Florida runs one of the more structured contractor licensing regimes in the country. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) administers the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) for general, building, and residential contractors and most specialty trades. The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB), also inside DBPR, administers electrical and alarm system contractor licenses. Two tiers of license exist. - Certified contractor. License code starts with C (CGC, CBC, CRC, CCC for roofing, CAC for air conditioning, CEC for electrical, and others). A certified contractor can work anywhere in Florida without seeking local competency approval. - Registered contractor. License code starts with R. A registered contractor has met a local competency requirement (county or municipality) and is limited to the jurisdictions where that local competency is recognized. Division structure. - Division I (certified general, building, residential). Broader scope of work. - Division II (certified specialty trades: plumbing, air conditioning, mechanical, roofing, pool, solar, sheet metal, and others). To sit for a certified contractor exam an applicant must document construction experience, pass the trade exam plus the business and finance exam, pass a background check, demonstrate financial responsibility including a credit check, and show the required insurance. Specific experience hours, exam vendors, and fees are published by DBPR and change periodically. Check the DBPR CILB link below for the current application instructions for the license class you want. Financial responsibility. Florida statute (489.115) allows CILB to require a net worth minimum or a surety bond. The bonding ceiling is set by statute at no more than $20,000 for Division I contractors and $10,000 for Division II. Applicants may satisfy half of the financial-responsibility requirement by completing a 14-hour financial responsibility course approved by the board. Unlicensed contracting. Florida treats unlicensed contracting as a criminal offense, with escalating penalties for repeat violations and during declared disasters. Working outside your license classification is a separate violation.
FL · Contractor licensing
Contractor licensing in Florida
State contractor license requirements, bond, and insurance minimums.
Not legal, financial, or career advice. Trades Navigator compiles state board rules, statutes, and federal data into a navigable layer linked to primary sources. We do not maintain editorial attestation on each line. Always verify the specific number, fee, deadline, or rule against the linked primary source before relying on it. Confirm any decision with the relevant state agency, a lawyer, or an accountant.
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