How to Check If a Contractor Is Licensed in Florida

How to Check If a Contractor Is Licensed in Florida

To verify a contractor's license in Florida, search the contractor's name or license number on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website at myfloridalicense.com, under "Verify a License." For specialty trades like roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or pool work, confirm the license is active, in the correct category, and shows no disciplinary action. County and city building departments handle local registrations for smaller jobs, so check there too.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor in Florida is not just a quality risk — it changes your legal rights if the work goes wrong. This guide walks through exactly where to look, what each license type means, the red flags that signal trouble, and what Florida law lets you do when an unlicensed or improperly licensed contractor leaves you with a defective project or a stalled insurance claim.

Step 1: Search the DBPR License Database

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is the state agency that licenses construction contractors under Chapter 489, Florida Statutes. Its online portal is the single most authoritative place to confirm whether someone is legally allowed to perform construction work in Florida.

Here is how to run the search:

1. Go to www.myfloridalicense.com and click "Verify a License" (the public license search).
2. Search by the individual's name, the business name, or the license number printed on their card, contract, or proposal.
3. Open the matching record and confirm the following:
   • License status reads "Current, Active" — not "Null and Void," "Delinquent," "Inactive," "Closed," or "Suspended."
   • The license category matches your job. A certified general contractor can do far more than a roofing or plumbing contractor; a registered specialty contractor may be limited to one trade.
   • The expiration date has not passed (Florida construction licenses renew on a fixed cycle).
   • The license type — Certified vs. Registered (explained below).
   • The disciplinary / complaint history tab shows no open or recent enforcement actions.

If a person tells you they are "licensed" but no record appears under any spelling of their name or business, treat that as a serious warning sign. Ask for the exact license number and re-run the search. Do not rely on a photo of a card, a logo on a truck, or a number printed on a business card — verify it yourself against the live database.

Step 2: Understand Florida's Two License Types — Certified vs. Registered

Florida issues two different kinds of construction licenses, and the difference affects where a contractor can legally work.

• Certified (CGC, CBC, CRC, CCC, etc.): A state-certified contractor passed the state competency exam and is authorized to work anywhere in Florida. Certified license numbers typically begin with letters such as CGC (certified general contractor), CBC (certified building contractor), CRC (certified residential contractor), or CCC (certified roofing contractor).
• Registered (RGC, RBC, RRC, etc.): A registered contractor was licensed at the local (county or municipal) level and registered that local license with the state. A registered contractor may only work in the specific jurisdiction(s) where they hold local competency. Registered numbers often begin with RGC, RBC, RRC, and similar "R" prefixes.

Why this matters: a contractor who is properly "registered" in one county is not automatically allowed to pull permits or perform work in another county. If you are in Broward County and your contractor's registration is only valid in, say, Lee County, the license may be real but invalid for your project. Always confirm the geographic scope, not just that a license exists.

Step 3: Check the Local Building Department and Permit Records

State licensing is only half the picture. Most Florida cities and counties also require contractors to register locally and to pull permits for work such as roofs, structural changes, electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems, and many remodels.

Take these local steps:

• Call or search your county/municipal building department. Confirm the contractor is registered to work in your jurisdiction and is in good standing.
• Verify they can pull a permit in your name's project. A legitimate contractor pulls the permit under their own license. Be very cautious if a contractor asks you, the homeowner, to pull an "owner-builder" permit for work they are doing — this is a classic tactic used to dodge licensing and shift liability onto you.
• Confirm general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer to confirm it is active. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you can be exposed.
• Check the contractor's bond, if your local jurisdiction requires one for the trade.

For roofing and exterior work especially — common in Florida's storm-prone market — local permitting and inspection records are the cleanest way to confirm the work was performed legally and to code.

Step 4: Why Licensing Matters Legally in Florida

Verifying a license isn't bureaucratic box-checking. Under Florida law, the licensing status of your contractor directly shapes what you can recover if the job goes bad.

