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Florida bars engaging in the business of contracting without a certificate or registration in the proper classification. A certificate of competency from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation allows contracting statewide; a registration rests on the competency requirements of the jurisdiction for which it is issued. The Construction Industry Licensing Board oversees both; each renews every 2 years.
Florida · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-04
State license
Certificate or registration (residential and commercial)
Florida law bars engaging in the business of contracting in the state without first being certified or registered in the proper classification. A certified contractor holds a certificate of competency issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and may contract in any jurisdiction in the state; a registered contractor is registered on meeting the competency requirements of the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued.
Certificate or registration (residential and commercial). Florida law bars engaging in the business of contracting in the state without first being certified or registered in the proper classification. A certified contractor holds a certificate of competency issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and may contract in any jurisdiction in the state; a registered contractor is registered on meeting the competency requirements of the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued.
Threshold. The licensing part does not apply to work of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature in which the aggregate contract price for labor, materials and all other items is less than $2,500. The exemption does not apply where the work is part of a larger or major operation or is divided into contracts of less than $2,500 to evade the part, or to a person who advertises as a contractor or otherwise represents being qualified to engage in contracting.
(1) No person may engage in the business of contracting in this state without first being certified or registered in the proper classification.
“Certified contractor” means any contractor who possesses a certificate of competency issued by the department and who shall be allowed to contract in any jurisdiction in the state without being required to fulfill the competency requirements of that jurisdiction.
“Registered contractor” means any contractor who has registered with the department pursuant to fulfilling the competency requirements in the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued.
(9) Any work or operation of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature in which the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and all other items is less than $2,500, but this exemption does not apply:
(a) If the construction, repair, remodeling, or improvement is a part of a larger or major operation, whether undertaken by the same or a different contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made in contracts of amounts less than $2,500 for the purpose of evading this part or otherwise.
Services unlimited as to the type of work; may contract for and perform any activity requiring licensure under the part, except as provided in s. 489.113
Commercial buildings and single-dwelling or multiple-dwelling residential buildings not exceeding three stories in height, and accessory use structures; or remodeling, repair or improvement of any size building if the services do not affect the structural members of the building
One-family, two-family or three-family residences not exceeding two habitable stories above no more than one uninhabitable story, and accessory use structures
(a) “General contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.
(b) “Building contractor” means a contractor whose services are limited to construction of commercial buildings and single-dwelling or multiple-dwelling residential buildings, which do not exceed three stories in height, and accessory use structures in connection therewith
or a contractor whose services are limited to remodeling, repair, or improvement of any size building if the services do not affect the structural members of the building.
(c) “Residential contractor” means a contractor whose services are limited to construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of one-family, two-family, or three-family residences not exceeding two habitable stories above no more than one uninhabitable story and accessory use structures in connection therewith.
Exam. Section 489.111 provides for licensure by examination: any person who desires to be certified applies to the department in writing. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.111 (2026)
Experience. Eligibility options include at least 4 years of active experience as a skilled worker or foreman, with at least 1 year of active experience as a foreman, or a baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college in engineering, architecture or building construction plus 1 year of proven experience, among others. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.111(2)(c)2. (2026); Fla. Stat. § 489.111(2)(c)1. (2026)
Workers' compensation. An affidavit, on a board form, that the applicant has obtained workers' compensation insurance as required by chapter 440. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.115(5)(a) (2026)
Liability insurance. An affidavit, on a board form, that the applicant has obtained public liability and property damage insurance in amounts set by board rule. Source: Fla. Stat. § 489.115(5)(a) (2026)
489.111 Licensure by examination.— (1) Any person who desires to be certified shall apply to the department in writing. (2) A person shall be eligible for licensure by examination if the person:
2. Has a total of at least 4 years of active experience as a worker who has learned the trade by serving an apprenticeship as a skilled worker who is able to command the rate of a mechanic in the particular trade or as a foreman who is in charge of a group of workers
1. Has received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college in the appropriate field of engineering, architecture, or building construction and has 1 year of proven experience in the category in which the person seeks to qualify.
the applicant shall submit an affidavit on a form provided by the board attesting to the fact that the applicant has obtained workers’ compensation insurance as required by chapter 440, public liability insurance, and property damage insurance for the safety and welfare of the public, in amounts determined by rule of the board.
