Verify the License Route Before the Project Begins
Florida general contractors are regulated through the Construction Industry Licensing Board under DBPR. Before hiring, applying or renewing, determine whether the record is certified statewide or registered for a limited local jurisdiction.
This guide explains the official lookup, business-qualifier check, CG versus RG authority, CILB 5-A and CILB 2 application details, high-rise experience, examination steps, insurance, credit, 2026 renewal, complaints and recovery-fund preparation.
Florida Board of General Contractors: Quick Answer
The official state body is the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, usually called CILB. It operates within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and regulates general, building, residential and other construction contractor categories.
A Certified General Contractor can generally contract throughout Florida within the general-contractor scope. A Registered General Contractor is limited to jurisdictions covered by the local competency registration.
What Is the Florida General Contractor Board Officially Called?
Florida does not use a separate agency officially named the Board of General Contractors. The correct regulator is the Construction Industry Licensing Board within DBPR.
CILB reviews contractor-license applications, considers disciplinary cases, conducts licensing and disciplinary hearings, adopts rules and manages construction-industry licensing programs.
Licensing and applications
CILB handles certified and registered contractor applications, status changes, business qualification, endorsement and reciprocity routes.
Discipline and hearings
The board reviews disciplinary matters and conducts proceedings involving licensing and contractor conduct.
Renewal and education
The board approves continuing-education courses and establishes requirements for maintaining active or inactive credentials.
How to Verify a Florida General Contractor License
DBPR provides searches by license number, name, city or county. Start with the exact license number when available, then repeat the search using the individual and business names.
Copy the complete license number
Use the number printed on the proposal, contract or advertisement. Do not assume that every number beginning with a construction abbreviation grants statewide authority.
Open the individual contractor record
Confirm the contractor’s full legal name, current status, license category, expiration and associated business information.
Search the business entity separately
Use the company name appearing on the estimate, contract, invoice and requested payment. Confirm that a properly licensed individual qualifies that exact entity.
Identify certified or registered authority
A certified license generally provides statewide authority. A registered license depends on local competency and should be confirmed with the project’s city or county.
Review complaints or discipline
Open the detailed record and review available public orders, complaints or disciplinary information rather than relying only on the result-list status.
Save and repeat the search
Keep a dated screenshot with the contract and search again before permits, work commencement or a substantial payment.
The Five-Record Florida Contractor Verification Workflow
A DBPR result should be cross-checked with the business entity, workers’ compensation information and local permit authority before hiring.
| Record | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. DBPR individual license | Name, category, certified or registered authority, status and expiration. | Identifies the person holding the state credential. |
| 2. DBPR qualified business | The company signing the contract is associated with the licensed qualifier. | An individual license does not automatically qualify every company the person owns or represents. |
| 3. Sunbiz entity record | Legal entity name, status, document number, officers and registered agent. | Helps reveal misspelled, dissolved or unrelated business entities. |
| 4. Workers’ compensation record | Coverage or exemption information for the contractor and subcontractors. | Construction employers and contractors have specific coverage responsibilities. |
| 5. Local building department | Jurisdiction, local registration, permits, inspections and contractor eligibility. | A state license does not replace permits, inspections or locally limited RG authority. |
Florida Contractor License Status Meanings
A contractor can have a real license number but lack current authority to contract. Read the status and any associated notes carefully.
| Status | Practical meaning | Hiring or applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Current, active | The license is current and may be used within its category and jurisdiction. | Continue verifying the business, scope, permits, insurance and discipline. |
| Current, inactive | The credential is current but the contractor is not actively practicing under it. | Do not contract until the record is properly reactivated. |
| Delinquent, active | The license was not renewed by the deadline and cannot be used until updated. | Wait for the public record to show an acceptable current status. |
| Delinquent, inactive | An inactive license was not renewed by its deadline. | The holder must resolve renewal and reactivation before contracting. |
| Null and void | The old credential generally cannot be used as an active contractor license. | Review the applicable reinstatement or new-application route with DBPR. |
| Suspended or disciplined | An order or unresolved requirement can restrict or prevent practice. | Open and read the official order before making any decision. |
Tool 1: Florida Contractor Record Checker
Complete this after reviewing the live DBPR, business and local records. It is planning help, not official approval.
