Permits and licensing · Florida
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Florida
In Florida a person must be certified or registered to work as a contractor: a certified contractor may work anywhere in the state, while a registered contractor may only work in the local jurisdiction whose competency requirements it met. Electrical contractors have their own board. The Florida Building Code applies statewide without local adoption, and permits come from your local enforcing agency.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Florida
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Florida.
Construction Industry Licensing Board
Created within the department to license the construction trades, covering general, building, residential, roofing, sheet metal, air-conditioning, mechanical, pool, plumbing and underground utility contractors.
Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board
Licenses electrical and alarm system contractors under its own part of the statute, separately from the construction industry board.
Florida Building Commission
Adopts the Florida Building Code by rule. The code, and any update to it, is adopted for use statewide without any adoption by local government.
Trades that need a licence in Florida
General contracting and renovation
A person must be certified or registered to engage in the business of contracting in Florida. A certified contractor holds a certificate of competency from the department and may contract anywhere in the state; a registered contractor met the competency requirements of one local jurisdiction and may only work there. Ask which one your contractor holds.
Sources:Florida Statutes 489.113 – Certification or registration required(opens in a new tab)Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions and contractor divisions(opens in a new tab)
Certified trades
Contractors must subcontract electrical, mechanical and plumbing work unless they hold a state certificate or registration in that trade category themselves. Licences are grouped in two divisions, with general, building and residential contractors in the first and the trades in the second.
Sources:Florida Statutes 489.113 – Certification or registration required(opens in a new tab)Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions and contractor divisions(opens in a new tab)
Consumer protection
Unlicensed contracting is a crime in Florida: it is an offence to act as a contractor, or to advertise as available to do so, without being duly registered or certified, and the penalties rise for repeat offences and during a declared state of emergency. Contracts must also carry the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund notice.
Sources:Florida Statutes 489.127 – Unlicensed contracting prohibited(opens in a new tab)Florida Statutes 489.1425 – Recovery fund notice in contracts(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in Florida
Since the Florida Building Code took effect it has been unlawful to construct, erect, alter, modify, repair or demolish any building in the state without first obtaining a permit from the appropriate enforcing agency, which is your local building department. The code itself is statewide: the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), has an effective date of December 31, 2023.
Sources:Florida Statutes 553.79 – Permit required before construction(opens in a new tab)Florida Building Commission – Florida Building Code(opens in a new tab)
Permit information from large municipalities
Before you hire a contractor in Florida
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Look the contractor up in the state licensee search before you sign.
Official lookup: Florida DBPR – Licensee search(opens in a new tab)
Ask whether the contractor is certified (statewide) or registered (one local jurisdiction only), and check that it covers where you live.
Official lookup: Florida Statutes 489.113 – Certification or registration required(opens in a new tab)
Check that electrical, mechanical and plumbing work will be done by someone holding that trade category.
Official lookup: Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions and contractor divisions(opens in a new tab)
Make sure the permit is obtained from your local enforcing agency before work starts.
Official lookup: Florida Statutes 553.79 – Permit required before construction(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Florida
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- Florida Statutes 489.107 – Construction Industry Licensing Board(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions and contractor divisions(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 489.505 – Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 553.74 – Florida Building Commission(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 553.73 – Florida Building Code adopted statewide(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Building Commission – Florida Building Code(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 489.113 – Certification or registration required(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 489.127 – Unlicensed contracting prohibited(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 489.1425 – Recovery fund notice in contracts(opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes 553.79 – Permit required before construction(opens in a new tab)
- FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.