How to check a contractor's license in Florida, step by step

The short answer

Go to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) license search. The home page at myfloridalicense.com lists "Verify a License," and the page says users can verify licenses by name or license number. Direct link: Verify a License.

It is free and takes a few minutes. Do it before you sign anything.

Step by step

1. Get the license number. Ask the contractor for it. A licensed contractor knows it by heart and should put it on the contract and the estimate.
2. Search by number first. A number is exact. If you only have a name, search by name and match the business, not just a similar person.
3. Match the name. The name on the record should be the same business or person named on your contract.
4. Check the license type. Make sure the license is a contractor license that fits your work. Our guide on CBC, CGC and CRC licenses explains the main types.
5. Confirm it is active. Look at the status and the expiration date on the record.
6. Look at permits. Then look at who is named on the permit once it is filed.

We did not run a live search while preparing this page, so we are not describing the exact fields the record shows. Read the record carefully, and call DBPR if a field is unclear.

When licenses renew

DBPR's construction FAQ says certified contractors renew their licenses on August 31 of every even-numbered year. So an expiration date in that pattern is normal. A date that has already passed is something to ask about before you sign.

Certified contractors are also allowed to work in any jurisdiction in the state, under section 489.105(8).

Check the permit, too

When a contractor is hired, the contractor obtains the permits. Hillsborough County says so on its homeowner permit page. Manatee County's Accela Online Services portal lists "Search Permit Records," so you can look up permit records for an address once work is filed. We did not confirm the exact search steps, so call the permit office if you get stuck.

If a contractor says you should pull the permit yourself, ask why. That can be the owner-builder route, which makes you the responsible party. See owner-builder permits in Florida.

Warning signs

• The contractor will not give a license number.
• The name on the license does not match the name on the contract.
• The price is split into several small contracts. Florida's minor-work exemption stops at a total of less than $2,500 and does not apply to a person who advertises as a contractor. See the handyman limit guide.
• Pressure to sign today. Ask for the estimate in writing and give yourself time.

After a storm, scams go up, and Florida adds extra rules for roofing contracts. Our hurricane contractor guide covers that.

What to bring to the first meeting

A little prep makes the first visit more useful and makes it easy to compare contractors.

• A note of the license number and type you found, and the date you checked.
• A list of what you want done, even if it is rough.
• Photos of the space, and any HOA documents if you have an HOA.
• Your questions about permits, schedule and who manages each trade.

Ask each contractor to explain how they handle plumbing and electrical. At Hildebrand, licensed trade partners do that work and we manage and coordinate them. Whatever the answer is, it should be in the written estimate.

Keep a printout or screenshot of the license record for each contractor you consider. If you hire one, keep it with your contract. If anything about the record changes later, you will know what it said when you signed.

How to check Hildebrand

Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling, LLC holds Florida Certified Building Contractor license CBC1257253 and has been licensed since 2009. Anyone can verify the license at myfloridalicense.com. We want you to.

The company is in Palmetto at 1500 15th Ave Dr E Unit 108. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call or text (941) 284-2218. Calls and forms outside hours are answered the next business day. Josh Hildebrand has 22 years in construction.

What to do next

Run the check on every contractor you are comparing. Then compare written estimates side by side. Our questions to ask a remodeling contractor page gives you a list for the visit. Our process page shows how we run a job, and our contact page sets up a free in-home visit.

Questions homeowners ask