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Hawaii HVAC & Appliance Repair Insurance Requirements (2026)

HVAC Contractors

Contractor License — C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor (also applies to C-40 Refrigeration Contractor and all other Hawaii contractor classifications)

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Contractors License Board
General LiabilityRequired

Minimums: $100,000 bodily injury per person / $300,000 per occurrence; $50,000 property damage per occurrence

All Hawaii contractor licensees, including C-52 ventilating/air conditioning and C-40 refrigeration specialty contractors, must maintain and continuously prove liability and property damage insurance at these minimums to obtain and renew their license.[1]

Workers' CompensationRequired

Minimums: Statutory workers' compensation coverage; contractors may instead qualify as a self-insurer or file for an exclusion under HRS chapter 386

Condition: 1+ employees (statewide threshold under HRS chapter 386)

Contractor license applicants and renewing licensees must submit a current workers' compensation certificate (or proof of self-insurance or an HRS chapter 386 exclusion) to the Contractors License Board, and losing continuous coverage causes automatic license forfeiture.[1]

Surety BondConditional

Minimums: Amount set by the Contractors License Board on a case-by-case basis

Condition: Imposed at the board's discretion, e.g. as proof of financial integrity or upon reinstatement after suspension

The board may require a licensee or applicant to post a surety bond as a condition of licensure, financial-integrity proof, or license reinstatement.[1]

Appliance Repair

Hawaii does not license general appliance repair (washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers, etc.) at the state level. Manufacturers' warranty networks, home warranty companies, and commercial landlords typically require proof of general liability insurance (COI). Note: if the work involves HVAC/refrigeration systems (e.g., built-in refrigeration equipment, air conditioning), it falls under the state's C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning or C-40 Refrigeration contractor license requirements described above, and EPA Section 608 federal certification is required for anyone handling refrigerant regardless of state licensing.

Workers' Compensation Threshold

Hawaii requires workers' compensation coverage for any employer with one or more employees, full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary — there is no minimum employee-count exemption other than the specific statutory exclusions (e.g., certain volunteer, religious, and commission-only workers).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hawaii require insurance for HVAC contractors?▾
Yes. Contractor License — C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor (also applies to C-40 Refrigeration Contractor and all other Hawaii contractor classifications) (Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Contractors License Board) requires general liability insurance, workers' compensation insurance, a surety bond.
How much liability insurance does an HVAC contractor need in Hawaii?▾
For the Contractor License — C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning Contractor (also applies to C-40 Refrigeration Contractor and all other Hawaii contractor classifications), the required minimum is $100,000 bodily injury per person / $300,000 per occurrence; $50,000 property damage per occurrence.
Do appliance repair businesses need a license or insurance in Hawaii?▾
Hawaii does not license general appliance repair (washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers, etc.) at the state level. Manufacturers' warranty networks, home warranty companies, and commercial landlords typically require proof of general liability insurance (COI). Note: if the work involves HVAC/refrigeration systems (e.g., built-in refrigeration equipment, air conditioning), it falls under the state's C-52 Ventilating and Air Conditioning or C-40 Refrigeration contractor license requirements described above, and EPA Section 608 federal certification is required for anyone handling refrigerant regardless of state licensing.
When is workers' compensation insurance required in Hawaii?▾
Hawaii requires workers' compensation coverage for any employer with one or more employees, full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary — there is no minimum employee-count exemption other than the specific statutory exclusions (e.g., certain volunteer, religious, and commission-only workers).

Sources

  1. Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Disability Compensation Division — About Workers' Compensation (WC), accessed 2026-07-15
  2. Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board — Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16, Chapter 77 — Contractors (§16-77-10 Supporting documents required; §16-77-55 Conditions for renewal of license), accessed 2026-07-15

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