where advertising "includes, but is not limited to: newspaper, telephone directory, community flier ads or notices; telephone, television, radio, internet, or door-to-door solicitations"; 500.01 permits "furnished to a HVAC contractor," registered "in the name of the HVAC contractor," commercial permits need "a verified copy of bid acceptance," homeowners "must secure a HVAC permit," 365-day permits, $65 renewal, $45 transfer; 500.02 fees (base $100, $30 first appliance, $15 each additional, ducts $15 and $5, "Fuel gas piping system Plus $5 per appliance outlet," "Hydronic systems Plus $5 per zone," other installations "$60 plus 2%" up to $10,000 of system cost); 500.03 inspection tags; 600 Idaho Mechanical Code (2018 IMC, IFGC and IRC parts V and VI) with amendments: gas test "Not less than twenty (20) psig" for systems up to 10 inches water column, 60 psig up to 10 psig, at least 20 minutes; plastic flue vent pipe "tested at five (5) psi for fifteen (15) minutes"; IRC M1203.1 "Where work requiring a permit occurs in existing dwellings, an approved carbon monoxide alarm must be installed outside of each separate sleeping area ... in dwelling units where a fuel fired appliance is installed." adminrules.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
4. DOPL, HVAC Contractor Application (revised July 1, 2023): "If an application is being made on behalf of a business entity, the applicant submitting the application must represent the entity for examination"; individual: "Do you hold an active Idaho HVAC Journeyman license?"; entity: "Does the entity employ at least one active Idaho licensed HVAC Journeyman?"; "After passing the examination, all applicants must submit proof of: 1. $2,000 HVAC contractor bond"; "$225 license fee"; $35 processing fee; "Licenses are non-transferable." No insurance on the form. The PDF is no longer on DOPL's site (applications now go through eDOPL); read in the Internet Archive's copy of February 10, 2026, web.archive.org, read November 3, 2026.
5. DOPL, Idaho HVAC Board: "On October 30, 2026, big changes are on the way! DOPL will be transitioning the HVAC Board to biennial licensure"; fee table (application $35; apprentice $10, 1 year; contractor $225, renewal $150, 3 years; journeyman $150, renewal $75, 3 years; specialty and limited heating specialty contractor $225, journeyman $150, apprentice $20); current codes 2018 IRC, IFGC and IMC, dopl.idaho.gov; Statute, Rules and Guidance ("This board is not currently engaged in rulemaking for 2026-2027"), dopl.idaho.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
6. DOPL news, "Big changes are on the way!" (October 8, 2026, HVAC): from October 30, 2026 a 2-year renewal cycle, and "licenses (including apprenticeship registrations) within this board will ultimately expire on the licensee's birthday"; "If your license is valid for more than two years, you are not impacted by this change"; "All new applicants will be issued at least a 2-year license that expires on the licensee's birthday"; "the licensing renewal fee will double"; renew "up to 60 days prior to your license expiration." dopl.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
7. DOPL, HVAC FAQs: work without a license is "subject to civil penalties," and "Hours worked without being licensed will not count towards the required OJT time"; reciprocal licensing agreement: "No."; "There are no Continuing Education Requirements (CEU) for HVAC"; code questions (208) 334-3950; next-day inspection requests until 7 p.m.; homeowner permits only "when they are doing electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work on their primary and secondary residence"; "A permit is required when any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work is performed." dopl.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
8. Idaho Code 54-5012 (fees; apprentices register "during the entire period in which work experience is accrued," two-year registrations expiring on the birthday), 54-5013 (renewal "within sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date"; revival within one year with "a thirty-five dollar ($35.00) revival fee in addition to the full renewal fee" and "all outstanding civil penalties, permits or other fees") and 54-5014 (contractors "shall display a sign or card for public view in the holder's place of business"; journeymen and apprentices keep their card "available at all times while on the job"). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
9. Idaho Code 54-5015: (2) "No local jurisdiction shall have the authority to require additional certification or registration or to require payment of any fees in order for any HVAC contractor ... to engage in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning trade within the local jurisdiction"; (3) cities and counties may impose "stricter public safety rules"; (4)(b) HVAC or electrical license holders may install "(i) Electrical space heaters with no attached ductwork; (ii) Electrical connections to HVAC equipment from the disconnecting means to the unit as long as the disconnect is in sight from the unit and the circuit ... is no more than fifty (50) feet long; and (iii) Ventilating fans, except ducted range hoods in residences"; (4)(c) HVAC or plumbing certificate holders may install "(i) Boilers that are not otherwise subject to inspection by the industrial commission or its authorized agent; (ii) Fuel piping; (iii) Piping for hydronic systems"; (4)(d) "control wiring of twenty-four (24) volts or less for HVAC equipment of five (5) tons or less in capacity." legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
10. Idaho Code 54-5016 (permit for any "construction, installation, improvement, extension or alteration ... except that no permit shall be required to perform work related to repair or maintenance of an existing HVAC system"; an HVAC permit covering part of a plumbing or electrical installation satisfies those permits), 54-5017(4) (no permit "may result in the assessment of a double fee," and further offenses within 12 months "shall result in the assessment of a triple fee"), 54-5019 (final inspection tag attached to the equipment) and 54-5020A (added 2026: inspection not done within 48 business hours, the permit holder may hire a third-party inspector and is refunded the fee; 10% refund when a failed inspection gets no reason within three business days; applies to the division and local governments). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
11. Idaho Code 54-5022: a misdemeanor to "(1) Engage in the business, trade, practice or work of HVAC without a certificate of competency or without registration; (2) Perform work without a permit"; civil penalties "not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense." legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
12. Idaho Code 54-5002(1)(a): no certificate for "Any person who installs or maintains a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single or duplex family dwelling ... provided that such person owns or is a contract purchaser of the premises"; also farm buildings outside city limits and employers with their own HVAC journeymen. legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
13. IDAPA 24.39.10.200.05.h, Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board (June 2026): "Refrigeration, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Electrical Installer," limited to "factory-assembled, packaged units," from the unit "up to the load side, including fuses, of the disconnecting device. Disconnecting device to be installed by others"; limited installers need 4,000 hours in the category (100.04), and a limited electrical contractor needs $300,000 of liability insurance (Idaho Code 54-1003A(8)). adminrules.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
14. Idaho Code 54-2602(1)(j) ("(ii) Individuals holding a current HVAC license may install gas piping and piping for hydronic systems. (iii) Individuals holding a current HVAC license may install boilers that are not otherwise subject to inspection by the industrial commission") and 54-2604(1) (a plumbing system includes "(b) Soil, waste and vent pipes," "(f) Water supply systems and distribution and disposal pipes," "(g) Water treating and water using equipment attached to a plumbing system" and "(i) Water heaters and all associated venting dedicated exclusively thereto"). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
15. Idaho Code 54-5302(4) ("Notwithstanding any other provisions of law pertaining to the installation of plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems ... the provisions of this chapter shall govern all persons and entities engaged in the outdoor installation of any liquefied petroleum gas storage tank, or outdoor piping from the storage tank through the second stage regulator"), 54-5303(9) (LPG dealer practice includes "the installation or maintenance of systems, equipment, pipes or containers for the use or storage of LPG") and 54-5316 (unlicensed dealer practice a misdemeanor, a fine up to $1,000, up to six months, or both), legislature.idaho.gov; DOPL, Board of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety (individual license $180), dopl.idaho.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
16. Idaho Code 54-5205(1) (no registration for "persons licensed pursuant to chapters 3, 10, 12, 19, 26, 45 and 50" so long as not "acting with the intent to evade this chapter"); DOPL Contractors Board FAQ (an "HVAC installer, etc. you do not have to register, unless you are engaged in contracting beyond the scope of your license"; registration for jobs "exceeding $2000.00 (materials & labor)"); 54-5210(1)(e) ($300,000 general liability for registrants); DOPL Contractors Board fees from July 1, 2026 (initial $120); 54-5208 (unregistered: "conclusively waived any right to place a lien"); 54-5217 (misdemeanor, a fine up to $1,000 or up to six months; no action to collect "without alleging and proving that he was a duly registered contractor, or that he was otherwise exempt"). legislature.idaho.gov, dopl.idaho.gov/con/con-faq, dopl.idaho.gov/con, read November 3, 2026.
