HVAC Refrigeration Contractor ($5,000) Bond - Jacksonville, FL in Florida

Brief Summary

This is a $5,000 bond with a narrow job. Florida law limits it to Florida Building Code compliance, so it is not a performance bond on your customer contracts and it does not tie up your credit line. Pay the premium, get the executed form, and file it with your Jacksonville paperwork so permits can move.

Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors who pull permits in Jacksonville post a $5,000 bond, the maximum a Florida local government may require under section 489.131(3)(e), Florida Statutes. The bond is conditioned only on compliance with the Florida Building Code and is payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund. The trade itself is regulated locally by the City of Jacksonville Construction Trades Qualifying Board.

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How to Apply for a HVAC Refrigeration Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

• Confirm whether you need the bond for this permit or qualify for the third-party insured warranty exemption on a new structure.
• Use the exact business and qualifier names that appear on your Construction Trades Qualifying Board file.
• Provide owner name, home address and Social Security number for the surety credit review.
• Complete the bond application and review the quoted premium.
• Pay the premium and receive the executed $5,000 bond form.
• File the bond with the City of Jacksonville along with your certificate or permit paperwork.

Detailed Information About the Florida HVAC Refrigeration Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

What this bond really guarantees

Many contractors assume this bond backs every job they sign. It does not. Section 489.131(3)(e), Florida Statutes, lets a county or city require one bond per contractor in an amount not to exceed $5,000, conditioned only upon compliance with the Florida Building Code. The bond is payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund, and the statute says it counts toward any financial responsibility requirement imposed under other laws or rules.

The same subsection sets three more rules worth knowing. The bond must be equally available to all contractors no matter how long they have been certified or registered. Bond reciprocity is granted statewide. A contractor who provides a third-party insured warranty policy on a new building or structure is exempt from the bond for that structure.

Who regulates HVAC work in Jacksonville

The City of Jacksonville Construction Trades Qualifying Board administers Chapter 342 of the Ordinance Code and Chapters 489 Parts I and II of the Florida Statutes for the heating, air conditioning and refrigeration trade, along with plumbing, pool, irrigation, natural gas and other trades. The Board checks competency, financial responsibility, credit and insurance thresholds before it issues a certificate. The bond is one piece of that file, not a substitute for the certificate of competency.

Board fees

The Board lists a $75 contractor application fee, a $25 Certificate of Competency fee and a $160 biennial contractor renewal. Exam fees run from $65 to $150 depending on the category. A lapsed certificate costs $150 to reinstate, and late renewals are charged double for each late cycle plus the application fee. Confirm the current bond form and filing steps with the Board at (904) 255-7970 before the bond is issued.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Florida HVAC Refrigeration Contractor ($5,000) Bond:

• Bond amount of $5,000, the statutory cap for local contractor bonds in Florida.
• Condition limited to compliance with the Florida Building Code.
• Payable to the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund under section 489.131(3)(e).
• A current Certificate of Competency in the heating, air conditioning and refrigeration category from the Construction Trades Qualifying Board.
• Insurance meeting the Board's threshold, which is separate from the bond.

Florida HVAC Refrigeration Contractor ($5,000) Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Florida HVAC Refrigeration Contractor ($5,000) Bond: