Florida Building Contractor Licenses
In Florida, building contractor licenses are required for anyone who wants to perform construction work. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is responsible for issuing and regulating contractor licenses in the state. To obtain a contractor license, applicants must meet specific requirements, such as passing a trade knowledge exam and submitting proof of insurance and experience. Several types of contractor licenses are available in Florida, including general contractor, residential contractor, and specialty contractor licenses. Each license has its requirements and limitations on the types of work that can be performed under it. It's essential to check with the DBPR to determine which license is required for a specific construction work.
The first type of building contractor license is the Certified General Contractor. The General Contractor license is known as the unlimited license. A holder of a Florida General Contractors license, services are not limited to the construction, repair, alteration, remodeling, or improvement of any structure or building type. This is why it is called the " unlimited license." A Licensed General Contractor can work on all commercial and residential buildings up to 23 stories. A General Contractor can perform groundwork on any construction project.
The second type of license is the Certified Building Contractor. Their services are limited to repairing, remodeling, and improving commercial/residential buildings that do not exceed three-stories in height. A Certified Building Contractor can only perform groundwork on a site specific to their project.
The last and final type of license for a building contractor is the Certified Residential Contractor. Their services are limited to residential construction only. A Certified Residential Contractor is limited to repairing, remodeling, and improving residential structures that do not exceed two stories in height. Much like the Certified Building Contractor, they may only do the groundwork for the specific project they are working on.
Many other types of licenses may be necessary to perform other trades. I recommend visiting the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for a more detailed explanation. Before you hire a contractor, you must verify the license type they hold. You can perform a search via the Florida DBPR website. On the DBPR website, you can also see if your prospective contractor has any complaints. Before spending your hard-earned money on the improvement of your property, you must have the right contractor for the project.