How to Verify a Contractor's License in Florida Before You Pay Them Anything

Florida has a persistent unlicensed contractor problem. After every major hurricane, unlicensed operators flood affected areas with cheap quotes, collect deposits, and disappear or do work that fails inspection. But you do not have to wait for a storm to encounter one. They are active year-round, and the consequences of hiring one are yours to deal with.

Checking a contractor's license takes two minutes. Here is how to do it.

Where to Check Florida Contractor Licenses

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation maintains a public license lookup at myfloridalicense.com. Click Verify a License and search by:

• License number (most reliable)
• Business name
• Individual name

The result will show you the license type, status (active, inactive, suspended, revoked), expiration date, and any disciplinary actions on record.

What License Types Mean for General Construction

Florida uses a tiered licensing system. For general construction:

• CGC (Certified General Contractor) — can build or manage any type of construction project in Florida, statewide
• CBC (Certified Building Contractor) — residential and commercial up to three stories
• CRC (Certified Residential Contractor) — residential only, one and two family homes

Trade contractors have their own licenses: CAC for HVAC, CFC for plumbing, EC for electrical. Make sure the license matches the work being done. A plumbing license does not authorize electrical work.

Local vs. State License

Some Florida counties and cities issue their own registered contractor licenses. These are local licenses, not state certifications. A locally registered contractor is licensed in that county only. State-certified licenses allow work anywhere in Florida and are what you want for most residential projects.

Check the Insurance Too

A license tells you the contractor is qualified. Insurance tells you you are protected if something goes wrong. Ask for:

• General liability insurance — covers property damage and bodily injury caused by the contractor
• Workers compensation — covers injuries to their workers on your property

Request certificates of insurance and verify they are current. If the project is substantial, call the insurance company directly to confirm the policy is active.

Red Flags to Watch For

• They ask you to pull the permit (a licensed contractor pulls their own permits)
• They only accept cash
• They provide a license number that does not match their name or business in the DBPR database
• They pressure you to start immediately without a signed contract
• No physical business address, only a cell phone number

What Happens If You Hire an Unlicensed Contractor

If an unlicensed contractor gets injured on your property, you may be liable for their medical bills and lost wages. If their work causes damage, your homeowner's insurance may not cover it. If they pull a permit using a license number that is not theirs, you could be cited for the violation. And if you need to take them to court, Florida law offers fewer remedies than with licensed contractors.

Two Minutes Before You Sign Anything

Before you agree to any work, go to myfloridalicense.com and search the contractor's name or license number. Make sure the status is active, the license type matches the work, and there are no serious disciplinary actions. Then ask for insurance certificates. This takes less time than reading this article and it is worth doing every single time.