In July 2020, Florida changed its contractor licensing statute to make it easier for contractors who have been licensed in other states for at least 10 years to obtain a Florida contractor’s license without having to take a licensing exam. While Florida has not entered into any formal reciprocity agreements with other states, we do finally have guidance on exactly how to apply for a Florida’s contractor’s license using your existing license from another state.
You can view our original write up on the July 2020 statute by clicking here. The new “10 year rule” applies to nearly every type of contractor license in Florida, including Residential, Builder, General,. HVAC, Plumbing, Pool, Electrical, and Specialty contractors. Out-of-state license holders must meet the following requirements to obtain a Florida licensed contractor:
Have been licensed in your state for 10 years in the same category that you will be applying for in Florida.
The existing license must be active or have been active within the last 2 years.
For Certified General, Building, Residential, and Roofing contractors, take a 2-hour DBPR-approved course on the Florida Building Code, including information on wind mitigation techniques.
Pay a filing fee to the Florida Division of Business and Professional Regulation
Obtain electronic fingerprints from an Florida Department of Law Enforcement-approved vendor
Submit a personal credit report (NOTE, if your credit score is below 660, you will need to obtain a contractor’s bond in the amount of $10,000-$20,000 depending on license type. This can be cut in half by taking a 14-hour financial responsibility course)
If you plan to operate in Florida through a business entity, you must also submit a credit report for your business
Pass a background check.
Have commercial general liability insurance with limits ranging from $100,000 to $300,000, depending on license type.
Obtain workers’ compensation insurance or be exempt.
It appears that Florida is now fully open for business for licensed contractors in other states to obtain a license and begin work in Florida!
We can assist you with the entire application process to make sure that it goes smoothly and to answer any questions you may have. As part of that we can help setup a Florida corporation or LLC for you to business as and ensure that you understand and use Florida’s construction lien laws and contractor licensing laws to your benefit. Many times we can do this for a flat fee. To learn more, please contact me at jason.lambert@hwhlaw.com or (813) 227-8495.