Trade Contractor Resources for Florida (Licensing, Permits, Tools)

Trade contractor resources · Florida

Trade business resources for Florida.

Licensing board, permit offices, and trade-by-trade requirements for Florida contractors. All links go to the official sources, not paid intermediaries.

State licensing board

Official authority

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation - Construction Industry Licensing Board

https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-industry-licensing/
(850) 487-1395

Florida requires most contractors to hold a state-issued license through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation before performing construction work. Licensing is administered by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), which sets examination, insurance, and financial requirements for certified contractors statewide.

Florida issues two main classes of contractor licenses: Certified and Registered. A Certified license is issued by the state and allows work anywhere in Florida without additional local licensure. A Registered license is locally issued and restricts work to the jurisdiction that issued it. Within these classes, the CILB recognizes divisions including Division I (general, building, and residential contractors) and Division II (specialty contractors such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and others). General contractors handling projects of any dollar value must be licensed; there is no minimum project threshold exemption for commercial work, and residential contracting above minor repairs requires licensure regardless of cost.

License requirements by trade

Electrician
Florida electrical contractors must hold a state Certified Electrical Contractor license issued by the DBPR, which requires passing the Florida Electrical Contractor exam, demonstrating four years of experience (including one year as a foreman), and carrying required liability and workers' compensation insurance. Individuals performing electrical work under a licensed contractor may work as journeyman electricians, but journeyman licensure is handled at the local level in many Florida jurisdictions.
Plumber
Plumbing contractors in Florida must obtain a state Certified Plumbing Contractor license through the DBPR-CILB, requiring passage of the state plumbing contractor exam, documented experience, and proof of insurance. Journeyman and apprentice plumbers work under a licensed plumbing contractor; local jurisdictions may have additional registration requirements for individuals.
HVAC
Florida requires HVAC contractors to hold a Certified Air Conditioning Contractor or Mechanical Contractor license issued by the DBPR-CILB, obtained by passing the applicable state exam and meeting experience and insurance requirements. Class A licenses cover systems of any size, while Class B licenses are limited to systems up to 25 tons of cooling or 500,000 BTU of heating.
General Contractor
General contractors in Florida must hold a state Certified General Contractor, Building Contractor, or Residential Contractor license through the DBPR-CILB, depending on the scope of work. Licensure requires passing the applicable state exam, demonstrating relevant experience, meeting net worth requirements, and maintaining required insurance coverage.
Roofing
Roofing contractors in Florida must hold a state Certified Roofing Contractor license issued by the DBPR-CILB, which requires passing the Florida roofing contractor exam, providing proof of at least three years of roofing experience, and maintaining liability and workers' compensation insurance. No roofing work of any dollar value may be performed without a properly licensed contractor.

Top Florida city permit offices

Permit office

Jacksonville

https://www.coj.net/departments/planning-and-development/building-inspection-division.aspx
(904) 255-8300
Permit office

Miami

https://www.miami.gov/My-Government/Departments/Building
(305) 416-1100
Permit office

Tampa

https://www.tampa.gov/permitting
(813) 274-3100
Permit office

Orlando

https://www.orlando.gov/Building-Development/Building-Permitting
(407) 246-2271
Permit office

St. Petersburg

https://www.stpete.org/business/permits_and_inspections/index.php
(727) 893-7231

Business registration

Secretary of State

Business entity registration

https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/
Tax registration

Florida Department of Revenue

https://floridarevenue.com/

Tools for Florida trade businesses

Compliance tracking, NEC 220 load calcs, profit calculators, and the 90-day operating system. One-time purchase. Real Excel and Sheets files. Used in truck cabs from Houston to Eureka.

Browse the 7 tools →
The information on this page links to official state and city authorities. Requirements change. Verify with the issuing authority before filing. LaunchLocal tools are research and calculation utilities, not legal or professional advice.