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Quick Answer: To verify a contractor’s license in Florida, visit Website, the official portal maintained by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Enter the contractor’s name, license number, or business name in the search tool. Look for a status that reads “Current, Active.”
Any other status — such as Inactive, Suspended, Revoked, or Null and Void — means the contractor is not legally authorized to take on your project. The entire process takes under five minutes and is completely free.
Florida’s construction and home improvement industry is one of the largest in the country, and unfortunately, that scale comes with a shadow side. Unlicensed contractors are a persistent problem across the state, particularly after major storms when desperate homeowners accept help from whoever shows up at the door.
What most people don’t realize until it’s too late is that the consequences of skipping a license check go far beyond shoddy workmanship. Under Florida Statute §489.128, any contract signed with an unlicensed contractor is legally unenforceable. That means if the work is never finished, done incorrectly, or a dispute arises, you have virtually no legal standing to recover your money in court. Beyond that, unlicensed contractors cannot legally pull building permits.
For Home Remodeling in Boca Raton, where property values are high and municipal inspections are thorough, work performed without permits may fail future inspections, reduce your property’s resale value, or in some cases need to be completely torn down and redone at your own expense. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may also deny claims for damages arising from unpermitted or unlicensed work.
There is also the matter of liability. Florida law makes clear that if an unlicensed worker is injured on your property, your homeowner’s insurance may not cover those injuries — leaving you personally exposed.
Whether you’re planning a modest bathroom refresh or a significant Boca Raton Home Remodeling Project, the protections that come with a properly licensed contractor are not optional extras — they are your financial and legal safety net. The few minutes it takes to run a license check are never wasted.
Before you open any search tool, ask the contractor directly for:
Open your browser and navigate to MyFloridaLicense.com. This is the official website operated by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and it is the most authoritative source available. You can also access the same database through FloridaContractorCheck.com, which aggregates DBPR data and can be easier to navigate for side-by-side comparisons. On the DBPR portal, you will find a “Verify a License” option on the main menu. Click it and proceed to the search fields.
You can search by several different fields: License number — the most precise method; this returns a single result Contractor’s name — useful if you don’t have the license number, though common names may return multiple results Business name — helpful when the contractor operates under a company name If you are searching by name and get multiple results, narrow them down by filtering by license type (for example, “Certified General Contractor” or “Certified Roofing Contractor”) and cross-referencing the qualifying agent’s name and business address with what the contractor provided you.
Once the result appears, the single most important field to look at is the license status. Here is what each designation means: Current, Active — This is the only status you want to see. It confirms the contractor holds a valid license and is legally authorized to perform contracting work in Florida right now.
Inactive or Voluntarily Inactive — The contractor has placed their license in an inactive state. They cannot legally perform contracting work while in this status, regardless of what they tell you.
Delinquent — The license renewal has lapsed. The contractor is not currently authorized to work.
Suspended — A disciplinary action has been taken against the contractor. They are prohibited from working until the suspension is lifted.
Revoked — The license has been permanently pulled. This is among the most serious outcomes and typically follows repeated or egregious violations.
Null and Void — The license was never properly activated or has been invalidated entirely. Do not proceed with any contractor who holds a status other than Current, Active.
Florida issues contractor licenses for specific scopes of work. A Certified Residential Contractor (CRC), for example, is licensed to work on single-family and small multi-family homes but is not authorized to perform commercial construction. Hiring a contractor whose license does not cover your type of project is essentially the same as hiring an unlicensed one for that category of work. Confirm that the license type listed in the DBPR database matches the nature of your project before signing anything.
The DBPR search results include a record of any past complaints, fines, or disciplinary actions filed against the contractor. A contractor with a clean record is ideal, but a single minor complaint from years ago may not be disqualifying on its own.
What you are watching for is a pattern: repeated complaints about the same issues (abandonment, financial mismanagement, substandard work), recent disciplinary actions, or any findings involving fraud. These are not things to overlook.
