All tools · Contractor License Check FL

How do I check if a contractor is really licensed in Florida?

Use the free tool — Contractor License Check FL

Start with the license number

Any Florida contractor's license — certified, registered, or electrical — can be looked up for free at myfloridalicense.com, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) site. Ask for the license number before work starts and check it there. This is the single most reliable first step.

Two kinds of Florida contractor licenses

• Certified contractor — valid statewide, issued through DBPR's Construction Industry Licensing Board, and requires passing an exam plus experience (typically four years, or a mix of education and experience), proof of financial responsibility, and insurance.
• Registered contractor — a local competency card registered with DBPR, but only valid in the jurisdiction that issued it.
• Electrical contractor — licensed separately, through the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board.

This tool doesn't quote fees, exam details, or timelines — confirm current requirements directly with DBPR or your county contractor licensing office.

When it's legal to work without one

Under Fla. Stat. 489.103(9), a license is not required for work that is casual, minor, or inconsequential where the total contract price for labor, materials, and everything else is under $2,500. But that exemption does not apply if the job is part of a larger project (splitting one job into smaller pieces to stay under $2,500 doesn't work), if the person advertises as a contractor, or if the work is a trade that needs a license no matter the price.

Under Fla. Stat. 489.105, roofing, structural work, pools and spas, mechanical/HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and gas work always require a licensed contractor — regardless of price. "Just a few shingles" still counts as roofing.

What it means if they aren't licensed

Under Fla. Stat. 489.127, unlicensed contracting is normally a first-degree misdemeanor, becoming a third-degree felony for a repeat offense — and during a declared state of emergency, it's a felony on the first offense. DBPR can also fine an unlicensed contractor and issue a cease-and-desist order.

Under Fla. Stat. 489.128, an unlicensed contractor generally cannot enforce the contract or a lien in court. If you hired someone unlicensed, that can leave you without recourse, without insurance coverage, and without a permit sign-off — check with your county building department about permits and with DBPR about the license itself.

If something has already gone wrong

For free legal help, floridalawhelp.org is a resource for Florida residents. This guide is general information, not legal advice, and it can be wrong — confirm anything specific with DBPR, your county contractor licensing office, or a lawyer.

What to do next

The free tool reads the job you describe and the price — nothing is saved, no account needed — and tells you whether it falls under the handyman exemption, whether it's a trade that needs a license at any price, and what the penalty risk is, including during a declared storm emergency.

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.