Certified General Contractor vs Registered General Contractor
The principal difference is geographic authority. The underlying experience, application and local-competency routes are also different.
| Route | Common code | Where the contractor may work | Main application basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified General Contractor | CG / commonly displayed as CGC | Throughout Florida within the licensed scope, without repeating local competency examinations. | State examinations, experience, financial responsibility, fingerprints and insurance. |
| Registered General Contractor | RG / commonly displayed as RGC | Only in jurisdictions covered by the local competency registration or an accepted adjoining jurisdiction. | Local competency credential plus state registration, financial review, fingerprints and insurance. |
Florida General, Building and Residential Contractor Scope
The broadest-sounding credential is not always the correct or easiest application route. Match the intended projects to the official category.
| Category | Certified / registered codes | Official scope summary | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractor | CG / RG | Services are described as unlimited as to the type of construction work the contractor may perform. | Permits, design-professional rules and separately regulated trades still apply. |
| Building Contractor | CB / RB | Commercial and residential buildings not exceeding three stories, associated accessory structures and qualifying nonstructural work on buildings of any size. | The license is not equivalent to unrestricted high-rise structural authority. |
| Residential Contractor | CR / RR | One-, two- or three-family residences not exceeding two stories, plus associated accessory structures. | It does not cover general commercial or larger residential structures. |
Tool 2: Florida CG or RG Route Finder
Select the intended authority and the credential you currently hold. CILB and the local building official make the final decision.
How to Apply for a Florida Certified General Contractor License
A first-time certified applicant generally completes the state examination route and then files CILB 5-A with experience, fingerprint, financial and insurance documentation.
Confirm that General is the correct category
Compare the General, Building and Residential scopes with the projects you can document and intend to perform.
Register for the Florida examinations
Apply through Professional Testing, Inc. General-contractor testing includes Business and Finance, Contract Administration and Project Management components.
Pass the required examination parts
Construction examinations other than specified exceptions are computer-based through Pearson VUE after Professional Testing approves eligibility.
Prepare detailed employment and project history
Identify worker or foreman time, supervising contractor, project dates, structural categories, building height, square footage, materials and duties.
Submit fingerprints and financial documents
Use the construction ORI and obtain a board-acceptable credit report with the required public-record search statement.
Confirm liability and workers’ compensation
Active applicants attest to the required liability and property-damage coverage and to workers’ compensation coverage or a lawful exemption.
Wait for the active public record
Passing an examination or mailing an application does not itself authorize contracting. Verify the issued license and business relationship before bidding or signing.
Current CILB 5-A application fee
| Initial-certification filing period | Fee on the current form | Current relevance |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 of an even year through August 31 of an odd year | $245 | Applies to applications filed in July 2026. |
| September 1 of an odd year through April 30 of an even year | $145 | Use only when the application is filed within that official window. |
Florida CGC Experience Requirements and Project Documentation
The application is not asking only for a résumé. It requests a qualifying method, worker or foreman time and project-level evidence tied to specific structural categories.
Approved qualification combinations
| Method | Required combination |
|---|---|
| Construction-related degree | A four-year construction-related degree counted as three years, plus one year of applicable proven experience. |
| Three years of college credit | One year as a foreman plus at least three years of accredited college-level credits. |
| Two years of college credit | One year as a worker, one year as a foreman and two years of accredited college-level credits. |
| One year of college credit | Two years as a worker, one year as a foreman and one year of accredited college-level credits. |
| Experience only | Four years as a worker or foreman, including at least one year as a foreman. |
| Upgrade method | An active certified Building or Residential Contractor with at least four years in that classification may use the listed upgrade route. |
Four of six structural experience areas
Large foundations or slabs
Document foundations or slabs greater than 20,000 square feet.
Masonry walls
Identify masonry-wall work, project size and your responsibility.
Steel erection
Describe structural-steel erection and supervision.
Column erection
List column work, materials, dates and duties.
Reinforced-concrete formwork
Explain formwork for structural reinforced concrete.
Elevated slabs
Document elevated-slab work and project specifics.