License verification is a critical step, but it is not the only one. Florida law requires licensed contractors to carry general liability insurance and either workers’ compensation coverage or a valid exemption certificate. Always request proof of both before work begins on your property.
Ask the contractor to provide certificates of insurance and verify that the policies are current and that coverage amounts are appropriate for the scope of your project. You can also call the insurance company directly to confirm the policy is active.
Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), which operates under the DBPR, issues licenses across dozens of trade categories. Knowing which license corresponds to which type of work helps you verify that the right professional is doing the right job.
Certified General Contractor (CGC) — The broadest license category. A CGC can build or renovate virtually any type of structure, commercial or residential, of any height and value. This is considered the top tier of construction licensing in Florida.
Certified Building Contractor (CBC) — Authorized for commercial buildings and residential structures up to three stories. A CBC cannot work on taller commercial structures without additional credentials.
Certified Residential Contractor (CRC) — Limited to one-family, two-family, and three-family dwellings of no more than two habitable stories. This license does not extend to commercial construction.
Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC) — Required for roofing installation, replacement, and repair. Important to verify specifically for roofing projects, particularly given Florida’s storm exposure and the frequency of roofing scams following hurricanes.
Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) — Required statewide for all electrical installation, maintenance, and repair work.
Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) — Required for plumbing systems work across all property types.
Certified Mechanical Contractor (CMC) and Air Conditioning Contractor (CAC) — Required for HVAC installation, replacement, and mechanical systems work.
Certified Pool and Spa Contractor (CPC) — Required specifically for swimming pool and spa construction, renovation, and servicing.
Certified Underground Utility Contractor (CUC) — Required for utility line installation and excavation work. Beyond these categories, Florida also issues licenses for solar contractors, sheet metal contractors, gas line specialty contractors, irrigation specialty contractors, and many others. If your project involves a specialized trade, confirm that the contractor holds the specific license for that category.
You will notice that Florida licenses are designated as either “Certified” or “Registered.” This distinction matters. A Certified license is valid statewide. A contractor with a certified license can legally work in any county or city in Florida without additional registration. This is generally the more desirable credential to see.
A Registered license is tied to specific local jurisdictions. A registered contractor can only work in the counties or municipalities where they have filed with the local construction licensing board. It is worth confirming that a registered contractor’s local jurisdiction covers the area where your project is located. Note that as of July 1, 2025,
Florida has been phasing out many locally-only license categories in favor of centralized state licensing, so the registered/certified distinction is increasingly leaning toward certified being the standard.
It is tempting to take a contractor at their word, especially when they present a polished website, a portfolio of completed work, and a competitive price. But unlicensed contracting is one of the most documented forms of consumer fraud in Florida, and it tends to spike precisely when homeowners are most vulnerable — after hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters. Here are the real-world consequences that Florida homeowners have faced after hiring unlicensed contractors:
Unenforceable contracts and lost deposits. Because Florida Statute §489.128 renders contracts with unlicensed contractors unenforceable, homeowners who paid upfront deposits or partial payments have found themselves with no legal mechanism to recover those funds when the contractor disappeared or refused to finish the work.
Failed inspections and permit violations. Work done without permits can be flagged during future home inspections, particularly when selling the property. Some municipalities have required homeowners to demolish and redo unpermitted additions at their own expense.
Voided homeowner’s insurance claims. Insurance companies can deny claims for damage that results from work performed by unlicensed contractors. This is a particularly serious risk for roofing and electrical work.
No access to the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund. This state-administered fund, established under Florida Statute §489.1425, exists specifically to compensate homeowners who suffer financial losses due to violations by licensed contractors. If the contractor you hired was unlicensed, you are categorically ineligible to file a claim — regardless of what was done to you.
Personal liability for worker injuries. If an unlicensed contractor or their employee is injured on your property, your homeowner’s policy may not cover the claim, leaving you financially responsible.
