Certified payroll for HVAC subs (C-20) in California
What certified payroll actually looks like in the hvac trade on California public works, plus live registration activity for the classification.
Data updated 2026-09-19
The hvac trade's certified payroll reality
HVAC certified payroll lives on the boundary between sheet metal and pipefitting, and California determinations respect that boundary even when the field crew does not. Duct fabrication and install hours generally read as sheet metal; hydronic piping, refrigeration lines, and equipment connections generally read as pipefitter or plumber crafts; controls work can pull electrician rates. A mixed day means split hours on the certified payroll, per worker, per craft. District retrofit programs and energy projects are steady HVAC public works demand, they are portal-heavy, and they audit: blurred craft lines are exactly what a classification review digs into, so clean split-hour records are the defense.
Whatever the craft mix, the mechanics are the same statewide: rates come from the project county's published determination (DIR lookup), the eCPR goes directly to DIR on non-exempt projects, and the federal WH-347 rides along weekly where federal funds apply. The full picture is in the complete guide.
Where hvac public works is registering right now
From DIR's public PWC-100 registrations matched to CSLB license records: C-20-classified contractors newly listed on public works projects, by home county and by awarding body.
By contractor county
- Los Angeles County: 31
- Orange County: 14
- San Diego County: 14
- Sacramento County: 7
- Santa Clara County: 7
- San Bernardino County: 6
By awarding body
- University of California, San Diego: 4 listings
- Palmdale School District: 3 listings
- North Orange County Community College District: 2 listings
- Covina-Valley Unified School District: 2 listings
- County of Ventura GSA: 2 listings
- Stanislaus County GSA Purchasing: 2 listings