Are You Properly Licensed?

This is an important question because, in Florida, an unlicensed contractor loses its contract and/or lien rights as a matter of law!

Most folks in the construction industry are aware that the State of Florida requires certain construction-related work be performed by a contractor holding a license for the work. Common questions that come up are whether a license is required for the work (not all construction-related work requires a license) or whether a certain license covers the type of work performed.

Construction work that requires a license ranges from the obvious (general contracting, electric, plumbing) to the not-so-obvious (pool, underground utilities). The state does not require licenses for certain types of construction-related work. For instance, handyman jobs, painting, and cabinet installation may not require a license depending on the scope of the job. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website provides some examples of the types of work that do and do not require a license.

However, there are many gray areas. Also, many local governments also require licenses for certain types of work in addition to the state license. For example, a contractor may be licensed by the state, but may also need a local license for the same work in a specific county. There are also some licenses that are required locally, that are not required by the state (Florida does not require a painting license, but the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board does). Here is a news story about the crackdown on local unlicensed contracting in Sarasota:



The bottom line: make sure you consult the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, your local construction licensing board, and/or your attorney if there is any question regarding licensing.