License verification is the foundation of your due diligence, but it is not the whole structure. Once you have confirmed a contractor holds a current, active license of the appropriate type, consider taking these additional steps:
Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) — The BBB maintains complaint records and ratings for contracting businesses across Florida. Look for unresolved complaints, patterns of negative feedback, or an F rating.
Search for reviews on Google, Houzz, and Angi — These platforms aggregate homeowner reviews and can reveal recurring issues with communication, quality, or professionalism that a license check alone won’t show.
Request references from recent clients — A reputable contractor will readily provide two or three references from projects completed within the past year. Call those references and ask specific questions about timeline adherence, cleanliness of the worksite, communication, and whether the final cost matched the original estimate.
Get at least three written estimates — A single quote gives you no baseline. Three competing quotes help you understand the market rate for your project and identify bids that are suspiciously low (a common tactic used to win the contract before inflating costs later).
Verify the company’s physical address — A legitimate contracting business will have a verifiable physical address, not just a P.O. box or a website with a contact form. Look up the address independently to confirm it corresponds to an actual business location.
Review the contract carefully before signing — A proper contractor agreement should include a detailed scope of work, payment schedule, materials specifications, start and completion dates, and the contractor’s license number. The license number in the contract must match what you found in the DBPR database.
Certain behaviors are consistent enough with unlicensed or unscrupulous contracting that they warrant treating the situation with extreme caution, regardless of how professional the contractor seems otherwise:
If you discover after the fact that a contractor who worked on your property was unlicensed, or if a licensed contractor violated the terms of your agreement in ways that constitute a statutory violation, you can file a complaint with the DBPR’s Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Complaints can be submitted online through the DBPR website. Include as much documentation as possible: the original contract, payment receipts, photographs of the work, written communications, and any other evidence relevant to your claim.
If the contractor held a valid license at the time of the violation, you may also be eligible to file a claim with the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund, provided you have obtained a court judgment, CILB restitution award, or arbitration ruling against the contractor. For immediate legal advice about your options, consulting a Florida construction law attorney is a worthwhile step before pursuing any formal claim.
How long does it take to verify a contractor’s license in Florida? The search itself takes two to five minutes using the DBPR’s online portal at MyFloridaLicense.com. The entire process, including reviewing the status and checking the disciplinary history, rarely takes longer than ten minutes.
Is the DBPR license check really free? Yes, entirely. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s license verification tool is available to the public at no cost, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Does a Florida contractor license expire? Yes. Certified contractor licenses in Florida are valid for two years and expire on August 31 of even-numbered years. Always confirm that the license you find in the database is currently valid and not simply showing a license that was once active.
What if the contractor claims to only need a local or county license? As of July 1, 2025, Florida has significantly curtailed the validity of local-only license categories for trades regulated by the state. For general, residential, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, and roofing work, the license should come from the state DBPR. If a contractor claims that only a local county license applies to your project, verify this independently through your county’s building department before proceeding.
Can I hire a contractor who is licensed in Georgia or another state to work on my Florida home? No. Contractor licenses are state-specific. A license issued in another state does not grant authority to perform contracting work in Florida. The contractor must hold a valid Florida license issued through the DBPR.
What should I do if I already hired an unlicensed contractor? Stop work immediately, document everything (photographs, contracts, receipts, text messages), and consult with a Florida construction attorney about your options. You can also file a complaint with the DBPR, and if local law enforcement is relevant (theft of services or fraud is involved), contact your local police or sheriff’s office.
Verifying a contractor’s license in Florida is one of the most straightforward protective steps a homeowner can take — and one of the most frequently skipped. The DBPR’s free online database removes every barrier to checking. It costs nothing, requires no account, and delivers an answer within minutes.
The stakes of skipping it, on the other hand, are significant: unenforceable contracts, lost deposits, voided insurance claims, failed inspections, and no access to state recovery mechanisms. None of those outcomes are worth the time saved by bypassing a five-minute search.
Before you sign a contract, hand over a deposit, or let a single tool touch your property, go to MyFloridaLicense.com and confirm that the person you’re trusting with your home has earned the right to be there.