Licensed Plumber in Florida: How to Verify Before You Hire

Plumbing failures are among the most expensive home repairs — water damage, mold, and structural issues can spiral quickly. Florida's licensed plumbing system exists to ensure that the person connecting your pipes actually knows what they're doing. Before any plumber starts work on your home or business, here's how to confirm their credentials and what's at stake if you don't.

Does Florida require a license for plumbers?

Yes. Florida requires plumbing contractors to hold a CFC license — Certified Plumbing Contractor — issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). This license is required for anyone who contracts to perform plumbing work for compensation, including installation, repair, and service of water, sewer, and gas piping systems.

Like other Florida contractor licenses, the CFC comes in Certified and Registered forms. Certified plumbing contractors can work anywhere in Florida. Registered contractors have passed a local jurisdiction exam and are limited to specific counties or cities. Confirm which type your contractor holds before hiring.

How do you verify a plumber's license in Florida?

Use the DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com to verify any Florida plumbing contractor's CFC license. Search by name, company name, or license number. The database will show current license status, license type, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions or complaints on file.

The only acceptable status is “Current, Active.” A delinquent, suspended, or revoked license means the contractor is not authorized to perform plumbing work. Florida updates this database in real time, so what you see is the contractor's actual standing today.

Never rely solely on a contractor's word or a license card they show you. Cards can be outdated or faked. The DBPR database is the authoritative source.

What bond and insurance does a Florida plumber need?

Florida plumbing contractors are required to carry at least $1 million in general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance or an approved exemption. A surety bond of $5,000 to $30,000 is also required, with the exact amount depending on license classification and project scope.

Request a certificate of insurance before any work begins. Make sure the effective and expiration dates show the policy is current. For large projects like whole-home repiping or new construction plumbing, consider requiring a higher coverage limit than the minimum.

What are the risks of hiring an unlicensed plumber in Florida?

Unlicensed plumbing contracting in Florida is a first-degree misdemeanor on the first offense and a third-degree felony on repeat offenses. The state classifies it as a criminal act because improper plumbing can contaminate water supplies, cause structural damage, and create life-safety hazards from gas line failures.

For homeowners, hiring an unlicensed plumber can void your homeowner's insurance for any claim related to that work. If a pipe bursts or a gas leak causes an explosion, the insurer will investigate whether permitted, licensed work was performed. Unlicensed work gives them grounds to deny the claim entirely.

Water damage is the second most common homeowner's insurance claim in the United States. The average claim exceeds $11,000. Cutting corners on plumbing to save a few hundred dollars upfront is one of the most expensive gambles a homeowner can take.

Does plumbing work in Florida require a permit?

Yes. Most plumbing work in Florida — new installations, repiping, water heater replacements, gas line work, and major repairs — requires a permit from the local building department. The permit triggers an inspection that verifies the work complies with Florida's plumbing code.

A licensed CFC contractor will routinely pull permits as part of the project. If a plumber suggests skipping the permit to save time or money, treat that as an immediate disqualifier. Unpermitted plumbing work creates real estate disclosure obligations and can require costly rework to bring into compliance when you sell.

What should you ask a Florida plumber before hiring?

Ask for their CFC license number, a current certificate of insurance, and confirmation that permits will be pulled for the work. A licensed plumbing contractor should be able to answer all three without hesitation. If they struggle to provide a license number or push back on permits, stop the conversation and verify their status through DBPR before going further.

Also clarify whether the work is being done by the licensed contractor directly or subcontracted to others. Florida requires that the work be performed under the direct supervision of the licensed contractor of record. Absentee supervision arrangements are a common workaround used by less reputable operations.

How can CheckLicensed help verify Florida plumbers?

CheckLicensed.com makes it easy to verify any Florida plumbing contractor's CFC license for $0.99. In seconds, you get a report showing license status, classification, expiration, and complaint history — all drawn directly from DBPR's data. Before you hand a plumber your keys and your water shutoff, spend $0.99 to confirm they're licensed to be there.