By Priya Raman · Updated August 11, 2026 · 7 min read
Short answer
In Texas, a company generally should not solicit or advertise air conditioning and refrigeration work without an ACR contractor license behind it, and advertising by a contracting company that holds a license must include the affiliated licensee's license number. The rules are in Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302 and 16 Texas Administrative Code Section 75.71. General company information, history and educational content is a different matter from soliciting work, but the line is a legal question to confirm with a Texas attorney or TDLR.
The short answer is no: a business that does not have a Texas ACR contractor license behind it generally cannot advertise air conditioning, heating or refrigeration work to the Texas public. And when a company that holds a license does advertise, the rules require the license number to appear. The sources are the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302, and 16 Texas Administrative Code Section 75.71, which TDLR enforces. This article is purely informational and is not legal advice. If you have a real situation, ask a Texas attorney or TDLR before you publish anything.
What do the Texas rules say about advertising?
Two layers of law matter:
- The statute. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1302 regulates air conditioning and refrigeration contractors. It makes licensing the basic condition for offering and performing ACR work for the public, with listed exemptions. Read the chapter directly on the Texas Legislature’s statutes site for its exact wording and for the exemptions.
- The TDLR rules. 16 TAC Chapter 75 contains the administrative rules. Section 75.71, “Responsibilities of the Contracting Company,” says that advertising by an ACR contracting company that is designed to solicit ACR business must include the license number of the affiliated licensee. The same section requires the number on proposals and invoices, and the company name and license number on vehicles and job-site signs. It lists narrow exceptions, such as certain directory listings that show only the name, address and phone number.
What counts as advertising?
In general, any public communication designed to attract ACR business can be treated as advertising. That includes:
- a company website, landing page or online profile;
- search ads, social media posts and online directory listings;
- vehicle lettering, yard signs and job-site signs;
- printed brochures, flyers and mailers;
- proposals, estimates and invoices, which have their own number requirement.
The test is the purpose of the communication, not the platform. A page whose main purpose is to get a building owner to call for chiller work looks like advertising. A neutral technical article is not designed to solicit work, but the same site’s other pages might be. A regulator would look at the whole site, so it is safest to keep solicitation and information clearly separate.
What does a compliant advertisement look like?
For an ACR contracting company that holds a license, the practical checklist is:
| Item | Requirement in plain terms | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| License number in ads | Include the affiliated licensee’s TDLR license number in advertising that solicits ACR business | 16 TAC 75.71 |
| Proposals and invoices | Show the number | 16 TAC 75.71 |
| Vehicles and job-site signs | Company name and license number | 16 TAC 75.71 |
| Accurate claims | Do not claim licensing, certification or coverage you do not have | General Texas consumer protection law; check with an attorney |
| Valid license | The number must belong to an active license tied to the company | TDLR license search |
The details are in the rule text, and rules are amended, so read the current version.
What are the penalties?
TDLR’s penalties and sanctions page for ACR contractors groups violations into classes. As we read it, failing to include the license number in advertising that requires it is in the lowest class, with a range of roughly $500 to $1,000. More serious violations, including activity without a license, carry higher ranges, from the low thousands of dollars, and can lead to suspension or revocation. A 2026 Texas Register item shows the Commission was reviewing the penalty matrix, so check the current page for the figures. See TDLR inspections and complaints for how a case begins and what TDLR can do.
Who can see the advertising, and who reports it?
Competitors, customers and local officials can file complaints, and TDLR itself can review public advertising. Because websites and online listings are public, they are the easiest place for a problem to be noticed. That is the practical reason the safe approach is to say nothing that offers services until a license is in place.
What can a company without a license publish?
Courts and regulators look at what the communication does, not what the company calls it, so the following is a cautious approach and not a guarantee. Many companies in a pre-license position limit their public content to:
- who they are, where their experience comes from and what they have done in other countries, clearly labeled as such;
- plans to enter the market, including that they are seeking employees, partners or a company to acquire;
- educational and technical articles with no call to buy work, such as how a chiller works or how to read a compressor nameplate;
- regulatory explainers like this one;
- job postings for employees, including a license holder.
They avoid prices, service lists, claims of availability, “call us” calls to action aimed at building owners, service-area lists, emergency-response claims, and any wording that could suggest they hold a license they do not. Whether a specific page crosses the line is a legal judgment. Run any public text past a Texas attorney before publishing.
What about the license number after you get one?
Once a company works under a qualified license holder, the number belongs in advertising per 16 TAC 75.71. A good habit is to put it in the site header and footer, in every ad template, and on vehicle and sign templates, so that it is never forgotten. The license must also stay valid: if the license holder leaves or the license lapses, the company must stop offering ACR work. For how licenses and insurance work, see Texas ACR license types and Texas ACR contractor insurance requirements.
Does the rule apply to foreign or out-of-state companies?
Yes. The rules apply to anyone who offers or performs ACR work in Texas. A company with a long record elsewhere has no exemption in Texas. Out-of-state license holders may apply to TDLR under its out-of-state applicant procedures, which can credit some experience, but they still need a Texas license. See how to get a Texas Class A ACR license.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license number on a website that only describes my company?
The rule targets advertising designed to solicit ACR business. A page that is only informational may be outside that wording, but a regulator may read a site as a whole. Because the answer depends on the content, check the current rule and ask TDLR or a Texas attorney.
Is a social media post an advertisement?
It can be, if its purpose is to solicit ACR work. The platform does not decide the issue; the content and purpose do.
Can I claim a license in my ad if my partner has a license?
Only if the licensee is properly affiliated with the company under the rules and the number is shown as required. Claiming a license that does not cover the company is a separate problem. Confirm with TDLR.
We are SpecServis engineers in Ukraine planning to enter the Central Texas market. We are looking for technicians, partners and a company with a qualified Class A HVAC/ACR license holder to join forces with. See our careers page or partnership page.
