Who can fix it in Florida? Handyman and contractor license rules

Sources

1. Fla. Stat. § 489.103 (2026): Exemptions — The Florida SenateAny work or operation of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature in which the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and all other items is less than $2,500
2. Fla. Admin. Code R. 61G4-12.011(2): Work that is not casual, minor, or inconsequential — Florida Department of State (Florida Administrative Code)activities which are not casual, minor, or inconsequential, include, but are not limited to, any work affecting structural components, any work involving use of toxic or hazardous chemicals or substances, any work affecting access or egress to a structure, any work affecting accommodations for the physically disabled, any work for which a building permit is required and any work affecting life-safety matters as defined in the applicable building code
3. Fla. Stat. § 489.505 (2026): Definitions (electrical and alarm contracting) — The Florida Senate“Contracting” means, except where exempted in this part, engaging in business as a contractor or performing electrical or alarm work for compensation
4. Fla. Stat. § 489.117 (2026): Registration; specialty contractors — The Florida Senatejob scopes for which a local government may not require a license include, but are not limited to, painting; flooring; cabinetry; interior remodeling when the scope of the project does not include a task for which a state license is required; driveway or tennis court installation; handyman services; decorative stone, tile, marble, granite, or terrazzo installation
5. Fla. Stat. § 489.113 (2026): Qualifications for practice; restrictions — The Florida SenateA person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state.
6. Fla. Stat. § 489.105(3)(e) (2026): Roofing contractor — The Florida Senate“Roofing contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade
7. Fla. Stat. § 489.105(3)(m) (2026): Plumbing contractor — The Florida SenateA plumbing contractor may perform drain cleaning and clearing and install or repair rainwater catchment systems; however, a mandatory licensing requirement is not established for the performance of these specific services.
8. Fla. Stat. § 489.105(3)(f) (2026): Class A air-conditioning contractor — The Florida Senate“Class A air-conditioning contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design, if not prohibited by law, central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems
9. Fla. Stat. § 489.503(6) (2026): Owner exemption (electrical) — The Florida SenateAn owner of property making application for permit, supervising, and doing the work in connection with the construction, maintenance, repair, and alteration of and addition to a single-family or duplex residence for his or her own use and occupancy and not intended for sale
10. Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7)(a) (2026): Owner-builders — The Florida SenateOwners of property when acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors
11. Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7)(a)1 (2026): Sale or lease within 1 year — The Florida Senateproof of the sale or lease, or offering for sale or lease, of any such structure by the owner-builder within 1 year after completion of same creates a presumption that the construction was undertaken for purposes of sale or lease
12. Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7)(c) (2026): Owner must sign the permit — The Florida Senatean owner must personally appear and sign the building permit application
13. Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7)(c) (2026): Owner-builder disclosure statement, item 8 — The Florida SenateAny person working on my building who is not licensed must work under my direct supervision and must be employed by me, which means that I must comply with laws requiring the withholding of federal income tax and social security contributions under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and must provide workers’ compensation for the employee.
14. Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7)(c) (2026): Owner-builder disclosure statement, item 9 — The Florida SenateI also understand that the construction must comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, building codes, and zoning regulations.
15. Fla. Stat. § 489.119(5)(b) (2026): License number in ads and contracts — The Florida SenateThe registration or certification number of each contractor shall appear in each offer of services, business proposal, bid, contract, or advertisement, regardless of medium, as defined by board rule, used by that contractor or business organization in the practice of contracting.
16. Fla. Stat. § 489.126(2)(a) (2026): Money received by contractors — The Florida Senatemoney totaling more than 10 percent of the contract price for repair, restoration, improvement, or construction to residential real property must: 1. Apply for permits necessary to do work within 30 days after the date payment is made, except where the work does not require a permit under the applicable codes and ordinances
17. Fla. Stat. § 489.126(2)(a)2 (2026): Start of work — The Florida SenateStart the work within 90 days after the date all necessary permits for work, if any, are issued, unless the contractor has just cause for failing to apply for the necessary permits, starting the work, or refunding the payment, or unless the person who made the payment agreed, in writing, to a longer period to apply for the necessary permits or start the work or to longer periods for both.
18. Fla. Stat. § 489.1425(1) (2026): Recovery fund notice — The Florida Senatemust contain a written statement explaining the consumer’s rights under the recovery fund, except where the value of all labor and materials does not exceed $2,500
19. Fla. Stat. § 489.143(3) (2026): Recovery fund payment limits — The Florida Senatefor Division I and Division II contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2024, payment from the recovery fund is subject to a $100,000 maximum payment for each Division I claim and a $30,000 maximum payment for each Division II claim
20. Fla. Stat. § 489.141(1)(a) (2026): Conditions for recovery — The Florida SenateThe claimant has received a final judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction in this state or has received an award in arbitration or the Construction Industry Licensing Board has issued a final order directing the licensee to pay restitution to the claimant.
21. Fla. Stat. § 489.141(2)(d) (2026): No recovery if unlicensed — The Florida SenateThe claim is based upon a construction contract in which the contractor did not hold a valid and current license at the time of the construction contract
22. Fla. Stat. § 489.128(1) (2026): Unlicensed contracts unenforceable — The Florida Senatecontracts entered into on or after October 1, 1990, by an unlicensed contractor shall be unenforceable in law or in equity by the unlicensed contractor
23. Fla. Stat. § 489.147(6)(a) (2026): Canceling a roof contract after an emergency — The Florida SenateA residential property owner may cancel a contract to replace or repair a roof without penalty or obligation within 10 days after the execution of the contract or by the official start date, whichever comes first, if the contract was entered into within 180 days of events that are the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor and the residential property is located within the geographic area for which the declaration of the state of emergency applies. For the purposes of this subsection, the official start date is the date on which work that includes the installation of materials that will be included in the final work on the roof commences, a permit has been issued, or a temporary repair to the roof covering or roof has been made in compliance with the Florida Building Code.
24. Fla. Stat. § 489.103(7)(a)1 (2026): Homes covered by the owner-builder rule — The Florida SenateWhen building or improving farm outbuildings or one-family or two-family residences on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners and not offered for sale or lease
25. Fla. Stat. § 489.1402(1)(l) (2026): 'Valid and current license' defined — The Florida Senate“Valid and current license,” for the purpose of s. 489.141(2)(d), means a license issued pursuant to this part to a licensee, including a license in an active, inactive, delinquent, or suspended status.
26. Fla. Stat. § 489.143(2) (2026): Payment limited to actual damages — The Florida Senatebut only to the extent and amount of actual damages suffered by the claimant, and only up to the maximum payment allowed for each respective Division I and Division II claim.
27. Fla. Stat. § 489.141(1) (2026): Bonds and insurance used up first — The Florida SenateA claimant is eligible to seek recovery from the recovery fund after making a claim and exhausting the limits of any available bond, cash bond, surety, guarantee, warranty, letter of credit, or policy of insurance if each of the following conditions is satisfied:
28. Fla. Stat. § 489.141(1)(b) (2026): Only listed violations qualify — The Florida SenateThe judgment, award, or restitution is based upon a violation of s. 489.129(1)(g), (j), or (k) or s. 713.35.
29. What Services Require a DBPR License? (Electrical and Alarm Contractors) — Florida Department of Business and Professional RegulationIf you pay someone to perform even the simplest of electrical work, such as connecting two wires, you must hire a licensee.

Checked October 20, 2026. We used AI-assisted research, then separate review passes that tried to prove each claim wrong against the law and agency pages above. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with the state board or your local building department before you hire or start work. See a mistake? Email [email protected].