Free tool — official DBPR search

Florida Contractor License Lookup

Florida licenses contractors through DBPR, and its free license search at MyFloridaLicense is the official record. Check that your contractor's license reads "Current, Active" and that the license type covers the work — Florida treats contracting without a license as a crime, and contracts with unlicensed contractors are unenforceable.

The official lookup: Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Construction Industry Licensing Board

Search by licensee name or license number. This is the board's live database — the same record building departments and insurers check.

Open the official DBPR license search →

https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp

What the DBPR licenses

  • ✓ Certified general, building, and residential contractors (statewide)
  • ✓ Certified specialty contractors — roofing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, pool, and more
  • ✓ Registered contractors (licensed for specific local jurisdictions)

How to verify a Florida contractor in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Get the license number

    Ask the contractor for it — in most states it must appear on their contracts, bids, and advertising. No number? The search also works by business or owner name.

  2. 2

    Search the DBPR database

    Open the official search above and look up the record by licensee name or license number.

  3. 3

    Read the record like an inspector

    Status must be active, the name must match your contract, the classification must cover your project, and the expiration date must be in the future. Check disciplinary actions before you sign.

Florida license lookup FAQs

What is the difference between a certified and a registered contractor in Florida?

A certified contractor holds a statewide license from DBPR and can work anywhere in Florida. A registered contractor is licensed by a local jurisdiction and may only work there, with their registration recorded by DBPR. Both appear in the DBPR search — check the license type and where it is valid before hiring.

What license status should I look for in the Florida DBPR search?

The record should read "Current, Active." Delinquent, Expired, Null and Void, Revoked, or Voluntary Relinquishment all mean the contractor is not authorized to work. Also confirm the expiration date is in the future and the name matches the company on your quote.

What if the contractor isn't in the board's database?

Either the license isn't active, the details were entered differently (try the owner's name, not just the business name), or the contractor isn't licensed. Ask the contractor for their license number and search by number — if it still doesn't appear, do not hire them for work that requires a license.

How often should I re-check a license?

Verify before you sign, and again before final payment on long projects. Licenses can be suspended mid-project, and a lapsed license can void insurance coverage and leave you outside the board's complaint process.

Working in Florida? You'll also need the permit office.

A license lets a contractor work — a permit lets the project start. Browse Florida permit portals for the official building department links, or look up a contractor in another state.

CaliforniaTexasNew YorkWashingtonArizonaIllinois

Managing licenses for a whole crew or sub roster?

Permit Warden keeps every license, permit, and renewal date in one place and reminds you before anything expires — across every state you work in.

Start tracking licenses free