Seattle Refrigeration License

Why Seattle Has Its Own Refrigeration Licensing

Most of Washington State doesn't require a separate refrigeration license. State contractor registration through L&I plus an 06A or 06B electrical specialty certification covers your HVAC authority in the vast majority of jurisdictions. Seattle is the exception.

The City of Seattle enforces its own refrigeration licensing program through the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI). If you install, repair, or alter refrigeration or air conditioning systems within Seattle city limits, you need a Seattle-specific credential — regardless of what state licenses you hold.

Two License Types, Linked Together

Seattle's refrigeration program involves two connected licenses:

Journey Refrigeration Mechanic License

This is the individual trade credential. Every person physically performing refrigeration or AC work in Seattle must hold one. SDCI offers three classes based on refrigerant type:

• Class A — Freon (fluorocarbon) systems only
• Class B — Ammonia systems only
• Class C — Both freon and ammonia systems

The class you need depends on your work scope. Residential and most commercial HVAC work falls under Class A. Industrial cold storage and process cooling with ammonia systems requires Class B or C.

Experience requirements: You need either three years of documented field experience as a refrigeration mechanic, or two years of accredited technical school plus two years of field work.

The exam: SDCI administers a 60-minute online exam through Quiz Maker. Once approved to test, you receive an exam link that's valid for only two business days — miss that window and you need to request a new link. The base trade exam fee is $292.00 under the current 2026 fee schedule.

Refrigeration Contractor License

This is the business credential. Any company that bids on, engineers, or executes refrigeration assembly work in Seattle needs this license. Requirements:

• Active Washington State contractor registration through L&I
• At least one employee holding an active Seattle Journey Refrigeration Mechanic license
• Annual license fee: $270.35 for Class A or B, $431.35 for Class C

The contractor license is directly tied to the journeyman — if your designated mechanic's license lapses, the contractor license immediately becomes void too.

The June 30 Deadline and Joint Expiration Trap

Every Seattle refrigeration license — journeyman, operator, and contractor — renews annually by June 30. This creates a specific operational risk that catches contractors off guard:

If your designated journeyman mechanic's license expires, the corresponding contractor license expires simultaneously. The moment that happens, all current mechanical permits issued under that contractor license are voided, and all active project work must stop until both licenses are renewed.

The fix is simple in theory — renew on time — but gets complicated when your designated mechanic leaves the company or retires. You need a replacement licensed mechanic assigned to your contractor license before the expiration date, not after.

What Happens If You Let a License Lapse

SDCI's renewal rules have real teeth:

• Within one year of expiration: The license can still be renewed
• More than one year past expiration: The license is voided. The technician must retake the full trade exam to reinstate their credentials

This one-year cliff means a mechanic who lets their license slide for 13 months can't just pay a late fee — they're starting the exam process over from scratch.

Similarly, passing candidates who don't pay for and obtain their physical license within 90 days of the exam date have their test score voided. You'd need to sit for the exam again.

State Credentials Don't Exempt You

A common misunderstanding: contractors assume their L&I registration and 06A electrical certification cover them for refrigeration work in Seattle. They don't. Seattle's refrigeration licensing program exists separately from the state system and requires its own application, exam, and annual renewal.

A contractor with valid state credentials performing refrigeration work in Seattle without the local SDCI license is operating illegally within city limits. SDCI enforces compliance through permit checks — you can't pull a refrigeration permit without showing a valid Seattle contractor license, and working without a permit triggers double-fee penalties.

Connecting the Credential Layers

The Washington HVAC License Guide maps Seattle's SDCI requirements alongside the state L&I credentials and other municipal licensing programs (including Spokane's gas mechanic licensing), so you can see exactly which permits and credentials apply across every Washington jurisdiction.

See more Washington guides →