DC refrigeration & A/C master bonds.
$100 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 $100 — the checkout price, and the bond issues the moment you pay, with no credit review of any kind, not even a soft pull.
Trusted by industry leaders
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 section, no follow-up.
Pay & e-sign
Small fixed-amount trade bonds like this are among the bond types that issue right after purchase. At most, 1–2 business days.
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
One application, issued instantly.
These are the actual issuing fields — no credit section, because this bond doesn't collect credit information.
Start the application →Common questions.
Other District of Columbia bonds.
Finish your DLCP license checklist today.
$100 flat, no credit review, bond often issued in the same sitting. Free until issued.