Florida's #1 Home Services & Construction Portal
Florida Contractor Licensing Guide — IWD Miami, licensed Florida contractor

8 Licenses · FL DPS · DBPR Verified · IWD Miami Holds Each

Florida Contractor Licensing Guide.

Florida has one of the strictest contractor licensing landscapes in the United States. CGC, FL home improvement license, Master Electrician, Master Plumber, Master Gas Fitter, EPA 608, EPA RRP, BPI, Florida Energy HPC — here's what each one means and how to verify it before signing anything.

The Florida Licensing Landscape

Florida is one of the strictest contractor licensing states in the country. No single license covers all residential work — different scopes require different licenses, and a contractor working outside their licensed scope is technically operating illegally. The licenses you should verify before hiring any Florida contractor:

  • Florida contractor license (CGC) — required for any Florida Building Code building permit
  • FL Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration — required for any residential contract over $1,000
  • Master Electrician (Class A or B) — required for Florida Fire Prevention Code electrical permits
  • Master Plumber + Master Gas Fitter — required for Florida Energy Code plumbing and gas permits
  • EPA Section 608 Universal — required for refrigerant handling under the AIM Act
  • EPA RRP Lead-Safe Certified Renovator — required for pre-1978 home work
  • Florida Energy Heat Pump Contractor (HPC) — required to file Florida Energy heat pump rebates
  • Building Performance Institute (BPI) — required for Florida Energy insulation rebates

Florida contractor license (CGC)

The CGC is the foundational license for any contractor pulling a Florida Building Code building permit in Florida. Issued by the Florida Department of Public Safety (DPS). Three classes:

  • Unrestricted CGC — qualifies for buildings of any size, residential and light-commercial
  • 1- and 2-Family CGC — qualifies for owner-occupied 1- and 2-family residential only
  • Specialty CGC — limited to specific scopes (insulation, sheet metal, etc.)

Verify: Florida DPS website maintains a public CGC database. Search by name or license number to confirm active status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions.

FL Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration

HIC registration is required for any contractor doing residential home improvement work over $1,000 in Florida, codified under F.S. 489. Issued by the Florida DBPR (DBPR). Different from the CGC — a contractor needs both. HIC registration:

  • Funds the FL home improvement license consumer protection fund (homeowner protection of last resort)
  • Provides access to FL home improvement license arbitration program for disputes
  • Is required to display on contracts and proposals
  • Can be revoked or suspended for violations of F.S. 489

Verify: Florida DBPR website maintains a public HIC registration database. Search by name or HIC number. Full FL home improvement license protection guide →

Need Florida Contractor Licensing Guide Help in Florida?

5-min reply during business hours. Free written estimate within 24 hours. Florida Licensed.

Trade Licenses (Master Electrician, Master Plumber, Master Gas Fitter)

Each major trade has its own Florida master license issued by the Florida Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL).

Master Electrician (Class A)
Required to pull Florida Fire Prevention Code electrical permits, supervise electrical work, and run service-entrance scope. Class A is unrestricted; Class B is limited.
Master Plumber
Required to pull Florida Energy Code plumbing permits and supervise plumbing work.
Master Gas Fitter
Required to pull Florida Energy Code gas permits — separate license from Master Plumber, though many contractors hold both.

Verify: Florida DOL website maintains public databases for each trade license. Search by name or license number. Active status, expiration, and any disciplinary action are visible.

Federal Certifications (EPA 608, EPA RRP)

EPA Section 608 Universal
Federal certification required to handle refrigerants. Universal covers A2L (R-32, R-454B) refrigerants used in current Florida Energy-eligible heat pumps. Older Type II certification is insufficient.
EPA RRP Lead-Safe Certified Renovator
Federal certification required for any work disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes. Most of Florida urban housing predates 1978 and triggers EPA RRP procedures.

Verify: EPA maintains an online certification lookup. Both certifications are issued to the contractor entity (not individual employees) and have specific expiration dates.

Florida Energy Authorizations (HPC, BPI, Insulation)

Florida Energy maintains contractor authorization lists separate from state and federal licensing:

  • Florida Energy Heat Pump Contractor (HPC) — required to file Florida Energy heat pump rebates. Annual renewal.
  • Florida Energy Insulation Authorized Contractor — required to file Florida Energy insulation rebates. Often paired with BPI certification.
  • Building Performance Institute (BPI) — third-party certification covering home performance analysis. Required for many Florida Energy scopes including the free Home Energy Assessment.

