How to Check a Contractor's License in Florida (Step by Step)

Florida actually has a solid contractor licensing system. The state requires licenses for most construction trades, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) maintains a free, public database you can search. The catch is that Florida has two types of contractor licenses — Certified and Registered — and if you don't understand the difference, you might think a legitimate contractor is unlicensed.

This guide walks you through exactly how to use the DBPR's MyFloridaLicense.com to verify any contractor in Florida, what the results mean, and what to watch out for.

What is the difference between a Certified and Registered contractor in Florida?

Florida issues two types of contractor licenses. A Certified contractor passed a state exam and can work anywhere in Florida — their license number starts with "C" followed by a trade code (e.g., CGC for General Contractor). A Registered contractor holds a local competency card and can only work in the jurisdiction that issued it. As of July 1, 2025, House Bill 735 ended local licensing authority, so all new contractors must obtain a state Certified license going forward.

Before you search, you need to understand this distinction because it affects what you see in the results:

• Certified contractorspassed a state exam and can work anywhere in Florida. Their license numbers start with "C" followed by a two-letter trade code (like CGC for General Contractor or CRC for Residential Contractor).
• Registered contractors hold a local competency card from their county or municipality and registered that credential with the state. They can only work in the jurisdiction that issued their local license.

Both types appear in the DBPR database, so you can verify either one. Just know that a registered contractor working outside their licensed jurisdiction is operating illegally, even if their license shows as active.

Important update: As of July 1, 2025, House Bill 735 ended local licensing authority for contractors. Local jurisdictions can no longer issue or renew Registered licenses. Contractors are now required to obtain a state-issued Certified license. You may still see Registered licenses in the database, but new contractors will all be Certified going forward.

What information do I need to check a contractor's license in Florida?

You only need one of three things: the contractor's license number (fastest — look for a format like CGC1234567), their personal name, or the business name. Florida law requires contractors to include their license number on all advertisements, contracts, and proposals, so it is often printed on any paperwork they hand you. If it is missing, that is already worth noting.

You only need one of these:

• The contractor's license number (fastest — look for something like CGC1234567 or CRC1234567)
• The contractor's name (first and/or last)
• The business name

If you got a quote or business card, the license number is often printed on it. Florida law requires contractors to include their license number on advertisements, contracts, and proposals. If it's not there, that's worth noting.

How do I access the Florida contractor license lookup tool?

Go to myfloridalicense.com and use the "Verify a License" search. The DBPR database covers all state-licensed contractors in Florida and is free to use. If you have the license number, enter it directly for an exact match. If you only have a name, the search can be sensitive to spelling, so start with partial names rather than the full business name to avoid missing a valid result.

Go to myfloridalicense.com and use the "Verify a License" search. You can search by name or by license number. If you have the license number, use that — it's faster and gives you an exact match.

How do I search for a Florida contractor by name and avoid missing them?

The DBPR search does not do fuzzy matching, so one wrong letter returns nothing. Search by the owner's personal name first, since many Florida contractors register under their personal name rather than their business name. Use only the first few letters of the last name to cast a wider net, and add the city to filter down common surnames. Try without LLC, Inc, or Corp, as the registered name may omit the suffix.

If you're searching by name, here are some tips to avoid getting zero results when the contractor is actually licensed:

• Search by the person's name, not just the business name.Many Florida contractors register under their personal name. If "Sunshine Roofing" doesn't come up, try searching for the owner's name.
• Use partial names. The search can be picky about exact spelling. Try just the first few letters of the last name rather than the full business name.
• Add the city to narrow results.Common names like "Rodriguez" or "Smith" will return hundreds of results. Adding the city helps.
• Try without LLC, Inc, or Corp. The registered name may not include the business entity suffix, or it might be formatted differently than you expect.
• Check spelling carefully. The DBPR search does not do fuzzy matching. One wrong letter and you get nothing.

How do I search by license number in the Florida DBPR database?

Enter the full license number including the letter prefix (e.g., CGC1234567) to get an exact match instantly. Florida uses standardized prefixes for each trade: CGC for Certified General Contractor, CRC for Certified Residential Contractor, CCC for Certified Roofing Contractor, and CAC for Certified Air Conditioning Contractor, among others. If the prefix does not start with "C," it is likely a Registered license with a different format, but the database will still find it.

If you have the license number, this is straightforward. Enter the full number (including the letter prefix) and you'll get the exact record. Florida contractor license numbers follow a specific format:

• CGC — Certified General Contractor
• CBC — Certified Building Contractor
• CRC — Certified Residential Contractor
• CCC — Certified Roofing Contractor
• CAC — Certified Air Conditioning Contractor
• CFC — Certified Plumbing Contractor
• CPC — Certified Pool/Spa Contractor
• CUC — Certified Underground Utility Contractor

If the prefix doesn't start with "C," it may be a Registered license (which will have a different prefix format). Either way, the database should find it.

How do I read the Florida contractor license results page?

The license record shows five key fields: license type (trade category and Certified vs. Registered), license status (the most important field — you want "Current, Active"), effective and expiration dates, the licensee name and address, and any disciplinary actions. Confirm the name and address match the contractor you are dealing with before trusting the record.

Once you find the contractor, the license record will show several important fields:

• License type— confirms the trade category (General, Building, Residential, Roofing, etc.) and whether it's Certified or Registered
• License status— this is the most important field. You want to see "Current, Active."
• Effective date and expiration date— make sure the license won't expire before your project wraps up
• Licensee name and address— confirm this matches the person or company you're dealing with
• Disciplinary actions— any complaints, violations, or enforcement actions will appear here

What do the different Florida contractor license statuses mean?

