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What's the penalty for contracting without a license in Florida?

Use the free tool — Contractor License Check FL

Why this matters before you take the job

Florida treats unlicensed contracting as a crime, not just a paperwork problem. The rules below come from Fla. Stat. ch. 489. This page explains the penalty — it is not legal advice, and it can be wrong. Confirm with DBPR (myfloridalicense.com) or your county contractor licensing office before you start.

When a license is required

Under Fla. Stat. 489.103(9), Florida's handyman exemption covers work that is casual, minor or inconsequential, with a total contract price for labor, materials and everything else under $2,500. Splitting one bigger job into smaller pieces to stay under that number does not work, and the exemption does not apply if you advertise or hold yourself out as a contractor.

Under Fla. Stat. 489.105, some trades need a licensed contractor at any price: roofing, structural work, pools and spas, mechanical/HVAC, electrical, plumbing and gas. "Just a few shingles" still counts as roofing.

The penalty, stated exactly

• Under Fla. Stat. 489.127, contracting without a license is normally a first-degree misdemeanor for a first offense.
• A repeat offense becomes a third-degree felony.
• DBPR may also fine unlicensed contractors and issue cease-and-desist orders.

Source: Fla. Stat. 489.127. This page does not quote dollar fine amounts because the source material does not give exact figures — ask DBPR directly.

During a declared state of emergency

Fla. Stat. 489.127 also says that if there is a declared state of emergency, unlicensed contracting is a third-degree felony on the first offense — not a misdemeanor. This applies to storm and hurricane repair work, including tarping, re-roofing, re-nailing shingles and structural repairs. Tarping and debris removal alone generally does not require a contractor's license, but repair work does. Out-of-county and out-of-state contractors must still be licensed in Florida to do licensed-trade work here.

What you lose even without a criminal charge

Under Fla. Stat. 489.128, an unlicensed contractor generally cannot enforce the contract or a lien in court. That means if the customer does not pay, an unlicensed contractor typically has no legal way to collect through a lien or a lawsuit on the contract.

If you're the one hiring

Homeowners can verify any Florida license at myfloridalicense.com. Hiring an unlicensed contractor can leave the homeowner without recourse, without insurance coverage, and without permit sign-off. Always verify the license number before work begins.

The license path, briefly

Florida has two main paths: a certified contractor's license (statewide, through DBPR's Construction Industry Licensing Board, involving an exam and experience) and a registered contractor's license (a local competency card valid in one jurisdiction). Electrical contractors are licensed separately by the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board. Start at the DBPR application page and your county building department. This page does not quote fees, exam pass rates or timelines — confirm current requirements with DBPR.

What to do next

The free tool reads your own job description and price — the trade, the scope, the dollar amount — and tells you whether it looks handyman-exempt, over the line, or a licensed trade at any price, along with the matching statute and penalty. Nothing you enter is stored, and there's no account. For a written scope sheet and a personal license plan, that is a separate paid product. None of this replaces confirming with DBPR, your county licensing office, or floridalawhelp.org for free legal aid.

Contractor License Check FL explains Florida's contractor licensing rules in plain language; it can be wrong, and it is not legal advice. Statute references are to Fla. Stat. ch. 489 as published; counties add local licensing for many trades. Nothing you enter is stored.