Verify: Florida Energy website has a "Find a Contractor" tool that lists active authorized contractors by ZIP code and trade. Florida Energy program details →

How to Verify a Florida Contractor

  1. Ask the contractor for: CGC number, FL home improvement license number, applicable trade master license numbers, EPA 608/RRP certification numbers, Florida Energy HPC authorization status.
  2. Cross-reference each on the relevant database (FL DPS for CGC, DBPR for HIC, FL DOL for trade masters, EPA online lookup, Florida Energy Find-a-Contractor).
  3. Confirm active status on every license — expired or suspended counts as no license.
  4. Check for any open complaints, disciplinary actions, or revocations on each database.
  5. Confirm the contractor's scope on the proposed project matches the licenses they hold (a contractor with HIC but no CGC cannot legally pull a building permit, for example).

More Florida Resources

  • Florida Energy Rebates Guide

    Heat pump up to $10,000, insulation 75-100% covered, income-eligible enhanced thresholds. How we file the application on your behalf.

  • 0% APR HEAT Loan

    Up to $25,000 at 0% APR over 7 years, paired with rebate-eligible projects. Eligibility, paperwork, and how it stacks with Florida Energy and federal credits.

  • Federal Tax Credits (25C, 25D, 30D)

    Inflation Reduction Act credits stack with Florida Energy. 25C up to $2,000 for heat pumps, 25D 30% for geothermal/solar, 30D EV. Filing form 5695.

  • Income-Eligible Electrification

    Florida Energy income-eligible thresholds (60% SMI), $0 out-of-pocket installations, enhanced rebates, and how to document eligibility with one tax return.

  • Florida Building Code

    What permits trigger which trades, residential vs commercial scope, inspection sequence, and homeowner vs contractor responsibilities.

  • Florida Energy Code (14 Cities)

    14 Florida municipalities with stricter energy and electrification requirements on new construction and major renovations. Full list and what it means.

  • FL home improvement license Contract Protection (F.S. 489)

    1/3 maximum deposit, milestone payments, 3-day rescission, written contract requirements, FL home improvement license arbitration program. Every homeowner's legal floor.

  • ACCA Manual J Load Calculation

    The residential HVAC heat-load standard. Most contractors skip it. We run it free on every quote — here's why it matters and how it works.

  • R-32 / R-454B Refrigerant Transition

    The federal AIM Act phased out R-410A. Florida Energy now only rebates heat pumps using R-32 or R-454B. What changed, why, and how to verify compliant refrigerant.

View All Florida Resources →

Florida Resource FAQs

Florida Florida Resource Questions Answered.

What is the most important Florida license to verify?

For residential home improvement, the two non-negotiable licenses are FL home improvement license registration (required for any contract over $1,000) and the Certified General Contractor (CGC) (CGC — required to pull a Florida Building Code building permit). Without both, the contractor cannot legally work on most residential projects.

Can a contractor operate without a CGC?

Only on projects that do not require a Florida Building Code building permit (very minor scope). Any structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work triggers a permit, which requires CGC. A contractor without CGC claiming they can do bigger scope is operating outside the law.

Is IWD Miami licensed for everything?

Yes. IWD Miami holds: Florida CGC, FL home improvement license registration, Master Electrician (Class A), Master Plumber, Master Gas Fitter, EPA Section 608 Universal, EPA RRP Lead-Safe, Florida Energy Heat Pump Contractor (HPC), and BPI certification — all in-house, all currently active. Documentation provided on request.

Can a contractor sublicense from another contractor?

No. Each Florida master license is issued to a specific entity or individual. A contractor cannot operate under another contractor's license — if they do, both contractors are in violation.

What if a contractor refuses to provide license numbers?

Walk away. Legitimate Florida contractors carry their license documentation and will provide numbers on request. Refusal is a clear sign the contractor is unlicensed for the proposed scope.

How often do Florida licenses renew?

CGC renews every 1–2 years depending on class. FL home improvement license renews annually. Master trade licenses renew on multi-year cycles with continuing education requirements. EPA 608 is lifetime (no expiration). EPA RRP renews every 5 years. Florida Energy authorizations renew annually.

Where do I file a complaint against a Florida contractor?

For HIC violations: Florida DBPR. For trade-license violations: Florida Division of Occupational Licensure (DOL). For EPA RRP violations: U.S. EPA. Multiple complaint paths can apply for a single incident.

Does Florida require contractor insurance?

Yes — general liability and workers' compensation insurance are required to maintain HIC registration. Any active HIC contractor maintains both. You can request certificate of insurance directly from the contractor or from their insurance carrier.

Ready For Your Florida Project?

5-min reply. Free written estimate within 24 hours. Florida Licensed. We file every rebate on your behalf.