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Delaware HVAC & Appliance Repair Insurance Requirements (2026)

HVAC Contractors

Master HVACR License / Master HVACR Restricted License

Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners
General LiabilityNot Required

Delaware's HVACR trade licensing law (24 Del. C. Ch. 18) sets exam, experience, and EPA 608 requirements for the Master HVACR license but does not impose a general liability insurance minimum as a condition of licensure.[1][2]

Surety BondNot Required

No surety bond is required by the DPR Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners as a condition of the Master HVACR trade license itself.[1]

Contractor's Business License (required in addition to the trade license, to operate as a contractor)

Delaware Division of Revenue
Workers' CompensationConditional

Minimums: Statutory coverage per 19 Del. C. Ch. 23

Condition: 1+ employees

Contractor business license applicants must file proof of workers' compensation insurance with the Division of Revenue if they have employees, consistent with Delaware's statewide 1-or-more-employee workers' comp threshold.[1][2]

Surety BondConditional

Condition: non-resident contractors only

Non-resident contractors must post a surety bond, cash bond, or irrevocable letter of credit with the Division of Revenue as a condition of the contractor business license; resident contractors are not required to bond, and the Division sets bond amounts case-by-case rather than publishing a fixed statutory minimum.[1]

Appliance Repair

Delaware does not license appliance repair technicians or businesses at the state level. The Division of Professional Regulation's list of 37 boards and commissions includes no appliance-repair board (https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/). Manufacturers' warranty networks, home warranty companies, and commercial landlords typically require proof of general liability insurance (COI). Technicians servicing refrigerant-containing appliances must hold federal EPA Section 608 certification, which is a federal credential, not a state insurance requirement.

Workers' Compensation Threshold

Delaware requires workers' compensation insurance for any employer with 1 or more employees (19 Del. C. § 2306(a)); sole proprietors and partners are excluded from mandatory coverage but may elect it voluntarily (19 Del. C. § 2308(b)), and independent contractors performing licensed construction work cannot be treated as exempt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Delaware require insurance for HVAC contractors?▾
Yes. Contractor's Business License (required in addition to the trade license, to operate as a contractor) (Delaware Division of Revenue) requires workers' compensation insurance, a surety bond.
Do appliance repair businesses need a license or insurance in Delaware?▾
Delaware does not license appliance repair technicians or businesses at the state level. The Division of Professional Regulation's list of 37 boards and commissions includes no appliance-repair board (https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/). Manufacturers' warranty networks, home warranty companies, and commercial landlords typically require proof of general liability insurance (COI). Technicians servicing refrigerant-containing appliances must hold federal EPA Section 608 certification, which is a federal credential, not a state insurance requirement.
When is workers' compensation insurance required in Delaware?▾
Delaware requires workers' compensation insurance for any employer with 1 or more employees (19 Del. C. § 2306(a)); sole proprietors and partners are excluded from mandatory coverage but may elect it voluntarily (19 Del. C. § 2308(b)), and independent contractors performing licensed construction work cannot be treated as exempt.

Sources

  1. Delaware Code — Title 19, Chapter 23, Subchapter I — Workers' Compensation (§§ 2301–2316, incl. § 2306(a) coverage threshold and § 2308(b) sole proprietor/partner exclusion), accessed 2026-07-15
  2. Delaware Code — Title 24, Chapter 18, Subchapter III — License, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (§§ 1820–1830), accessed 2026-07-15
  3. Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Master HVACR and Master HVACR Restricted Licensure, accessed 2026-07-15
  4. Delaware Code — Title 30, Chapter 25 — Contractors' License Requirements and Taxes, accessed 2026-07-15
  5. Delaware Division of Revenue — Contractors — Resident and Non-Resident, accessed 2026-07-15

Last verified 2026-07-15. Spot something inaccurate? Report an inaccuracy.