Kentucky HVAC License Renewal (HBC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Kentucky's Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) licenses master HVAC contractors and journeyman HVAC mechanics, and both licenses renew every year: by the last day of your birth month. You send proof of 6 hours of continuing education with the renewal and, as a master HVAC contractor, proof of your liability and property damage insurance. Miss the date and you have a 60-day grace period with a restoration fee; after that the license terminates.

At a glance

Renews every: Year: master HVAC contractor and journeyman HVAC mechanic licenses must be renewed by the last day of your birth month, every year. A license that isn't renewed expires
Fee: $250 for a master HVAC contractor; $50 for a journeyman HVAC mechanic, paid before the license is renewed
Continuing education: 6 hours of approved CE, earned in the 12 months before renewal, in business, job safety, codes relating to HVAC or subjects directly related to the HVAC trade. No more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count. Holding both a master and a journeyman HVAC license, you complete the hours for one of them
First renewal: No CE is due for your first renewal if your license was issued within 12 months of it
Extra hours: Hours beyond the requirement carry forward into the next two educational years, up to 12 hours in total
Renewal notice: HBC sends each licensee a renewal application notice every year
Renew: Online in the HBC Online Licensing portal (a license shows there for renewal within 60 days of expiration), or with the paper Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1, with proof of your CE
Master HVAC insurance: HVAC contracting requires general liability insurance of at least $500,000 and property damage insurance of at least $300,000, from a carrier licensed and approved by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. Master HVAC contractors send proof before the license is renewed; Form DHBC L-1 asks for general liability and workers' compensation certificates listing HBC as the certificate holder. The license isn't valid without the insurance, and insurers must tell HBC when a policy is canceled
Grace period: For 60 days after the license expires you may keep working and restore it with the renewal fee, a restoration fee ($125 for a master HVAC contractor, $25 for a journeyman; Form DHBC L-1 calls it a late fee) and, for a master, proof of insurance
After 60 days: A license not restored within the 60-day grace period terminates, and you can't do HVAC work until it's reinstated. Within 3 years of termination you can reinstate it without an exam by meeting the renewal requirements and paying the renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee; after 3 years you apply as a new applicant
Inactive status: Going inactive costs $20. An inactive license is exempt from yearly renewal, needs no CE and, for a master, no insurance, but it isn't a valid license: you can't do HVAC work on it. To reactivate, pay the yearly renewal fee and a $20 reactivation fee, show 6 CE hours from the 12 months before and, as a master, get the required insurance

A first license's fee may be prorated, and it expires on the last day of your birth month: check the date on your license.

If you've never sent HBC a passport-sized color photograph, include one with your next renewal.

HBC denies a renewal, restoration, reinstatement or reactivation without the fees, the CE or, for a master HVAC contractor, the current insurance certificate.

How to renew

Check your license's expiration date: the last day of your birth month.
Finish 6 hours of approved CE in the 12 months before renewal (no more than 2 of safety practices and procedures).
Master HVAC contractors: keep general liability (at least $500,000) and property damage (at least $300,000) insurance current, and get the general liability and workers' compensation certificates Form DHBC L-1 asks for, listing HBC as the certificate holder.
Renew in the HBC Online Licensing portal once the license shows there (within 60 days of expiration), or mail Form DHBC L-1, and pay $250 (master) or $50 (journeyman).
Missed the date? Restore the license within the 60-day grace period with the renewal fee, the restoration fee ($125 master, $25 journeyman), your CE proof and, for a master, proof of insurance: after that the license terminates.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

3 months outCheck your expiration date (end of your birth month) and book the CE hours you still need with an approved provider.
60 days outThe license appears for renewal in the HBC Online Licensing portal. Master HVAC contractors: get insurance certificates listing HBC as certificate holder.
Before the end of your birth monthRenew online or mail Form DHBC L-1 with your CE proof and the fee ($250 master, $50 journeyman).
Expiration dateMissed it? Restore within 60 days with the restoration fee ($125 or $25). After that, the license terminates.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Master HVAC contractors: the general liability and property damage insurance HBC must have on file (insurers report a cancellation to HBC)
Your yearly CE hours
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Kentucky HVAC license?

Every year: master HVAC contractor and journeyman HVAC mechanic licenses must be renewed by the last day of your birth month, every year.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky HVAC license?

$250 for a master HVAC contractor and $50 for a journeyman HVAC mechanic. Restoring the license in the 60-day grace period after it expires adds a restoration fee: $125 for a master HVAC contractor, $25 for a journeyman.

How many CE hours do Kentucky HVAC licensees need?

6 hours of approved CE, earned in the 12 months before renewal, in business, job safety, codes relating to HVAC or subjects directly related to the HVAC trade. No more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count.

What insurance does a Kentucky master HVAC contractor need to renew?

