How to Check a Contractor's License in Florida (DBPR Lookup)

A step-by-step guide to looking up a Florida contractor's license on DBPR's MyFloridaLicense site by license number, name or business name, what the status means, how to check workers' comp coverage, Pinellas County's local license search, and how to report unlicensed contracting, based on DBPR, the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board and the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation.

By Patrick & Dylan · Florida Certified General Contractor, Lic. #CGC1541672

After a storm or a leak, the first person to knock on the door isn't always the right person to hire. Checking a contractor's license takes a few minutes online and costs nothing. This guide walks through it using the official searches from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB) and the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation.

Stop and call a pro before you start if:

Water reached outlets, the electrical panel or appliances. Don't wait on paperwork for safety. Pinellas County says to "Keep your power off if flooding occurred until an electrician can check on it."
You smell gas, or there's a water main break. Leave the area and call your gas utility or 911. In Clearwater, the city's emergency line is (727) 462-6633.
The structure looks unsafe, such as a sagging ceiling or roof. Stay out of that area.
Floodwater or sewage got inside, or mold covers more than about 10 square feet. The EPA says to consult its guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings for mold that size, and to "call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water" after sewage or contaminated water.
The home was built before 1978 and the work will disturb paint. The EPA says it may have lead-based paint.

What you'll need

Item	Why	Where to buy
The contractor's license number	Florida law requires it on every ad, bid and contract (s. 489.119(5)(b))	Ask the contractor, or check their card, truck, website or estimate
The contractor's name and business name	DBPR says to check the individual who qualifies the business	Ask the contractor
A phone or computer	The searches are online	Your own

Step by step

Step 1: Get the license number and names

DBPR's hurricane guide lists "No License Number on Ads or Business Cards" as a red flag, because Florida law requires licensed contractors to display it. Ask for the license number, the name of the licensed person and the business name. DBPR's license-verification graphic also says to "Ask to see multiple forms of identification."

Step 2: Search by license number on MyFloridaLicense

DBPR's steps: go to MyFloridaLicense.com, click "Verify a License," select "Search by License Number," enter the number and click "Search." DBPR's search help says you can enter "either the number part of the license number" or the whole number with its letters. Click the record to see the licensee's name and the business tied to that license.

The letters show the kind of license, and DBPR's results also list the license type by name (for example, Certified General Contractor, with a number starting CGC).

Hands holding a phone next to a laptop showing a search page — Stock photo. The searches work on a phone or a computer.

Step 3: Or search by business name

If all you have is a company name, DBPR says to enter it in "Organization/Establishment Name." The results include "the individual contractors that qualify the business entity," and DBPR says to then search the individual's name too, "to ensure that the contractor properly qualifies the business entity." DBPR also notes that if a contractor works without a business name, "the word 'INDIVIDUAL' will appear on the contractor's license."

Step 4: Read the status

DBPR's glossary defines the two words you want to see:

Status	What DBPR says it means
Current	"the licensee is up to date with respect to the department's requirements for licensure"
Active	"the licensee is allowed to operate under the associated license"
Inactive	the licensee "is not allowed to work under this license"

The PCCLB says "Only state-certified contractors with a status of Current, Active or Probation, Active are eligible to work in the state of Florida." Florida law treats someone on an inactive or suspended license as unlicensed (s. 489.127(1)). DBPR's results also say "For additional information, including any complaints or discipline, click on the name."

Step 5: Check that the license fits the job

A general contractor's license doesn't cover plumbing, electrical, A/C or roofing work; Florida law requires contractors to subcontract those trades unless they hold that license (s. 489.113(3)). DBPR's hurricane guide lists roof repairs, new windows, plumbing repairs and electrical repairs as storm services that need a DBPR license. It also notes that "An occupational license does not qualify an individual to act as a contractor," and that registering as an Inc. or LLC doesn't either.

Some work doesn't need a state license at all. DBPR says cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint and wallpaper "may not require a state license" and may be licensed locally.

Step 6: Check local licenses with the PCCLB

For trades licensed by Pinellas County rather than the state, use the PCCLB's Contractor Search. The board says state-certified contractors "are no longer required to register" with it, so look those up on MyFloridaLicense. It also says "You cannot hire a Journeyman directly."

Step 7: Check workers' comp and insurance

The PCCLB says to verify "that your contractor has valid General Liability and Workers' Compensation insurance or Workers' Compensation Exemption." The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation has two free searches: Proof of Coverage (by employer name) and Exemption search (by name or employer name). Ask the contractor for a certificate of liability insurance too.

Two people shaking hands, one holding a clipboard — Stock photo. Check the license and insurance before you sign.

Step 8: Watch for the red flags, and report unlicensed work

DBPR's "Before You Hire" page lists red flags including "Large Upfront Payments," "No Written Contract," "'We Don't Need a Permit'," and "Cash-Only Payments." Pinellas County warns about any contractor who "Asks you to obtain the building permit as an 'owner / builder'."

To report unlicensed contracting, DBPR's hotline is (866) 532-1440 (email ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com), and the PCCLB's number is (727) 582-6767.

How long it takes

None of our sources give a time for these searches.

Stop and call a pro if, once you start, you find:

No license number, or a license that isn't Current, Active (or Probation, Active).
A license that doesn't match the work, such as a general contractor offering to do the wiring.
No proof of workers' comp coverage or an exemption.
A contractor who asks you to pull the permit as an owner-builder.

For which storm and water repairs need a licensed trade in the first place, see our Clearwater post on handymen, plumbers and electricians.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a contractor's license in Florida?

Search the license number, name or business name at MyFloridaLicense.com under "Verify a License." DBPR says to also search the individual who qualifies the business.

What does "Current, Active" mean on a Florida license?

DBPR says "Current" means the licensee is up to date with licensing requirements and "Active" means they're allowed to operate under the license.

Do handymen need a license in Florida?

Not for work like painting, flooring or cabinets, which don't require a state license on their own (s. 489.117(4)(a)1.). Plumbing, electrical, A/C, roofing and structural work done for pay need a state license, with narrow exceptions.

How do I report an unlicensed contractor?

Call DBPR's unlicensed activity hotline at (866) 532-1440 or email ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com. In Pinellas County you can also call the PCCLB at (727) 582-6767.

Sources

General information, not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Rules change and vary by city; confirm with your building department, DBPR, your insurer, an attorney or an engineer as fits.

How to check a contractor's license in Florida before you hire