STATE LICENSE
RequiredWest Virginia Division of Labor — Licensi…
Since January 1, 2016, W. Va. Code § 21-16-3(a) has required anyone performing or offering to install, maintain, alter, remodel, or repair HVAC system components to hold a license from the Commissioner of Labor. An HVAC technician needs at least 2,000 hours of HVAC-related work, training, and experience plus a written exam, and may work on residential and nonresidential systems unsupervised; an HVAC residential technician is limited to residential systems (no more than four units of five tons each); a technician in training needs no exam and works under supervision (§§ 21-16-2, 21-16-4). Fees are $75, $50, and $25 a year respectively, with a $25 late fee (42CSR34 § 10).
A technician or residential technician may supervise no more than four technicians in training on residential work, and a technician no more than two on nonresidential work (42CSR34 § 9). Routine maintenance such as filter, belt, and lubrication work is exempt (§ 21-16-3(d)(4)). HVAC licensees remain subject to the Contractor Licensing Act (§ 21-16-4(c)): projects of $5,000+ residential or $25,000+ commercial require a contractor license with the HVAC classification. Technicians who handle refrigerants also need 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.
HVAC licensing is state-only: § 21-16-9 bars any political subdivision from requiring a state licensee to hold another license or evidence of competence for HVAC work. Contractor licensing is likewise preempted (§ 30-42-20). Local mechanical permits and inspections still apply, and permit offices must verify a contractor license or exemption affidavit (§ 30-42-10(a)).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every West Virginia 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.
Cleaning or replacing filters, lubricating bearings, adjusting belts, and checking temperatures, gas pressure, voltage, and amperage need no HVAC license (§§ 21-16-2(i), 21-16-3(d)(4)).
42CSR34 § 3.8 defines HVAC work to exclude work on refrigeration lines, steam lines, and hydronics.
42CSR34 § 10.1 waives the $75 technician fee for an applicant licensed as an HVAC contractor under the Contractor Licensing Act.
A practical sequence for a new HVAC contractor in West Virginia. 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.
Performing HVAC work without a license — or an employer authorizing it — triggers a cease and desist order; continuing afterward is fined, each day after notice a separate offense.
Contracting HVAC jobs above the threshold without a Contractor Licensing Board license.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County Charleston | City of Charleston Building Department (Building Commission) — Permit Office ↗ Unincorporated: Kanawha County Commission — Planning & Development Department ↗ | — |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: ProV, Inc. HVAC exam fees (42CSR34 § 11.4 leaves the schedule to the Commissioner) · The Division of Labor FAQ cites the exemptions as § 21-16-3(c); the current statute places them in § 21-16-3(d) — the statute is cited here · Whether 42CSR34 imposes any continuing education requirement (none located in the retrieved text)
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.