Proof of general liability insurance of at least $500,000 and property damage insurance of at least $300,000, from a carrier licensed and approved by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. The license isn't valid without the insurance.

What happens if my Kentucky HVAC license expires?

For 60 days after the license expires you may keep working and restore it with the renewal fee, a restoration fee ($125 for a master HVAC contractor, $25 for a journeyman) and, for a master, proof of insurance. A license not restored within the 60-day grace period terminates; within 3 years of termination you can reinstate it without an exam.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), eServices

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Kentucky guides

All Kentucky guides on one page

HVAC guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Kentucky HVAC License Renewal (HBC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Renews every: Year: master HVAC contractor and journeyman HVAC mechanic licenses must be renewed by the last day of your birth month, every year. A license that isn't renewed expires
Fee: $250 for a master HVAC contractor; $50 for a journeyman HVAC mechanic, paid before the license is renewed
Continuing education: 6 hours of approved CE, earned in the 12 months before renewal, in business, job safety, codes relating to HVAC or subjects directly related to the HVAC trade. No more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count. Holding both a master and a journeyman HVAC license, you complete the hours for one of them
First renewal: No CE is due for your first renewal if your license was issued within 12 months of it
Extra hours: Hours beyond the requirement carry forward into the next two educational years, up to 12 hours in total
Renewal notice: HBC sends each licensee a renewal application notice every year
Renew: Online in the HBC Online Licensing portal (a license shows there for renewal within 60 days of expiration), or with the paper Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1, with proof of your CE
Master HVAC insurance: HVAC contracting requires general liability insurance of at least $500,000 and property damage insurance of at least $300,000, from a carrier licensed and approved by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. Master HVAC contractors send proof before the license is renewed; Form DHBC L-1 asks for general liability and workers' compensation certificates listing HBC as the certificate holder. The license isn't valid without the insurance, and insurers must tell HBC when a policy is canceled
Grace period: For 60 days after the license expires you may keep working and restore it with the renewal fee, a restoration fee ($125 for a master HVAC contractor, $25 for a journeyman; Form DHBC L-1 calls it a late fee) and, for a master, proof of insurance
After 60 days: A license not restored within the 60-day grace period terminates, and you can't do HVAC work until it's reinstated. Within 3 years of termination you can reinstate it without an exam by meeting the renewal requirements and paying the renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee; after 3 years you apply as a new applicant
Inactive status: Going inactive costs $20. An inactive license is exempt from yearly renewal, needs no CE and, for a master, no insurance, but it isn't a valid license: you can't do HVAC work on it. To reactivate, pay the yearly renewal fee and a $20 reactivation fee, show 6 CE hours from the 12 months before and, as a master, get the required insurance

A first license's fee may be prorated, and it expires on the last day of your birth month: check the date on your license.

If you've never sent HBC a passport-sized color photograph, include one with your next renewal.

HBC denies a renewal, restoration, reinstatement or reactivation without the fees, the CE or, for a master HVAC contractor, the current insurance certificate.

How to renew

Check your license's expiration date: the last day of your birth month.
Finish 6 hours of approved CE in the 12 months before renewal (no more than 2 of safety practices and procedures).
Master HVAC contractors: keep general liability (at least $500,000) and property damage (at least $300,000) insurance current, and get the general liability and workers' compensation certificates Form DHBC L-1 asks for, listing HBC as the certificate holder.
Renew in the HBC Online Licensing portal once the license shows there (within 60 days of expiration), or mail Form DHBC L-1, and pay $250 (master) or $50 (journeyman).
Missed the date? Restore the license within the 60-day grace period with the renewal fee, the restoration fee ($125 master, $25 journeyman), your CE proof and, for a master, proof of insurance: after that the license terminates.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

3 months outCheck your expiration date (end of your birth month) and book the CE hours you still need with an approved provider.
60 days outThe license appears for renewal in the HBC Online Licensing portal. Master HVAC contractors: get insurance certificates listing HBC as certificate holder.
Before the end of your birth monthRenew online or mail Form DHBC L-1 with your CE proof and the fee ($250 master, $50 journeyman).
Expiration dateMissed it? Restore within 60 days with the restoration fee ($125 or $25). After that, the license terminates.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Master HVAC contractors: the general liability and property damage insurance HBC must have on file (insurers report a cancellation to HBC)
Your yearly CE hours
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Kentucky HVAC license?

Every year: master HVAC contractor and journeyman HVAC mechanic licenses must be renewed by the last day of your birth month, every year.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky HVAC license?

How many CE hours do Kentucky HVAC licensees need?

What insurance does a Kentucky master HVAC contractor need to renew?

What happens if my Kentucky HVAC license expires?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), eServices

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Kentucky guides

All Kentucky guides on one page

HVAC guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for HVAC techs

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet