TDLR's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program anchors its technical standards to nationally published model codes. Effective September 1, 2026, TDLR's rule (16 TAC §75.110) adopts the 2024 editions of:
- International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC)
- International Residential Code (IRC)
- International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
These codes set the installation and design standards ACR contractors are expected to follow on Texas jobs. They are also a centerpiece of continuing education: of the 8 CE hours contractors complete each year, 7 are flexible, and the IMC, UMC, and other applicable mechanical and building codes are among the approved topics for those hours.
State adoption is the floor, not the ceiling. Municipalities may adopt local amendments or more stringent codes on top of the state-adopted editions, so contractors must comply with both the state-adopted codes and any local municipal requirements — and municipal inspectors may verify TDLR license status on permitted jobs. The 2024 editions replaced the 2021 editions; work permitted or started before September 1, 2026 may be completed under the 2021 editions (16 TAC §75.110(b)). Watch for TDLR announcements of the next update.
What it means for your renewal
Code questions are where renewal-time CE pays for itself on real jobs — a refresher on the adopted IMC and UMC editions keeps your installs aligned with what state rules and city inspectors expect. Code topics count toward your 7 flexible CE hours, and our 8-hour TDLR-approved course is $22.95 with no final exam.