At a glance
- Who
- Homeowners hiring a handyman, and handymen who are not licensed contractors
- What
- Section 489.103(9) exempts minor work where the total contract price, for labor, materials and everything else, is less than $2,500.
- When
- Any time a job is priced near the limit or sits inside a bigger project
- Where
- Statewide, under Florida Statutes chapter 489
- Why
- Hiring an unlicensed person for work over the limit puts the risk on you
The short answer
Florida requires a license to act as a contractor, but section 489.103(9) carves out one exception: work of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature where the total contract price for labor, materials and all other items is less than $2,500. Read it at the Florida Legislature website.
The wording is "less than $2,500," so a job priced at exactly $2,500 is not under the limit in that subsection. Keep in mind this page is plain-language help, not legal advice.
Three ways the exemption does not apply
- The job is part of something bigger. The exemption does not apply if the work is part of a larger or major operation. Splitting one project into several contracts under $2,500 to dodge the rule is covered by this too.
- The price is over the limit. The test is the total contract price, labor, materials and every other item together.
- The person advertises as a contractor. The exemption does not apply to a person who advertises that he or she is a contractor.
So a handyman who runs ads as a contractor, or who prices a bathroom remodel as four small jobs, is outside the exemption as we read it.
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What the $2,500 rule does not say
You may hear that the exemption never applies to permit work or structural work. The text of subsection (9) does not contain those words, so we do not claim that. We also do not claim the opposite. Whether a job needs a building permit is decided by the permit office, not by this rule. The $2,500 rule is about who can do work without a contractor license.
The practical advice is simple. Before any job, ask the building department whether it needs a permit. For Manatee County, the Permitting Section is at 941-748-4501 extension 3800. For unincorporated Hillsborough County, send questions to Permitting@HCFL.gov. Our Manatee County permit guide has more.
Examples that show how the rule works
These use made-up prices to show the logic. They are not legal rulings.
- A $900 job, labor and materials together, such as fixing a gate latch and re-hanging a gate. That is under $2,500 and not part of a bigger project, so the exemption can apply, as long as the person does not advertise as a contractor.
- A $3,000 job. The total is over the limit, so the exemption does not apply.
- A bathroom remodel priced as demolition for $2,000 and tile for $2,000. The statute says the exemption does not apply when work is part of a larger or major operation, and splitting a project to stay under $2,500 does not help.
- A handyman with a truck that says "contractor." The exemption does not apply to a person who advertises that he or she is a contractor.
The price counts labor, materials and all other items, so a low labor quote with a big materials bill can still go over.
Why the line matters to you
An unlicensed person who goes beyond the exemption is breaking the law, and Florida treats it seriously. Under section 489.127(2), an unlicensed person's violation is a first-degree misdemeanor. A repeat violation after a prior finding of guilt is a third-degree felony. A violation during a state of emergency declared by the Governor is also a third-degree felony.
That is the contractor's risk. Yours is different: if the job goes wrong, you may have no licensed contractor to turn to. Our guide on how to check a contractor license in Florida shows how to confirm who you are hiring.
Quick checks before you hire a handyman
- Get the full price in writing, including materials. Is it clearly under $2,500?
- Ask if this job is one piece of a larger project. If it is, the exemption may not apply.
- Look at how the person advertises. A person who calls themselves a contractor needs a license.
- Ask whether the work needs a permit, and who will pull it.
- If the job is bigger, ask for a licensed contractor's written estimate to compare.
Owner-builder is a different rule
If you want to do or supervise a bigger project yourself, that is the owner-builder exemption in 489.103(7), not the handyman rule. See owner-builder permits in Florida.
How Hildebrand handles small jobs and large ones
Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling is a Florida licensed general contractor (CBC1257253), licensed since 2009. Every job is quoted individually after an on-site visit, so we do not quote by phone or post prices. The visit and written estimate are free, with no trip fee.
We pull every required permit and meet Florida Building Code inspections. Plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that we manage and coordinate. See how pricing works or contact us.
Questions homeowners ask
Can a handyman do a job that costs exactly $2,500 in Florida?
The statute says less than $2,500, so a job at exactly $2,500 is not under the limit in section 489.103(9). The limit covers labor, materials and all other items.
Can a handyman split a big job into small contracts?
No. The exemption does not apply if the work is part of a larger or major operation, and splitting a project into contracts under $2,500 to avoid the rule is covered by that.
Does a handyman need a license if they advertise as a contractor?
Yes. The exemption does not apply to a person who advertises that he or she is a contractor.
Does a small job still need a permit?
The $2,500 rule does not answer that. Ask the permit office for your address, since permits are decided separately.
Need a licensed contractor's price?
Book a free in-home consultation and written estimate. Florida licensed general contractor serving Manatee, Sarasota and south Hillsborough counties.