District of Columbia refrigeration & A/C master bonds.
$200 flat.
A DC refrigeration and air conditioning contractor designates a master responsible for the work, and that designated master files a separate $5,000 bond with DLCP. Our carrier's rate book prices this bond at a flat $200 — the checkout price, and the bond issues the moment you pay, with no credit check.
Trusted by industry leaders
How much does a District of Columbia refrigeration & A/C master bond cost?
$200 at the $5,000 amount, the same for every applicant.
Three steps. One sitting.
Trade license bonds are about the simplest thing in surety. Here's the entire process:
Apply online
Business and license details and an effective date. No financials, no credit check, no follow-up.
Pay & e-sign
Small fixed-amount trade bonds like this are among the bond types that issue right after purchase.
File with DLCP
Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with the designated master license. Wet-ink original mailed on request.
What it is and who needs it.
What the bond actually guarantees
The District licenses refrigeration and air conditioning through the Board of Industrial Trades at DLCP. A refrigeration/A/C contractor designates a master responsible for the work, and that designated master files a separate $5,000 surety bond alongside the contractor's own bond.
It's a three-party arrangement: the designated master (the principal), the surety carrier, and the District (the obligee), with the public protected. The bond stands behind compliance with the District's refrigeration and A/C licensing rules.
It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a valid claim, you repay the surety. The bond runs a two-year statutory cycle (DC refrigeration/A/C bonds generally expire September 30) and must stay continuous for the license to stay valid; we send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out.
You need this bond if you're
Claims, renewal, filing, and what sets the price.
If a claim is made
A claim comes from the party the bond protects, the obligee named on the form, when the duty the bond guarantees is not met.
The surety investigates and pays a valid claim, up to the $5,000 bond amount. You then repay the surety: a surety bond is a guarantee of your performance, not insurance for you.
Renewal and term
The bond runs to September 30 whatever day you buy; the premium covers the period to that date.
Renewal falls on the statutory date, September 30, in the year your term ends.
Renew before the expiry date to keep the bond in force: the license, permit or contract it backs expects continuous coverage.
How to file it
File with DLCP. Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with the designated master license. Wet-ink original mailed on request.
What sets the price
The premium is fixed at $200 at the $5,000 amount for every applicant: the carrier’s rate book prices this bond by the form, not by your credit or your business profile.
No credit check.
One application, issued instantly.
These are the actual issuing fields. No credit check.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other District of Columbia bonds.
Been told you need a different amount?
Price and requirements checked on the carrier’s application, . Page updated .
Finish your DLCP license checklist today.
$200 flat, no credit check, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.