If you've ever tried to hire a contractor in Florida, you've probably encountered a string of letters attached to their license number — CGC, CBC, CAC, CCC, EC, CFC — and had no idea what any of them meant.
It matters. A lot. Because hiring a contractor with the wrong license type for your job is almost the same as hiring an unlicensed contractor. The permit may still be denied, the work may not be inspected properly, and you may have no recourse if something goes wrong.
Here's a plain-English breakdown.
State-certified — licensed by the Florida DBPR and valid anywhere in Florida. The gold standard.
County-registered (also called "state-registered") — licensed to work only in a specific county. Valid in that county only. If they take a job outside their registered county without getting an additional registration, they are operating unlicensed.
Always ask which type they hold, and verify at myfloridalicense.com.
CGC — Certified General Contractor
The broadest license. Can oversee and contract for virtually any construction project — new builds, additions, renovations, structural work. Can pull permits for most trades (as the GC) even if subcontractors handle the actual trade work. Can supervise work in all trades.
CBC — Certified Building Contractor
Similar to CGC but slightly more limited scope. Can handle most residential and commercial construction. Cannot do certain specialty commercial work that a CGC can.
CRC — Certified Residential Contractor
Limited to residential construction — single-family homes and multi-family up to three stories. Cannot do commercial work.
CAC — Certified Air Conditioning Contractor
Handles all HVAC work: AC systems, heat pumps, ductwork, refrigeration. Required for pulling a mechanical permit in Florida. A CGC cannot pull a CAC-scope permit on their own — they need a CAC on the job or as a sub.
CCC — Certified Roofing Contractor
Required for all roof replacement, repair, and re-roofing work. In Florida, this is heavily regulated due to hurricane code requirements. A CGC cannot pull a roofing permit — they need a CCC subcontractor.
EC — Certified Electrical Contractor
Required for all electrical work: panel upgrades, new circuits, service entrance work, wiring. Electricians may also hold a specialized Unlimited (EC13) or Limited (EC0006) license — Unlimited covers all voltage levels.
CFC — Certified Plumbing Contractor
Required for all plumbing work AND natural gas/LP piping work. Florida law allows plumbing contractors to install gas lines — they don't need a separate gas license.
CMC — Certified Mechanical Contractor
Overlaps with CAC but also covers process piping, commercial refrigeration, and boilers. Less common on residential jobs.
This is where most homeowners get burned:
| License | Can pull HVAC permit? | Can pull roofing permit? | Can pull electrical permit? | Can pull plumbing permit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC/CBC | With CAC sub | With CCC sub | With EC sub | With CFC sub |
| CAC | Yes (own work) | No | No | No |
| CCC | No | Yes (own work) | No | No |
| EC | No | No | Yes (own work) | No |
| CFC | No | No | No | Yes + gas |
A general contractor who says they'll do your HVAC replacement "in-house" without a CAC on the job is either lying or breaking the law.
Takes 90 seconds. Could save you everything.
When you use Permits Automated to generate your permit packet, we validate the contractor's license number against the DBPR database in real time. If the license type doesn't match the work being done — for example, if someone with only a building contractor license is trying to pull a roofing permit — we flag it before your application goes to the building department.
That one check alone prevents the most common permit rejection we see.