Four-story experience
The Certified General Contractor form requires at least one year of experience in constructing structures four stories or higher. DBPR’s FAQ further describes the requirement as experience in new construction of structures at least four stories high.
What each experience entry should contain
- Employer name, address and telephone number.
- Name and license number of the employer’s qualifying contractor.
- Contact person and email address.
- Worker or foreman role and exact dates.
- Project name, address and project dates.
- New construction or renovation.
- Number of stories, square footage, structural materials and construction type.
- Your job title, duties and supervisory responsibility.
- The structural categories demonstrated by the project.
Tool 3: CGC Experience Readiness Checker
This planning tool mirrors major CILB 5-A experience questions. It does not approve experience.
Florida General Contractor Examination Process
Professional Testing, Inc. registers and approves construction examination candidates. Approved candidates schedule computer-based examinations through Pearson VUE.
Business and Finance
Business organization, finance, contracts, accounting, insurance, labor and regulatory material.
Contract Administration
Bidding, contracts, permits, code administration, planning and construction documentation.
Project Management
Construction methods, structural systems, scheduling, safety and execution.
Scheduling and format
- Apply directly through Professional Testing, Inc.
- Use Pearson VUE after eligibility is approved.
- Computer-based candidates can generally schedule within 72 hours after approval.
- The examinations are open-book and multiple-choice.
- Use the current content outlines and reference lists.
- Do not buy books solely from an old third-party list.
Credit Score, Fingerprints, Insurance and Workers’ Compensation
These requirements are separate from the examination and experience review. Missing one can keep an otherwise qualified application from being approved.
Credit report and financial stability
- Use a nationally recognized, board-acceptable credit reporting agency.
- The report must include a FICO-derived score.
- It must state that local, state and federal public records were checked.
- A score of 660 or higher satisfies the score component stated on the form.
- A score below 660 requires proof of a board-approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course.
- Unsatisfied judgments and liens must still be resolved or properly documented.
Insurance minimums for General and Building contractors
| Coverage | Minimum stated on CILB 5-A | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | $300,000 | Confirm the named insured and business match the application and DBPR record. |
| Property damage | $50,000 | Confirm policy dates and insurer contact information. |
| Workers’ compensation | Coverage or a lawful exemption where available | The application addresses obtaining coverage or an exemption within 30 days after issuance when applicable. |
Electronic fingerprints
Submit the DBPR application before fingerprinting, then use an FDLE-approved Livescan provider. The construction profession ORI is FL923400Z. An incorrect ORI can prevent DBPR from receiving the results.
How a Florida Contractor Qualifies a Business
An individual can hold a valid CGC license while the company signing the project contract remains unqualified. Verify the precise business relationship.
| Business situation | Typical CILB route | What should match |
|---|---|---|
| Contracting only as the licensed individual | CILB 5-A individual route. | Individual name, contract, permit and payment recipient. |
| Qualifying one corporation, LLC or partnership | CILB 6-A. | Licensed qualifier, exact business entity and DBPR relationship. |
| Qualifying an additional business | CILB 7-A or CILB 9, depending on the situation. | Supervisory authority, ownership information and each approved entity. |
| Changing the qualified business | Applicable change-of-status application. | Old entity, new entity, qualifier and effective status. |
| Financially Responsible Officer | CILB 8 where applicable. | Board-approved responsibility and the qualified company. |
Qualifying multiple businesses
Florida allows a contractor to qualify more than one business, but the applicant must demonstrate the ability to supervise each entity. Board review can become more detailed when ownership is limited or several businesses are involved.
How to Apply as a Registered General Contractor
CILB 2 is the individual registered-contractor application. It requires evidence that the applicant met competency standards in the jurisdiction for which registration is requested.
Current CILB 2 checklist
- Pay the fee for the applicable filing window.
- Submit electronic fingerprints.
- Provide required legal documentation for applicable background questions.
- Provide proof that liens, judgments or bankruptcy matters were satisfied or discharged where applicable.
- Submit a current local competency card or an acceptable letter from the local building official.
- For active status, provide the credit report and meet financial-stability requirements.
- Confirm liability, property-damage and workers’ compensation requirements.
