In Florida, a certified contractor holds a certificate of competency issued by the state and may contract in any jurisdiction without re-qualifying locally; a registered contractor met one local jurisdiction’s competency requirements and may contract only there. The choice comes down to geography: certification means statewide work, registration means a single local market. Both are defined in Fla. Stat. 489.105(8) and (10).
Which Florida GC license do you need?
Two independent questions decide your license: the scope of work (category/division) and whether you go Certified (state exam, statewide) or Registered (local competency, that jurisdiction only).
Enable JavaScript to use the interactive selector.
The two definitions, verbatim
| Path | Verbatim statutory definition (Fla. Stat. 489.105) |
|---|---|
| Certified | “any contractor who possesses a certificate of competency issued by the department and who shall be allowed to contract in any jurisdiction in the state without being required to fulfill the competency requirements of that jurisdiction.” (489.105(8)) |
| Registered | “any contractor who has registered with the department pursuant to fulfilling the competency requirements in the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued. Registered contractors may contract only in such jurisdictions.” (489.105(10)) |
A registered license is never statewide. If you want to work across Florida, you need certification.
Scope is a separate question
Certified vs registered is the geography axis. The scope axis — General, Building, or Residential — is independent. Under Division I (Fla. Stat. 489.105(3)), General means unlimited scope, Building is limited to buildings not exceeding three stories, and Residential is limited to one-, two-, or three-family residences not exceeding two habitable stories above no more than one uninhabitable story. Division II covers the specialty trades. The selector above asks both questions separately so the result combines them correctly.
Which should you choose?
- Choose certified if you want to bid work anywhere in Florida or grow beyond one county.
- Choose registered only if a single local jurisdiction offers the registration and you intend to work solely there. Confirm the jurisdiction actually offers it before you rely on this path.
Related pages
Once you know your path, review the Florida GC license requirements for that route, and if you already hold an out-of-state license, check Florida contractor license reciprocity. When you are ready, follow the step-by-step path to a Florida GC license. For the overview, see the Florida general contractor license guide.
This page summarizes Florida law and is general information, not legal advice. Verify scope and jurisdiction rules with the Florida DBPR and your local building department before acting.
Last verified: 2026-06-20
Not affiliated with the Florida DBPR. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) or the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) — it is an independent informational guide. Always verify requirements, fees, and deadlines with the Florida DBPR/CILB.
Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal or professional advice, and does not create any advisory relationship. For your situation, consult a qualified professional.