Which Services in Florida Need a Contractor’s License?

The State releases FL contractor licenses according to the tasks being accomplished. This is contrary to the belief that they are being issued based on a contractor’s specialty.

The process begins with the contractor registering with the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). This is so that they can work in the local area of a company. If the organization chooses to work in the outskirts of the local town, they have to go through the procedures of licensing and certification.

For Which Services Require the Most Number of Licenses in Florida?

Generally, Florida contractors are mandated to be licensed and registered to work in the whole state. Interestingly enough, due to its sunny climate, Florida has a lot of swimming pool works that are always ongoing. Florida actually has the highest rate of swimming pools in the United States.

The CILB even made its own specialty licenses to keep this particular industry highly regulated. A couple of the specialty licenses for swimming pool works are decking, excavation, piping, pool finishing, pool layout and design, and trip installation.

Which Services Don’t Need a General Contractor License in Florida?

Wherever you go in the state of Florida, there are many construction tasks that do not need a general contractor license, at least at the level of the state. Nevertheless, every contractor should go to their city and local county government office to double check if permits are needed so they can accomplish their work.

Some particular tasks that have no need of state licenses are window treatments (excluding window installations), wallpapering, interior and exterior painting, any type of flooring, any type of countertops, and cabinetwork. Of course, contractors involved in these types of work are mandated to be registered within their local areas. However, they do not need to have a statewide certification.

How Can I Tell Which Service Needs a Florida Contractor’s License?

The state has a particularly long list of tasks that would need a statewide FL contractor license. However, the list can get confusing. Here, we give some examples.

  • A general contractor license is needed to put up a carport at the end of the driveway. However, no general contractors license in Florida is needed if you want to build the driveway on its own.
  • You have to have a statewide license to put up a barn. However, you do not need a contractor’s license to put up a tool shed that has been prefabricated, as long as it is 250 square feet in terms of area.
  • You do not need a contractor’s license in Florida to put down flooring. However, you do need a contractor’s license to put up drywall for any kind of structure.
  • Although you do not need a contractor’s license when you are adding a water filter to a faucet, you need a general contractor license in Florida if you are installing a dishwasher or replacing a heater.
  • You need a FL contractor license if you install an air conditioning unit that needs wiring and structural works. The same isn’t true if you are merely inserting a plug in an air conditioner unit.
  • If you’re simply changing an air conditioner filter or cleaning its ducts, you do not need a general contractor license in Florida. But, you do need a Florida contractor’s license if you need to take out the air-grills.

Prior to beginning a project that needs altering or structure building, a contractor needs to guarantee that they have the right Florida contractor license requirements. Keep in mind that although one task does not need a license or a permit in one county, does not mean the same for a nearby state or county. This can be a bit confusing. Hence, contractors from Florida have to be particular when it comes to the rules.

To get you through some of the confusion, Contractors Reporting Services in Tampa helps you figure out if a task needs a contractor’s license in Florida or not. Call us now at (813) 932-5244 for us to sort out Florida’s general contractor license requirements for you.

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