Florida Contractor License Lookup

Florida requires contractors to be state-certified or registered (locally licensed and registered with the state). Only casual, minor jobs under $2,500 are exempt; electrical contracting has no dollar exemption. Search contractors on the official site of the Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board, and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board

Florida rules checked against official sources on October 25, 2026.

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Labor and materials together, in dollars. Leave it blank to see the state's dollar limits.

Florida: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs of $2,500 or more. Credential: certified or registered contractor license.

    A state-certified or registered contractor is required unless the job is casual or minor and the total price for labor, materials and everything else is under $2,500. Roofing, plumbing and air-conditioning contractors are license categories under the same law. Source: Fla. Stat. 489.103(9); 489.105(3)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • The exemption does not apply if the job is part of a larger project or is split into smaller contracts to stay under $2,500.
    • The exemption does not apply to anyone who advertises as a contractor.
    • The state license covers work whose scope matches one of Florida's listed contractor categories (such as building, residential, roofing, plumbing and air conditioning). Work outside the listed categories is not covered by this license; check with your county.
    • Owners building or improving their own one- or two-family home for their own use, not for sale or lease, may act as their own contractor if they supervise the work on site themselves.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board

What to check on the board's record

  • The name or business on the record matches the name on your contract or estimate.
  • The status is active, not expired, suspended or revoked.
  • The license type or class covers your kind of job.
  • The license number in the contractor's ads and contract is the same one.

City and county licenses: Florida 'registered' contractors hold a local license and may work only where they are locally licensed; 'certified' contractors may work statewide. Source

This summarises state rules from official sources. Only the board's own record can confirm one contractor's license. Checked October 25, 2026.

How Florida licenses contractors

Florida requires contractors to be state-certified or registered (locally licensed and registered with the state). Only casual, minor jobs under $2,500 are exempt; electrical contracting has no dollar exemption. Fla. Stat. 489.127(1)(f); 489.103(9)

Florida 'registered' contractors hold a local license and may work only where they are locally licensed; 'certified' contractors may work statewide. (source)

Contracts made by an unlicensed contractor cannot be enforced by that contractor in court. Fla. Stat. 489.128(1)

Rules by type of work

Home improvement, new homes, plumbing, HVAC and roofing

  • certified or registered contractor license: A state-certified or registered contractor is required unless the job is casual or minor and the total price for labor, materials and everything else is under $2,500. Roofing, plumbing and air-conditioning contractors are license categories under the same law. Issued by Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board. Fla. Stat. 489.103(9); 489.105(3)
    • The exemption does not apply if the job is part of a larger project or is split into smaller contracts to stay under $2,500.
    • The exemption does not apply to anyone who advertises as a contractor.
    • The state license covers work whose scope matches one of Florida's listed contractor categories (such as building, residential, roofing, plumbing and air conditioning). Work outside the listed categories is not covered by this license; check with your county.
    • Owners building or improving their own one- or two-family home for their own use, not for sale or lease, may act as their own contractor if they supervise the work on site themselves.

Electrical work

  • certified or registered electrical contractor: Electrical contracting requires certification or registration under Florida's electrical contracting law, which has no small-job dollar exemption like the general contractor law. Issued by Florida DBPR, Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board. Fla. Stat. 489.531(1)(a)

Where to look up contractors in Florida

On the record, check that the name matches your contract, the status is active (not expired, suspended or revoked), the license type covers your job, and the license number matches the one the contractor gave you.

What this tool does not do

  • It does not check any one contractor. Only the board's own record shows whether a license is active and what it covers.
  • It covers state rules. Cities and counties can add their own licenses and permits, and the tool cannot list every local rule.
  • It does not decide whether a contractor broke the law or what you can recover. For a dispute, contact the board or a lawyer.
  • It does not cover every specialty trade a state licenses (for example pest control, elevators or well drilling).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up a contractor license in Florida?

Use the official online license search from the Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board. Search by the contractor's name, business name or license number, and check that the status is active and the license type covers your job. Other state boards on this page: the Florida DBPR, Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board.

Do you need a contractor license for a small job in Florida?

A state-certified or registered contractor is required unless the job is casual or minor and the total price for labor, materials and everything else is under $2,500. Roofing, plumbing and air-conditioning contractors are license categories under the same law. For jobs under $2,500, this state rule generally does not apply, but the conditions and exceptions listed on this page can change that, and a city or county can require its own license.

Which trades need a state license in Florida?

Electrical: certified or registered electrical contractor from the Florida DBPR, Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board. Plumbing: covered by the certified or registered contractor license from the Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board ($2,500 or more). HVAC: covered by the certified or registered contractor license from the Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board ($2,500 or more).

What happens if a Florida contractor works without a required license?

Contracts made by an unlicensed contractor cannot be enforced by that contractor in court.

Sources

Checked against official Florida sources on October 25, 2026.

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