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Licenses by State

How to check if a contractor is licensed in Florida

Edited by John Voll. Last verified .

In Florida, the state keeps license or registration records for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.

Which board covers which trade

TradeWho keeps the recordOfficial lookup
General contractorConstruction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationSearch general contractor licenses
ElectricalElectrical Contractors' Licensing Board (ECLB), Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationSearch electrical licenses
PlumbingConstruction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationSearch plumbing licenses
HVACConstruction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationSearch HVAC licenses
RoofingConstruction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationSearch roofing licenses

Step by step

  1. Open the official Florida lookup run by CILB and search the contractor by name or number.
    Open the official lookup
  2. The official DBPR lookup searches by name, license number, city or county, and license type. source
  3. Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Certified General Contractor or Certified Building Contractor or Certified Residential Contractor or Registered General Contractor or Registered Building Contractor or Registered Residential Contractor). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above Work under $2,500 total (labor, materials and all other items) of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature is exempt, unless it is part of a larger job split up to evade the law or the person advertises as a contractor. source
  4. Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: General liability insurance of at least $300,000 and property damage insurance of at least $50,000 for a general or building contractor, plus workers compensation. source

If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint

  • Complaints against a licensed contractor or someone doing unlicensed work can be filed with DBPR online or by mail. source

Homeowner protections in Florida

  • Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund pays up to $100,000 per claim for general, building or residential contractor jobs and up to $30,000 for other construction trades, for contracts signed on or after July 1, 2024. source
  • A recovery fund claim must be made within 1 year after the court, arbitration or administrative action against the contractor ends. source
  • Residential construction contracts must include a written notice about the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund. source
  • Recovery fund payments for one transaction are capped in total at the Division I or Division II maximum, no matter how many people claim. source
  • Before the recovery fund pays, the homeowner must win a court judgment, an arbitration award, or a board restitution order against the licensed contractor, and use up any bond or insurance first. source

Questions

How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Florida?
Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Florida lookup run by CILB, then confirm the record is active and covers the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's lookup in the table on this page.
What can I do if a contractor in Florida is not licensed?
Complaints against a licensed contractor or someone doing unlicensed work can be filed with DBPR online or by mail.

All Florida licensing rules by trade

Sources

This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.