• Unlicensed contracts are generally unenforceable by the contractor. Under § 489.128, Florida Statutes, a construction contract entered into by an unlicensed contractor is generally unenforceable in law or equity by that contractor. In practical terms, an unlicensed contractor often cannot sue you to collect on the contract — and you may have grounds to recover money you already paid.
• Unlicensed contracting can be a crime. Engaging in construction contracting without a required license is prohibited under Chapter 489, and repeat or post-disaster unlicensed activity can carry enhanced criminal penalties.
• Insurance complications. Many property insurance policies and warranties require that repairs be performed by properly licensed contractors. Work done by an unlicensed party can give an insurer a reason to dispute or deny a claim — a problem we see often in storm and water-damage cases.
• Consumer protection. Deceptive practices by a contractor — including misrepresenting licensure — may also implicate Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA, § 501.201 et seq.).

The takeaway: confirming licensure before you sign and pay protects both the quality of the work and your legal leverage if you later need to recover damages.

Step 5: Red Flags and What to Gather Before You Sign

Beyond the database, watch for behavior that signals an unlicensed or problematic contractor:

• Demands a large cash deposit up front, or "cash only."
• Refuses to provide a license number, written contract, or proof of insurance.
• Pushes you to pull the permit yourself as an owner-builder.
• Has no verifiable business address or a name that changes between calls.
• Pressure-sells immediately after a storm ("we're already in your neighborhood, sign today").
• The name on the contract does not match the licensed entity in DBPR.

Before signing, gather and keep copies of: the contractor's license number and screenshot of the active DBPR record, the certificate of insurance, the written contract with a clear scope and payment schedule, all permits, and a record of every payment. These documents become essential evidence if you later have a dispute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the official website to check a Florida contractor's license? A: The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation runs the official portal at www.myfloridalicense.com. Use the "Verify a License" search and confirm the status reads "Current, Active," that the category fits your job, and that there are no open disciplinary actions.

Q: What does it mean if a contractor's license is "registered" instead of "certified"? A: A certified contractor passed the state exam and can work anywhere in Florida. A registered contractor is licensed only at the local (county/city) level and may legally work only in the jurisdictions where they hold that local competency. A registered license valid in one county does not authorize work in another.

Q: Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed contractor in Florida? A: Hiring one is not itself a crime for the homeowner, but performing required construction work without a license is illegal for the contractor under Chapter 489. More importantly for you, under § 489.128 an unlicensed contractor generally cannot enforce the contract or sue you to collect, and you may be able to recover amounts you paid.

Q: Can I sue an unlicensed contractor in Florida for bad work? A: Often, yes. You may have claims for breach of contract, negligence, or unfair trade practices, and § 489.128 generally bars the unlicensed contractor from enforcing the deal against you. Deadlines apply — generally four years for negligence and construction-related claims and five years for a written contract under § 95.11. An attorney should review your specific facts.

Q: Do I have to give the contractor notice before suing for a construction defect? A: Usually, yes. Florida's construction-defect statute, Chapter 558, Florida Statutes, requires the property owner to serve a written notice of claim describing the defects and give the contractor a chance to inspect and offer to repair or settle before filing most construction-defect lawsuits. Skipping this pre-suit step can derail your case.

Q: How do I check if a roofer is licensed in Florida specifically? A: Roofing is a specialty trade. Search DBPR for a certified roofing contractor (CCC) or a registered roofing contractor, confirm the license is active, and verify it covers your county. Because Florida roofs are frequently storm-damaged and tied to insurance claims, also confirm the roofer pulled a proper local permit and carries active insurance.

Talk to a Florida Attorney

If an unlicensed or improperly licensed contractor left you with defective work, an abandoned job, or an insurance claim that's now being disputed, you may have real legal options under Florida law. Louis Law Group helps Florida property owners hold contractors accountable and fight unfair claim denials.

Find out where you stand — see if you qualify or call (833) 657-4812 for a free, no-obligation review of your situation.