How many hvac contractors are licensed in California?

California has 12,316 contractors with a C20 (HVAC) license from the Contractors State License Board. 11,645 (95%) hold active licenses. SiteVetter checks each against SAM.gov, OSHA, DOL, and EPA databases.

What does a C20 license cover in California?

A California C20 license covers heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractors. Any contractor performing hvac work valued at $500 or more must hold this license. The CSLB issues and regulates all contractor licenses in the state.

What percentage of hvac contractors have federal violations?

3.2% of California hvac contractors (394 out of 12,316) have at least one record in federal databases. These include SAM.gov debarments, DOL wage violations, OSHA safety citations, and EPA environmental violations.

Verify HVAC Contractors (C20) - Page 222 | CSLB + Federal Check

How to Verify a HVAC Contractor (C20) in California

California requires all contractors performing hvac work valued at $500+ to hold a valid CSLB C20 license. Of the 12,316 licensed hvac contractors in the state, 95% currently hold active licenses and 3.2% have at least one federal compliance record.

Manual vetting takes 45+ minutes per contractor and routinely misses violations in databases most people don't know to check. SiteVetter runs CSLB status, SAM.gov debarment, DOL wage violations, OSHA safety citations, and EPA environmental records in seconds—creating a timestamped compliance artifact.

Verification Checklist for HVAC Contractors

Verify NATE certification for technicians working on your system
Ask about experience with your specific HVAC brand or system type
Confirm they can provide energy efficiency calculations for new installations
Check federal databases: SAM.gov, OSHA, DOL, and EPA records
Confirm bond: California requires $25,000+ contractor bond (SB 607)

Why Verification Matters for HVAC Work

Under California's "Controlling Employer" doctrine, general contractors face liability for subcontractor safety violations. For hvac work specifically, 3.2% of licensed contractors have federal records that a standard CSLB license check wouldn't reveal. SiteVetter's 5-database check catches what a single-source verification misses.

HVAC Contractor Verification - Page 222

About C20 License

HVAC Contractors

How to Verify a HVAC Contractor (C20) in California

Verification Checklist for HVAC Contractors

Why Verification Matters for HVAC Work