Start with the license. Arizona’s Registrar of Contractors (ROC) licenses HVAC work, and you can check any contractor at roc.az.gov before you say yes. Then ask about the permit, get the quote and warranty in writing, and compare the same scope across bids. Climate Pros Tucson matches you with licensed, independent pros so you can start from that point. We don’t do the work ourselves.

How do you check the license?

Use the ROC lookup at roc.az.gov. Residential HVAC work falls under class R-39 (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Including Solar), which covers installing and repairing comfort AC, evaporative cooling, ventilating and heating. Narrower R-39R subclassifications also exist, including Warm Air Heating, Evaporative Cooling and Ventilating. Check that the license class fits the job, and that the name matches the company on your quote.

Can a handyman replace your AC?

Not in the City of Tucson. Arizona’s handyman exemption covers casual, minor work under $1,000 in total for labor and materials, and it is lost when the work needs a local building permit or when the person advertises without the words “not a licensed contractor.” The City of Tucson requires a permit for new or replacement furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners, so a replacement falls outside the exemption. The City of Tucson permit page lists what needs one. See do I need a permit for HVAC.

What should you ask about permits?

Ask who pulls the permit and whether the quote includes it. In the City of Tucson, the contractor pulls it, and load and sizing calculations are required for new and replacement equipment. Pima County rules for unincorporated areas can differ, so ask the pro which jurisdiction applies to your address.

Inside City of Tucson limits, the City’s fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists a $150 trade permit for an air conditioner or heater repair or replacement (checked October 2026). In unincorporated Pima County, the Development Services fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists a $69 base fee for permits that need an inspection and $27 for minor mechanical work such as a residential air conditioner unit, as separate line items (checked October 2026). Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita and South Tucson set their own fees, so ask the pro which applies. Ask to see the permit fee as its own line on the written quote.

What belongs in a written quote?

  • The equipment brand, model and size
  • Whether a load calculation was done
  • Permit handling
  • What is excluded, such as ductwork, electrical or roof work
  • The price in dollars, and what a repair or diagnostic visit costs
  • Warranty terms in writing

The FTC advises reading the written warranty before you buy, keeping it with your receipt and getting oral promises in writing. Compare quotes for the same scope, and don’t judge on price alone. See AC repair scams to avoid.

What about refrigerant and rebates?

Technicians who service equipment that could release refrigerant must hold EPA Section 608 certification. Ask. If you want a TEP Efficient Home rebate, the contractor must be a participating Efficient Home contractor, so ask before signing. Amounts change, so confirm with TEP.

What protection exists if something goes wrong?

Arizona has a Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund, run through the ROC, for homeowners harmed by a licensed residential contractor. Ask the ROC how it works for your situation.

Start from a licensed pro

Every pro we send is licensed. Call (520) 353-2520 and we’ll match you with a licensed local pro. See AC repair, AC installation, who to call for AC repair and the Tucson HVAC hub.