STATE LICENSE
RequiredMichigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Co…
Michigan licenses HVAC as 'mechanical' work under Article 8 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. The license is issued by work classification — hydronic heating and process piping, HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, limited and unlimited heating service, limited and unlimited refrigeration and air conditioning service, fire suppression, and specialty — and you sit a separate exam for each classification, scheduled through PSI.
Each classification requires 3 years or 6,000 hours of experience in that classification (a 2-year HVAC program can count for up to 1 year / 2,000 hours). The work must be performed under a licensed contractor of record who secures the permit. MCL 339.5811 bars municipalities from licensing mechanical work, so the state license is the only one.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
State licensing is exclusive: municipalities may not set up local mechanical licensing or block a state licensee from its classifications (MCL 339.5811). Permits and inspections still come from the enforcing agency, secured by the licensed contractor of record.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Michigan county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
A license is classified and limited — an HVAC equipment licensee is not automatically licensed for ductwork or refrigeration service. Each classification is its own exam and 3-year experience showing.
Municipalities may not establish local mechanical licensing or bar a state-licensed mechanical contractor from its classifications (MCL 339.5811).
'HVAC' excludes portable self-contained refrigeration equipment and window air conditioners of not more than 1-1/2 horsepower (MCL 339.5801(g)).
A practical sequence for a new HVAC contractor in Michigan. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Practicing a skilled trade without the required license: first offense misdemeanor (up to $500 or 90 days); second offense misdemeanor (up to $1,000 or 1 year); third or subsequent offense a felony.
License limitation, suspension, denial, revocation, restitution, censure, or probation.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Mechanical license renewal fee and any continuing-education requirement · PSI exam fee per classification · Federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification interplay (not researched against an official source for this record)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.