Guides · Paperwork and licenses
What license you need in Florida
Florida has three levels. Construction trades (plumbing, HVAC, roofing, general building, electrical) require a state DBPR contractor license or a county license. Beauty and health trades (nails, hair, facials, massage) require a DBPR license with coursework and an exam. Everything else (cleaning, landscaping, moving, handyman, detailing, catering) needs no state license, only the local county or city permit. Unlicensed contracting is a crime in Florida and you cannot legally collect on the work.
Updated 2026-08-15
The three levels, in one table
| Trade | State license | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | Yes, contractor | DBPR or the county |
| HVAC | Yes, plus EPA 608 | DBPR and EPA |
| Roofing | Yes, roofing contractor | DBPR |
| Structural remodeling | Yes, general or building | DBPR |
| Electrical | Yes, electrical contractor | DBPR |
| Pest control | Yes | Dept. of Agriculture |
| Nails | Yes, nail specialist | DBPR, with coursework |
| Hair | Yes, cosmetology | DBPR, with coursework |
| Barbering | Yes, barbering | DBPR, with coursework |
| Facials | Yes, facial specialist | DBPR, with coursework |
| Daycare | Yes | DCF |
| Notary | Notary commission | State of Florida |
| Taxes | IRS PTIN, free | IRS |
| Insurance | Agent license | Dept. of Financial Services |
| Cleaning | No | Local permit only |
| Landscaping | No, unless spraying | Local permit only |
| Moving | No, but registration | State mover registration |
| Handyman | No, within limits | Local permit only |
| Painting | Depends on county | Local registration |
| Flooring | Depends on county | Local registration |
| Auto detailing | No | Local permit only |
| Catering | Health permit | DBPR, hotels division |
This table is orientation, not legal advice. Before spending, confirm your case at myfloridalicense.com and with your county office, because Miami-Dade and Broward differ and some categories change.
The handyman line, which causes the most trouble
A handyman can do minor repairs without a contractor license. What he can't do is work that requires a building permit: replacing pipe inside a wall, touching the electrical panel, moving load-bearing walls, or working on the roof.
The line isn't the price of the job, it's the nature of the job. Swapping a faucet, yes. Replacing the pipe in the wall, no. Hanging a fan where a box already exists, yes. Running new wire from the panel, no.
This matters because Florida fines for unlicensed work are steep and, if the job goes wrong, the customer doesn't pay you and you have nowhere to take it.
How to get a contractor license
- Confirm you meet the experience requirement: usually four years in the trade, or a mix of schooling and experience.
- Pass the trade exam and the business and finance exam. Almost everyone takes a prep course.
- Show proof of liability insurance and, depending on the category, workers' compensation.
- Clear the credit and background review the state requires.
- Pay the fees and wait on board approval.
- Renew every two years with continuing education hours.
Between the course, exams, fees, and insurance, getting licensed runs into a few thousand dollars and several months. It's the highest barrier of any trade, and it's also why a roofer charges what a roofer charges.
What happens if you work unlicensed
- In Florida unlicensed contracting is a crime, and during a declared state of emergency the penalty escalates.
- You can't take the customer to court to collect: courts won't enforce an unlicensed work contract.
- The homeowner's insurance may refuse to cover damage done by someone unlicensed.
- The building permit doesn't get pulled in your name, so the work goes uninspected and causes the owner problems at resale.
If you're starting in a licensed trade, the normal path is working as an employee or subcontractor under someone else's license while you build the experience they'll ask you to document.
The local permit, which everyone does need
Even if your trade needs no state license, you need the county's Local Business Tax Receipt, plus the city's if you operate inside one. In Miami-Dade and Broward you get them online and they run $45 to $200 a year.
It's the first thing a building manager, a builder, or any company asks for, and it's what you show alongside insurance to get into commercial work, which is where the money is.
doubts
What people usually ask
Do I need a license to clean houses in Florida?
No state license. Just the local county or city permit. You also want an LLC and general liability insurance to get into buildings and rental properties.
Can I work as a handyman without a license?
Yes, on minor repairs that don't require a building permit. What you can't touch is plumbing inside walls, the electrical panel, load-bearing walls, or the roof.
What does a contractor license cost?
Counting prep course, exams, fees, and insurance, it runs into a few thousand dollars and several months of process. Confirm current figures at myfloridalicense.com.
Does a county license work statewide?
No. A county license works in that county and in those that recognize it. The state DBPR license works across Florida, which is why it's the one to have if you work between Miami-Dade and Broward.
Do I need workers' comp if I work alone?
In construction, owners can claim exemption in certain cases, but the rules are strict and they change. The moment you hire someone it's almost always required. Confirm your case before hiring.