Term and renewal. A certificate or registration is renewed every 2 years.
Continuing education. At least 14 classroom hours, of at least 50 minutes each, of continuing education courses during each biennium since the certificate or registration was issued or renewed.
(4)(a) Each certificateholder or registrant who desires to continue as a certificateholder or registrant shall renew the certificate or registration every 2 years.
has completed at least 14 classroom hours of at least 50 minutes each of continuing education courses during each biennium since the issuance or renewal of the certificate or registration.
Acting as, or advertising as available to act as, a contractor without being registered or certified is a misdemeanor of the first degree for an unlicensed person. A repeat violation after a prior finding of guilt, or a violation during a state of emergency declared by executive order of the Governor, is a felony of the third degree.
(f) Engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor or advertise himself or herself or a business organization as available to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor without being duly registered or certified;
(2)(a) Any unlicensed person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (1) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b) Any unlicensed person who commits a violation of subsection (1) after having been previously found guilty of such violation commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(c) Any unlicensed person who commits a violation of subsection (1) during the existence of a state of emergency declared by executive order of the Governor commits a felony of the third degree,
Under Florida law, no person may engage in the business of contracting in the state without first holding a certificate or registration in the proper classification [1]. The two credentials differ in reach. A certified contractor holds a certificate of competency issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and may contract in any jurisdiction in the state without meeting that jurisdiction's own competency requirements [2]. A registered contractor, by contrast, is registered after meeting the competency requirements of the particular jurisdiction for which the registration is issued [2]. Both reach residential and commercial work, and the department's Construction Industry Licensing Board administers them.
The licensing part sets aside work of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature where the aggregate contract price for labor, materials and all other items is under $2,500 [3]. That carve-out has limits written into the same subsection. It does not reach work that is part of a larger or major operation, work split into contracts under $2,500 to evade the part, or a person who advertises as a contractor or otherwise holds out as qualified to engage in contracting [3].
Classes and what stands behind them
The statute sorts the classes by the kind and size of structure. A general contractor's services are unlimited as to the type of work, subject to the exceptions in s. 489.113 [2]. A building contractor is held to commercial buildings and to single-dwelling or multiple-dwelling residential buildings of no more than three stories, plus accessory use structures; the class also covers remodeling, repair or improvement of a building of any size, so long as the work does not affect its structural members [2]. The residential contractor class is confined to one-family, two-family or three-family residences of no more than two habitable stories above no more than one uninhabitable story, with their accessory use structures [2].
Section 489.111 governs certification by examination, and a person seeking a certificate applies to the department in writing [4]. The statute lists several eligibility options. One option calls for at least 4 years of active experience as a skilled worker or foreman, with at least 1 year of that time as a foreman [4]. Another pairs a baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college in engineering, architecture or building construction with 1 year of proven experience in the category sought [4]. The statute lists further routes beyond these two.
Insurance enters through an affidavit on a form the board provides. In it the applicant attests to having obtained workers' compensation insurance as chapter 440 requires, along with public liability and property damage insurance in amounts the board sets by rule [1].
Renewal cycle and coursework
A certificate or registration runs on a cycle of 2 years, after which the holder renews it [1]. Continuing education is counted in classroom time: at least 14 classroom hours of continuing education courses, each hour lasting at least 50 minutes, during each biennium since the certificate or registration was issued or last renewed [1].
Penalties under section 489.127
Under section 489.127, engaging in the business or acting in the capacity of a contractor without being registered or certified, or advertising oneself or a business organization as available to do so, is a violation [5]. For an unlicensed person, a violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree [5]. The charge rises to a felony of the third degree in two situations: when the person has previously been found guilty of the same violation, and when the violation takes place during a state of emergency declared by executive order of the Governor [5].