Current registered-contractor fee window
| Initial-registration filing period | Fee on the current CILB 2 form |
|---|---|
| May 1 of an odd year through August 31 of an even year | $305, including the current July 2026 period. |
| September 1 of an even year through April 30 of an odd year | $205. |
Out-of-State License, Endorsement, NASCLA and Reciprocity
An active license elsewhere does not by itself authorize Florida contracting. Compare endorsement, reciprocity and the standard examination route before paying for unnecessary applications or tests.
Certification by endorsement
CILB 10 is used when an out-of-state applicant asks Florida to accept a substantially equivalent examination or substantially equivalent licensing standard. DBPR warns that endorsement requirements are stringent and are rarely approved.
NASCLA applicants
An endorsement applicant relying on the NASCLA examination still needs the Florida Business and Finance examination and must address the Florida Building Code examination requirement.
Reciprocity
CILB 32 applies only to identified reciprocal routes and categories. Review the current form because the accepted state, license category, examination and experience conditions can change.
Ten-year out-of-state route
The endorsement application also includes a route for applicants with a qualifying long-term out-of-state licensing history, subject to current-status, discipline, experience and other Florida requirements.
Florida Certified General Contractor Renewal for 2026
Certified construction contractor licenses must complete the current renewal requirements before midnight Eastern Time on August 31, 2026.
Current renewal fees
| Renewal action | By August 31, 2026 | After August 31, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Active renewal | $205 | $230 |
| Active renewal with qualified business | $255 | $280 |
| Inactive renewal | $55 | $80 |
| Active to inactive during renewal | $55 | $130 |
| Inactive to active | $305 | $330 |
General Contractor continuing education
Active renewal requires 14 hours. The current General Contractor breakdown includes:
- One hour specialized or advanced module.
- One hour workplace safety.
- One hour business practices.
- One hour workers’ compensation.
- One hour laws and rules.
- One hour wind mitigation.
- One hour cementitious cladding, stucco, plastering and lath application and repair methodologies.
- Remaining hours in board-approved construction-related instruction.
Renewal details that are easy to miss
- Update the mailing address, telephone number and email before renewing.
- DBPR sends the renewed license electronically rather than routinely printing and mailing it.
- Print a copy through the secure online account after renewal.
- A past-due compliance-order payment can prevent renewal.
- Professional licensees must self-report qualifying criminal convictions or pleas within the required 30-day period.
- Registered contractor licenses use an odd-year renewal cycle rather than the certified 2026 deadline.
Before Hiring a Florida General Contractor
License verification should be combined with a detailed contract, permit review, insurance confirmation and controlled payment schedule.
Verify before signing
- Current active individual contractor record.
- Exact qualified business shown by DBPR.
- Sunbiz entity matching the contract.
- CG or RG authority covering the project address.
- General Contractor category covering the work.
- Workers’ compensation, liability and permit requirements.
Pause when
- The license belongs to another person or entity.
- An RG contractor cannot identify the approved jurisdiction.
- The contractor asks the owner to obtain the permit without explaining responsibility.
- The requested payee is unrelated to the qualified business.
- Large payments run ahead of completed work.
- The contractor discourages permits, inspections or written changes.
Contract details to put in writing
| Contract item | What to state clearly |
|---|---|
| Parties | Exact property owner and DBPR-qualified business names. |
| License details | Individual qualifier, license number and category. |
| Scope and materials | Work, brands, quantities, exclusions, demolition and cleanup. |
| Permits | Who applies, pays, schedules inspections and corrects failures. |
| Payments | Deposit, milestones, retainage and final-payment conditions. |
| Changes | Written price, material and schedule approval before extra work. |
| Subcontractors | Names, licensed trades, insurance and payment responsibility. |
| Completion | Final inspection, punch list, releases, warranties and closeout documents. |
Florida Contractor Complaints, Unlicensed Activity and Recovery Fund
A DBPR complaint can address regulatory violations, but it is separate from insurance recovery, civil litigation, lien disputes or direct collection of money.