17. Idaho Code 54-1903(9) (no public works license for "any single project involving any number of trades or crafts with an estimated cost of less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)") and (12) (a subcontractor under a Class Unlimited, AAA, AA or A licensee on a subcontract under $100,000). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
18. DOPL, HVAC Permits and Inspections: permits bought through the map; "Permits purchased out of DOPL's jurisdiction will not be eligible for a refund unless there has been a recent city annexation"; schedule online or "call 208-332-4700," inspection codes rough-in 701, final 704, gas pressure 713. dopl.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
19. DOPL's permit map and its data layer "Idaho Cities and Counties with links to Plumbing HVAC and electrical permitting information" (last edited September 29, 2026). The HVAC link goes to the local government, not eDOPL, for Ada, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Franklin, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Teton and Twin Falls counties and for about 50 cities, among them Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Kuna, Star, Middleton, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, Sandpoint, Lewiston, Moscow, Idaho Falls, Ammon, Iona, Rexburg, Rigby, Pocatello, Chubbuck, Twin Falls, Burley, Heyburn and Rupert; Garden City, Blackfoot and the counties of Canyon, Bannock, Blaine, Bonner, Elmore, Gem, Payette and Valley go to eDOPL. idaho.maps.arcgis.com, read November 3, 2026.
20. DOPL, HVAC Inspections in Canyon County: "Starting September 1, 2023, all new Residential and Commercial HVAC permits will be applied for through the Idaho's Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL)." dopl.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
21. City of Boise, Homeowner's Guide: mechanical permits to "Install or change any part of a heating or cooling system" and "Install, alter or repair gas piping between meter and an appliance"; "Mechanical permits are required when vents and ducts are added, replaced or relocated. This includes ... replacing furnaces and air conditioning units"; if the owner isn't doing the work, "the person performing the work must be a State of Idaho registered and licensed contractor in that trade"; (208) 608-7070, cityofboise.org; Residential Mechanical (422), apply online at permits.cityofboise.org, cityofboise.org. Read November 3, 2026.
22. City of Idaho Falls, Contractor Licensing ("Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Contractors - require state licensure for residential and commercial work"), idahofallsidaho.gov; City of Pocatello, Contractor Licenses ("Mechanical Contractor ... N/A," "Requires a copy of State of Idaho license"), pocatello.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
23. Idaho Division of Building Safety, Manual S, J & D (effective January 1, 2019, linked from DOPL's HVAC program page): "Manual S, J & D review for NEW RESIDENTIAL HVAC permits prior to HVAC Inspection"; "Allow approximately 10 business days"; "Review Fee Assessed to HVAC Permit of $25"; "New Residential ONLY," dopl.idaho.gov; Manual S, J & D Inspection Verification (equipment make and model checked at rough-in and final), dopl.idaho.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
24. Intermountain Gas, New Installation Request: appliances are installed by "an HVAC dealer contractor"; "from 2-6 weeks for a service line and 4-10 weeks for a main line extension"; "REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR METER INSTALL ... Has the Pressure Test been inspected or tagged by the City/County/State? Has the house piping been tied to the meter bar?"; appliances and BTU loads, intgas.com; Obtain Natural Gas Service (208-377-6408, 1-800-548-3679), intgas.com. Read November 3, 2026.
25. Avista, Natural Gas Service Requirements "Yellow Book" (October 2025): "Avista will only connect a new gas service meeting Avista's requirements to equipment which has passed local inspection and has a visible inspection tag attached on the house line. When modifications are done to an existing gas service, it will be reconnected after verification of an inspection as required by your local jurisdiction." myavista.com, read November 3, 2026.
26. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements (technicians "who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified"; Types I, II, III and Universal; "credentials do not expire"), epa.gov; Questions and Answers about the Refrigerant Sales Restriction ("Any person servicing, installing or disposing of stationary appliances (except the disposal of small appliances) must be a section 608 certified technician"; the seller verifies the buyer "is a certified technician" or "employs a certified technician"; an office manager may buy with "a copy of the certification card and a list of those authorized to buy refrigerant"), epa.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
27. Idaho HVAC Board, minutes of May 14, 2025: "From November 4, 2024, to May 6, 2025, there were 47 notices of violations"; "As of January 1, 2025, manufacturers of HVAC equipment are to have ceased the use of older classes of refrigerants, such as 410A"; "While inspectors do not currently verify that Journeymen and Apprentices have an EPA 608 Certificate, individuals must have one on file to purchase refrigerant." dopl.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
28. DOPL and the Idaho HVAC Board, letter to the Idaho HVAC industry, "Refrigerant Transitions in New Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment" (March 31, 2023): "the Division, as the code official, has approved for installation any new equipment listed to UL 60335-2-40 & 89, as well as any design and installation requirements in compliance with ASHRAE 15, as an approved alternative to UL 1995. This approval applies to HVACR installations in any Idaho jurisdiction where the Division is the code official"; local governments "are encouraged to consider and approve such installations." dopl.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
29. Idaho Legislature, House Bill 141 (2023), "BUILDING CODES - Adds to existing law to establish a requirement that certain refrigerants not be prohibited": introduced February 14, referred to the Business Committee February 15, no later action. legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
30. EPA final rule, "Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Reconsideration of Certain Regulatory Requirements Promulgated Under the Technology Transitions Provisions," 91 FR 31284 (published May 26, 2026, effective July 27, 2026): "This final rule also allows the inventory of residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump equipment that was manufactured in the United States or imported into the United States before January 1, 2025, to continue to be installed." federalregister.gov, read November 3, 2026.
31. EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (Idaho is not among the authorized states; "This includes all firms, even sole proprietorships"), epa.gov; 40 CFR 745.83, minor repair and maintenance: "6 square feet or less of painted surface per room for interior activities or 20 square feet or less of painted surface for exterior activities," law.cornell.edu; 40 CFR 19.4, TSCA civil penalty $49,772, law.cornell.edu. All read November 3, 2026.
32. Idaho Code 72-301(1) ("Every employer shall secure the payment of compensation"), 72-212(6) (exempt: "the owner of a sole proprietorship; ... a working member of a partnership or a limited liability company; ... an officer of a corporation who ... owns not less than ten percent (10%)" and is a director) and 72-319 (misdemeanor; officers and LLC managers "personally liable"; penalty of "two dollars ($2.00) for each employee for each day or twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each day ... whichever is greater"). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
33. Idaho State Tax Commission, Contractors Working in Idaho ("contractors are the consumers (end users) of all the goods they use"; contractors who sell items they don't install are retailers and collect sales tax) and Getting Tax Permits ("Idaho requires businesses to register for certain tax permits using the Idaho Business Registration (IBR) process"; with employees, a withholding account "and permits from the Idaho Department of Labor and the Industrial Commission"). tax.idaho.gov, tax.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
34. Idaho Code 45-525: disclosure before any contract "in an amount exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000)" with a homeowner on residential property of one to four units; (2)(b) the homeowner's right "to receive from the general contractor proof that the general contractor has a general liability insurance policy including completed operations in effect and proof that the general contractor has worker's compensation insurance for his employees"; (4) failure is an unfair practice under the Idaho Consumer Protection Act; (6) not for homeowner-initiated "repairs necessary to meet a bona fide emergency" or "necessary repairs to an electrical, plumbing or water system"; and 45-507(3)(e) (a lien claim includes the proof of disclosure and acknowledgment). legislature.idaho.gov, read November 3, 2026.
35. Idaho HVAC Board, draft minutes of August 27, 2026 (the Division's legislation "to move the code adoption language from Rules into Statute"; the board voted "to delegate authority to the staff to continue to issue NOV's with $200 civil fines for the first offenses and $500 for unregistered (unlicensed) practice"), dopl.idaho.gov; agenda of November 5, 2026 ("Rules to Statute Update," "HVAC NOV Report"), dopl.idaho.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
36. Trees v. Kersey, 138 Idaho 3, 56 P.3d 765 (2002): "The general rule is that a contract prohibited by law is illegal and unenforceable." A public works license case; the court allowed a fraud claim as an exception. courtlistener.com, read November 3, 2026.
37. DOPL, Board Approved Apprenticeship Programs (HVAC: College of Eastern Idaho, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, North Idaho College, Porter House, HVACR Education Online, Northwest HVAC/R, and the sheet metal training committees), dopl.idaho.gov; Program Information and Exams (exams through PSI), dopl.idaho.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
38. r/HVAC, a new owner (November 12, 2024): "filed my HVAC LLC curious if yall have any suggestions for insurance companies?" reddit.com, from Deepsel's HVAC research (checked November 2, 2026).
39. r/HVAC comment (September 13, 2024): "To get insurnace i need registered LLC in my state. So basically, they're looking for an established entity." reddit.com, checked November 2, 2026.
40. r/HVAC (January 15, 2025): "Was already doing sub work before I quit my day job “under someone else’s license”" reddit.com, checked November 2, 2026.
41. r/HVAC comment from an owner with one assistant (April 20, 2025): "You could probably start with about $2k in tools, and a $300/mo insurance policy plus licensing." reddit.com, checked November 2, 2026.