STATE LICENSE
ConditionalMississippi State Board of Contractors (M…
Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-3(1)(d) lists 'heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning' and 'mechanical' among the residential subcontract trades that need an MSBOC license no matter the dollar amount. The residential classifications are Residential HVAC (HVAC exam) and Residential Mechanical (HVAC and plumbing exams); either also requires the Law & Business Management exam.
Commercial HVAC contracts of $50,000 or more require a certificate in the Mechanical major classification or a specialty under it — Heat, Ventilation, A/C; Ductwork; Refrigeration; or Boiler Installation — each with a trade exam. Technicians who handle refrigerants also need federal EPA Section 608 certification.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Mississippi licensing is statewide through MSBOC, but cities and counties enforce it: building officials must refuse permits to anyone who would be a residential builder or remodeler unless they show an MSBOC license or exemption, and must report suspected violations to the Board (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-17). Residential contractors without a permanent Mississippi place of business (and not holding a commercial certificate) also need a Department of Revenue permit under § 27-65-27 to obtain a building permit, regardless of project cost or insurance funding (§ 73-59-18).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Mississippi 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.
Residential HVAC subcontractors need an MSBOC license regardless of job size — the $10,000 remodeler threshold does not apply to them.
EPA Section 608 certification is separate from any state license and required for anyone handling refrigerant.
MSBOC licenses renew every year: $100 residential, $400 commercial.
A practical sequence for a new HVAC contractor in Mississippi. 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.
Undertaking residential work that requires an MSBOC license without one — or giving the Board false information to get one — is a misdemeanor, and the Board may cite and stop the work.
A contractor unlicensed when the work was performed may not sue to enforce a residential building or remodeling contract; recovery is limited to documented labor and material expenses proved by clear and convincing evidence.
A public or private contract awarded to a contractor without a certificate of responsibility is void; knowingly bidding without one is a misdemeanor, and the Board may order abatement.
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: PSI exam fees for the Law & Business Management exam and the trade exams (MSBOC sends a PSI Candidate Information Bulletin only after an application is received) · Whether an HVAC contractor hired directly by a homeowner for a replacement (not as a subcontractor) needs the residential license · Whether gas-appliance or LP-gas work requires any separate state certification in Mississippi (not researched)
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.