Construction Law

Getting a Florida Residential Contractor License Part 1 featured image

Getting a Florida Residential Contractor License Part 1

Certified residential contractors in Florida are allowed to provide services including construction, remodeling, repair, or other forms of improvement to one-family, two-family, or three-family residential properties. Florida residential contractors can subcontract specialty trades like electrical and plumbing to qualified technicians while using a team to handle in-house alterations.

Are you aware of the limits of your Florida residential contractor license? At Cotney Attorneys & Consultants, our Tallahassee construction lawyers can ensure that all of your projects are covered by the appropriate licensing. You don’t want to lose your license because you worked on a three-story residential property that actually required a Florida building contractor license. In part one of this two-part series, we will look at the licensing requirements for procuring a residential contractor license.

Licensing Requirements

In order for a citizen of the State of Florida to obtain their residential contractor license, they must meet all of the following licensing requirements:

  • Age: Licensee must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Examination: Licensee is required to pass the state certification examinations including those for Contract Administration, Project Management, and Business and Finance.
  • Experience / Education: In order to obtain a certified residential contractor license, the applicant must possess one or more of the following qualifications:
    • A four-year construction-related degree from an accredited college and one year of proven application of skills in residential construction.
    • Three years of credits from accredited college-level courses and one year of experience as a foreman.
    • Two years of credits from accredited college-level courses, one year of experience as a foreman, and one year of experience as a worker.
    • One year of credit from accredited college-level courses, one year of experience as a foreman, and two years of experience as a worker.
    • Four years of experience working as either a worker or a foreman with a minimum of one year of experience as a foreman.
  • Required Experience: All applicants must possess documented experience working in four or more of the following areas of construction: foundation and slab, masonry walls, trusses, column erection, formwork for structural reinforced concrete, and structural wood framing.
  • Fingerprints: All applicants are required to submit to background checks.
  • Insurance: All applicants must obtain public liability, property damage, and workers compensation insurance within 30 days of being issued a Florida residential contractor license.

Obtaining your Florida residential contractor license takes time and dedication. In addition to all of the licensing requirements we have covered so far, there are also financial and credit requirements, as well as alternative qualifications for military veterans. In part two, we will explore different contractor exams and take a look at how teaming up with a construction law expert can help you maintain your various certifications and licenses over time.

If you would like to speak with a Tallahassee construction lawyer, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.