What insurance does a C-38 contractor need?

Workers' compensation is required by law once they have employees; the CSLB suspends a licence without it. Beyond that, producers usually place: Workers' comp; General liability; Commercial auto; Pollution for refrigerants.

How many C-38 contractors are there in California?

1,586 active licences hold the C-38 classification as of 2026-09-06; 1,183 (75%) have workers' comp on file and 364 are exempt.

When do C-38 workers' comp policies renew?

256 renew within 90 days. January is the peak month.

Which WCIRB class codes apply to C-38 work?

Most often 5538 (HVAC and refrigeration installation). The WCIRB assigns the class from the actual operations and payroll, so verify per account in the WCIRB classification search.

CSLB classification · HVAC

C-38 Refrigeration Contractor

Name: C-38 Refrigeration Contractor: California licence and insurance statistics
Creator: Birdray
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Installs and services commercial refrigeration.

1,586

Active licences

1,183

With workers' comp

75%

256

Renewing in 90 days

Lapsed or suspended

364

Exempt

New in 90 days

Coverages a producer should expect

›Workers' comp
›General liability
›Commercial auto
›Pollution for refrigerants

WCIRB classes usually assigned

5538 HVAC and refrigeration installation

Governing class depends on actual operations and payroll. Verify with the WCIRB classification search before quoting.

Carriers writing this class

Policies on file, statewide

C-38 workers' comp renewals by month, California

Sep

132

Oct

Nov

Dec

160

Jan

Feb

Mar

120

Apr

May

103

Jun

106

Jul

Aug

Sep

Counties with the most

Related classes in HVAC

C-4 Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting Contractor C-20 Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor D-62 Air and Water Balancing

Frequently asked

What does a C-38 licence allow a contractor to do?: Installs and services commercial refrigeration.
What insurance does a C-38 contractor need?: Workers' compensation is required by law once they have employees; the CSLB suspends a licence without it. Beyond that, producers usually place: Workers' comp; General liability; Commercial auto; Pollution for refrigerants.
How many C-38 contractors are there in California?: 1,586 active licences hold the C-38 classification as of 2026-09-06; 1,183 (75%) have workers' comp on file and 364 are exempt.
When do C-38 workers' comp policies renew?: 256 renew within 90 days. January is the peak month.
Which WCIRB class codes apply to C-38 work?: Most often 5538 (HVAC and refrigeration installation). The WCIRB assigns the class from the actual operations and payroll, so verify per account in the WCIRB classification search.

Selling to C-38 contractors in California?

Birdray runs signal-timed outbound for one agency per territory: the companies behind these numbers, the person to email, and the renewal date, sent from your inbox. The database is free to search.

How the outbound works Search free

Sources: CSLB licence and workers' compensation records, California Secretary of State, OSHA, FMCSA, county permits. Aggregates only; no individual contractor appears on this page. "Active" means a CLEAR licence status. Renewal counts include policies on file with the CSLB expiring in the window. Refreshed weekly; this page as of 2026-09-06. Every field and its source →