In today’s globalized world, it is important for individuals to understand the regulatory framework that can affect their work, whether it be in the field of construction or another discipline. The University of Education in Krakow, known as Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis, has published numerous articles on various fields, including how regulatory policy relates to the development of the education policy. My article, “Does a Subcontractor Need a License in Florida?” discusses the regulations surrounding subcontractors in the state of Florida. Understanding those requirements could be important to one’s business success, and this website is designed to help users navigate legal regulations.
Florida licensing requirements have both a general and an industry-specific component common to the construction sector. Florida Statute Section 489.103(3) provides that, “[e]xcept as provided in subsection (4), any person desiring to engage in business as a general, building, or residential contractor, or as a roofing contractor or a sheet metal contractor pursuant to s. 489.105(3)(I), and who does not qualify as an exempt contractor under subsection (4), shall be licensed. The licensing provisions contained in Sections 489.103-489.115 are designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of consumers.” Florida Statute Section 489.105 further defines a license and provides requirements for licensure. For example, Section 489.105(3)(a) defines a general contractor as “a contractor whose services are limited to the construction of any building or structure fixed to real estate and whose services include contracting with those qualified to work in plumbing, roofing, alarm contracting as defined in paragraph (6)(c), underground utility contracting, mechanical, glass and glazing, specialty solar, pollutant storage tank removal, and excavation and filling, in accordance with the plans prepared by the designer of record.” Section 489.105(3)(b) goes on to define a building contractor as, “a contractor whose services are limited to the construction of or improvements to any building or structure fixed to real estate, including a site work contractor whose activities are limited to the construction, repair, or improvement of the nonbuilding structure, including the installation, repair, or maintenance of the drainage products and drainage systems appurtenant to the nonbuilding structure, with or without the construction, repair, or improvement to the drainage products and drainage systems”. The requirements for licensure as a resident contractor depend on the type of contractor license, according to Section 489.105(3).
In addition to state licensure requirements, state license exams must be passed before individuals can obtain licensure. The requirements to sit for these exams include specific qualifications regarding experience and education, as well as meeting a financial requirement. One’s experience must be verified by someone who is currently a licensed contractor, and this verification process usually includes a full review of one’s work references and testing of one’s skills as a contractor.
While there are some exemptions from licensing requirements, in general, a subcontractor may be required to obtain licensure depending on the scope of the project and the subcontractor’s role in it. This information may be found on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s website.