Florida Contractor Licensing & the CILB
Florida licenses contractors through the state, and candidates must understand who issues the license, the difference between certified and registered status, and how the contractor categories are tiered. This chapter covers the Construction Industry Licensing Board and Chapter 489.
DBPR and the Construction Industry Licensing Board
Contractors in Florida are regulated by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), which sits within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes grants the CILB its authority to set qualification standards, administer examinations, issue licenses, and discipline contractors. The CILB is the central state body a Florida general contractor answers to.
Certified vs. Registered contractors
Florida recognizes two license statuses. A Certified contractor passes the state examination and receives a certificate valid statewide, allowing work anywhere in Florida. A Registered contractor has qualified through a local competency card or examination and may work only within the specific local jurisdiction(s) that issued or recognized that local credential. Candidates preparing for the state exam are pursuing certification, the broader credential.
Contractor categories and scope
Certified building contractors are tiered by scope. The Certified General Contractor has the broadest, essentially unlimited scope and may build structures of any height. The Certified Building Contractor is limited to commercial buildings and residences up to three stories. The Certified Residential Contractor is limited to one-, two-, and three-family residences not exceeding two habitable stories. Choosing the correct category is essential because working beyond your scope is a violation of Chapter 489.