The only status that lets a contractor legally work is "Current, Active." "Delinquent" means the license was not renewed on time and the contractor should stop working until they renew — it could be a paperwork issue or a sign of financial trouble. "Null and Void" means the license has lapsed beyond recovery and the contractor must reapply. "Suspended" and "Revoked" are major red flags and mean the DBPR took formal action against the license.

Here's what each status means:

• Current, Active— licensed and in good standing. This is what you want.
• Delinquent— the license has not been renewed on time. The contractor should not be working until they renew. This is a yellow flag — it could be a paperwork issue, or it could mean they are having financial problems.
• Null and Void— the license has been inactive for too long and is no longer valid. They would need to reapply.
• Suspended— the DBPR took action against this license. Major red flag.
• Revoked— license permanently taken away. Do not hire.

How do I make sure a Florida contractor's license covers the work I need?

Florida is strict about contractors staying within their license classification. A Certified Residential Contractor (CRC) can build and remodel homes but cannot do commercial work. A Certified General Contractor (CGC) has the broadest scope. For roofing specifically, Florida requires a separate roofing license (CCC) — a general contractor cannot do roofing work under their CGC license alone, though they can hire a licensed roofer as a subcontractor.

This is something homeowners often overlook. A Certified Residential Contractor (CRC) can build, remodel, and repair homes but cannot build commercial buildings. A Certified Building Contractor (CBC) can do commercial work up to a certain threshold. A Certified General Contractor (CGC) has the broadest scope and can work on virtually any type of project.

If you need a new roof, make sure the contractor holds a roofing license (CCC), not just a general contractor license. Florida is strict about contractors staying within their license classification. A general contractor can hire a licensed roofer as a subcontractor, but they should not be doing roofing work under just a general contractor's license.

What should I do if I can't find a Florida contractor in the DBPR database?

First try the owner's personal name and a partial spelling of the last name. Then ask the contractor directly for their license number — any legitimate Florida contractor will have it readily available. Note that some work (cabinets, flooring, painting, window treatments) may not require a state contractor license and could be covered by a local business tax receipt instead. For anything else, you can call the DBPR directly at (850) 487-1395 for a more thorough search.

If your search returns no results, don't assume the worst yet. Try these:

1. Search by the owner's personal name instead of the business name
2. Use just the first few letters of the last name
3. Ask the contractor for their license number directly — any legitimate contractor will have it memorized or readily available
4. Check if the work actually requires a state license. Some types of work in Florida (cabinets, countertops, flooring, painting, wallpaper, window treatments) may not require a state contractor license and could be handled under a local business tax receipt instead
5. Contact the DBPR directly at (850) 487-1395 — they can do a more thorough search

If the contractor claims to hold a state license but you cannot find them in the database, that is a serious red flag. Florida takes unlicensed contracting seriously. It is a criminal offense, and the DBPR actively investigates complaints about unlicensed activity.

How do I check a Florida contractor's complaint history?

While on the license detail page, look for the disciplinary actions section. The DBPR tracks all formal complaints and their outcomes. A single complaint from years ago is very different from a pattern of recent violations. Pay particular attention to issues like abandoning jobs, performing work beyond the scope of the license, or financial misconduct — these are warning signs that go beyond a paperwork error.

While you are on the license detail page, look for any disciplinary actions, complaints, or enforcement history. The DBPR tracks all formal complaints and their outcomes. Even if a license is currently active, a history of complaints can tell you a lot about how the contractor operates.

Pay attention to the type of complaints. A single complaint from years ago is very different from a pattern of recent violations. Look for issues like abandoning jobs, performing work beyond the scope of their license, or financial misconduct.

Why does it matter if a Florida contractor is licensed?

Florida Statute 489.127 makes it illegal to contract with someone you know is unlicensed. Beyond the legal exposure, hiring an unlicensed contractor means no surety bond to claim against if work is defective or abandoned, no DBPR or Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) to help resolve disputes, and permit problems that can complicate a home sale or insurance claim. According to the DBPR, unlicensed contracting is one of the most common consumer complaints in Florida.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor in Florida means:

• No bond protection. Licensed contractors in Florida are required to carry a surety bond. If they abandon the job or do defective work, you can file a claim. With an unlicensed contractor, you have nothing.
• No state recourse. The DBPR and the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) can investigate complaints and take action against licensed contractors. They cannot help you with unlicensed ones.
• Permit problems. In Florida, only licensed contractors can pull building permits for work that requires them. Unlicensed contractors either skip permits entirely or pull them fraudulently. Either way, you could face major problems when you sell the home or file an insurance claim.
• Insurance issues.Work done without proper licensing and permits may not be covered by your homeowner's insurance if something goes wrong.
• Legal exposure. Florida Statute 489.127 makes it illegal to contract with someone you know is unlicensed. While enforcement typically targets the contractor, it can complicate your legal position.

The bottom line

Florida makes contractor verification relatively easy compared to most states. The DBPR database is free, public, and covers all state-licensed contractors. The whole process takes about five minutes. Search at myfloridalicense.com, confirm the license is active and matches the work you need, check for complaints, and you are good to go.

With the recent licensing changes from HB 735, all new contractors will be Certified (statewide), which actually simplifies things for homeowners. One database, one license type, one search. Verify before you sign.