Build the complaint file
| Evidence | What to include |
|---|---|
| License and business records | DBPR screenshots, Sunbiz record, license number and qualifier information. |
| Contract documents | Proposal, signed contract, plans, specifications and change orders. |
| Payments | Invoices, receipts, checks, card records, bank statements and payee names. |
| Permits and inspections | Permit history, failed inspections, correction notices and final status. |
| Project condition | Dated photographs, videos, repair estimates and expert reports. |
| Communication | Emails, texts, letters and written requests for completion or correction. |
| Liens and supplier claims | Notices, recorded liens, supplier invoices and payment evidence. |
Submit copies rather than original documents
The construction complaint package asks for supporting evidence and warns that original documents cannot be returned. Keep a complete copy of everything submitted.
Report suspected unlicensed activity
Report a contractor who lacks the required license, uses another person’s license, contracts through an unqualified company or works outside permitted authority. Provide the job address, names, phone numbers, advertisements, contracts, vehicles and other identifying details.
Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund
The Recovery Fund is a last-resort program for qualifying residential losses caused by specified misconduct of a licensed contractor. A claimant generally needs a qualifying judgment, restitution order or arbitration award and must exhaust applicable collection remedies.
Asset-search requirement
The current Recovery Fund materials require diligent efforts to identify and pursue collectible contractor or business assets. Claims above specified amounts can require additional asset-search documentation.
Florida CILB Phone, Address and Online Services
Have the license number, application transaction number, business name, project county and exact question ready before contacting DBPR.
DBPR Customer Contact Center
Use for licensing, application, renewal, complaint and routing assistance.
CILB mailing address
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Use the complete ZIP and unit printed on the current form being submitted.
Unlicensed activity
Use the official online reporting route when possible and retain the submission record.
Useful official services
Florida General Contractor License FAQs
What is the official Florida Board of General Contractors called?
The official regulator is the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, commonly called CILB, within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
What is the difference between a Florida CG and RG license?
A Certified General Contractor with a CG category can generally contract statewide. A Registered General Contractor with an RG category is limited to jurisdictions covered by the local competency registration.
How do I verify a Florida General Contractor?
Search the individual license through DBPR, confirm the qualified business, compare the company with Sunbiz, review workers’ compensation information and verify local permit or RG-jurisdiction requirements.
Can an inactive or delinquent Florida contractor work?
No. A current inactive or delinquent record should not be treated as active contracting authority. Wait until DBPR shows an acceptable current active status.
What work can a Florida General Contractor perform?
Florida describes the General Contractor category as unlimited as to the type of construction work the contractor may perform, but permit, design, code and separately regulated trade requirements still apply.
How much experience is required for a Florida CGC license?
The standard methods require a qualifying four-year combination of experience, education or military service with at least one foreman year. CGC applicants must also document four of six structural areas and at least one year on structures four stories or higher.
What exams are required for a Florida General Contractor?
The certified General Contractor route includes Business and Finance, Contract Administration and Project Management examination components unless an approved alternative route applies.
What credit score is used for a Florida contractor application?
The current application uses a FICO-derived score of 660 as the stated financial-stability benchmark. An applicant below 660 provides proof of an approved 14-hour financial-responsibility course and must still address judgments or liens.
What insurance does a Florida General Contractor applicant need?
The current CILB 5-A form states minimum coverage of $300,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage for General and Building contractors, plus workers’ compensation coverage or a lawful exemption where applicable.
When is the 2026 Florida certified contractor renewal deadline?
The certified contractor renewal deadline is August 31, 2026. Active General Contractor renewal requires 14 hours of approved continuing education and the applicable renewal fee.
How do I file a complaint against a Florida contractor?
Use DBPR’s official construction complaint process and submit copies of the contract, payments, advertisements, communications, permits, inspection records, photographs and other supporting evidence.
Can the Florida Recovery Fund reimburse every contractor loss?
No. It is a last-resort program for qualifying residential losses involving specified misconduct by a licensed contractor. Judgment, restitution, arbitration and asset-search requirements can apply.
Match the Individual, Business, Scope and Jurisdiction
A reliable Florida contractor check combines the individual DBPR record, qualified business, Sunbiz entity, license status, CG or RG authority, project scope, workers’ compensation and local permit requirements.
Applicants should work from the current CILB form and project-specific experience evidence rather than relying on a résumé, old fee list or third-party examination summary.