Broward County Contractor Licensing — Complete Guide for South Florida 2026

Contractor licensing in Broward County is one of the most important legal requirements for anyone performing construction work in South Florida. Unlike some states that rely entirely on state-issued licenses, Florida has a dual licensing system: state-certified licenses issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and county or municipal competency card licenses issued by local jurisdictions. In Broward County, the Broward County Central Examining Board of Building Contractors (CEBB) issues local competency cards for contractors who do not hold state-certified licenses. Understanding the difference between these two licensing tracks — and knowing which is required for your project — is essential before signing any contract or pulling any building permit in Broward County.

Florida State-Certified Contractor Licenses

A Florida state-certified contractor license is the highest-level contractor credential in Florida and is recognized statewide. State-certified contractors may pull permits and perform work in any county and any municipality in Florida without obtaining additional local competency cards. The Florida DBPR issues state-certified licenses through the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) for construction contractors and through other boards for specialty contractors.

The major Florida state-certified contractor license categories relevant to South Florida construction include: Certified General Contractor (CGC) — authorizes contracting for all types of construction work, including unlimited building height and any occupancy type; Certified Building Contractor (CBC) — authorizes contracting for building construction excluding major electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems; Certified Residential Contractor (CRC) — authorizes contracting for residential construction up to three stories in height; Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC) — authorizes contracting for all types of roofing; Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) and Certified Electrical Journeyman — authorizes contracting for electrical work; Certified Plumbing Contractor (PC) — authorizes contracting for plumbing work; Certified Air Conditioning Contractor (CAC) — authorizes contracting for HVAC work; Certified Sheet Metal Contractor — authorizes contracting for sheet metal work; Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Contractor — authorizes contracting for underground utility and excavation work; Certified Mechanical Contractor — authorizes contracting for mechanical systems; and Certified Swimming Pool/Spa Contractor — authorizes contracting for swimming pool and spa construction.

Each state-certified license requires passing a Florida DBPR examination, demonstrating financial responsibility, and maintaining current USD general liability insurance and USD workers' compensation insurance (or an exemption). State-certified licenses must be renewed every two years with proof of continuing education completion.

Broward County Local Competency Cards

Broward County's Central Examining Board of Building Contractors issues local competency cards to contractors who do not hold state-certified licenses but who pass the Broward County competency examination and meet Broward County's experience and financial responsibility requirements. Local competency cards are valid only in Broward County — contractors with only a Broward County competency card cannot pull permits in Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, or any municipality outside of Broward County without obtaining that jurisdiction's local card or a Florida state-certified license.

Local competency card categories in Broward County mirror many of the state license categories: Building Contractor, Residential Contractor, General Contractor, Electrical Contractor, Plumbing Contractor, Air Conditioning Contractor, Roofing Contractor, and various specialty categories. The Broward County CEBB application requires submission of a completed application form, examination scores, experience documentation (project references, employment verification), USD insurance certificates, and USD application fees.

Contractors who move from Broward County work to projects in Miami-Dade or Palm Beach must obtain either the respective county's local competency card or upgrade to a Florida state-certified license. Failing to have the correct license in the correct jurisdiction results in permit application rejection and, if discovered after permit issuance, potential permit revocation.

USD Insurance Requirements for Broward County Contractors

All contractors performing permitted work in Broward County must maintain current USD general liability insurance and USD workers' compensation insurance. The minimum coverage amounts set by Broward County CEBB for general liability are updated periodically and must be confirmed at the time of licensing. As a general reference, minimum general liability coverage for building contractors in Broward County has typically been $300,000 USD to $1,000,000 USD per occurrence, depending on license category.

Workers' compensation coverage is required for contractors with employees. Contractors who are sole proprietors with no employees may obtain a Florida Division of Workers' Compensation exemption from coverage — but this exemption does not protect subcontractors who work for them without their own workers' compensation coverage. Property owners are legally responsible for ensuring that every contractor and subcontractor working on their property has current USD workers' compensation coverage or a valid exemption. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you as the property owner may be liable for medical costs and lost wages.

Insurance certificates must name the county or the property owner as an additional insured on the contractor's policy. Request a certificate of insurance from every contractor before signing any contract and verify with the insurance company that the policy is current — certificates can be issued for expired policies.

Broward County Local Business Tax Receipt

In addition to a contractor license, every contractor performing work in a Broward County municipality must have a local business tax receipt (formerly called an occupational license) from Broward County and from the specific municipality where the work is performed. Local business tax receipts are annual documents that must be renewed each year by paying a USD tax fee. Failure to maintain a current local business tax receipt is a violation of local ordinance and can result in permit denial.

Many property owners and contractors overlook the local business tax requirement because it is separate from the contractor license and the insurance. Building permit applications in Broward County municipalities require the contractor to provide both the license number and the local business tax receipt number. Applications that list an expired or missing business tax receipt are flagged for correction before the permit is issued.

Registering State-Certified Licenses in Broward County Municipalities

State-certified contractors who are licensed by the Florida DBPR may be required to register their state license with individual Broward County municipalities before pulling permits in those municipalities. Registration (not a new exam or new license — simply a registration process) allows the municipality to verify that the contractor's state license is current and that the contractor's USD insurance is on file. Registration fees vary by municipality and are typically a USD fee of $50 to $200 paid at the time of first permit application with a new municipality.

Municipalities that require registration include the City of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and others. The contractor should verify registration requirements with each municipality before submitting a permit application for a project in that jurisdiction.

Contractor License Verification

Before hiring any contractor in Broward County, verify their license status through the Florida DBPR website (myfloridalicense.com) for state-certified licenses and through the Broward County CEBB website for local competency cards. The online verification shows: license type, license number, licensee name, license status (active, inactive, null and void, revoked, suspended), and any disciplinary actions against the licensee.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor in Florida is a third-degree felony for the unlicensed individual. For the property owner, hiring an unlicensed contractor means: no insurance coverage (unlicensed contractors are uninsurable for their work), no permit ability (permits cannot be pulled under unlicensed contractor names), no legal recourse through Florida DBPR if the work is defective, and personal liability for any injuries to unlicensed workers on the property. Unlicensed contractor work that is discovered by the building inspector results in immediate permit revocation and stop-work orders.

Subcontractor Licensing in Broward County

Every specialty subcontractor — electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, roofing contractors, pool contractors — must be independently licensed in their respective trade. The general contractor's license does not cover specialty trade work performed by subcontractors. Each subcontractor's license, insurance, and local business tax receipt must be documented before they are allowed to perform work on a permitted project.

Subcontractors who perform work and are not paid by the general contractor may file a mechanics' lien against the property. This lien right exists even if the property owner paid the general contractor in full. The lien can ultimately lead to foreclosure proceedings. Property owners should obtain a Contractor's Final Payment Affidavit and lien releases from all subcontractors before making final payment to the general contractor.

Consequences of Unlicensed Contracting

The consequences of using an unlicensed contractor in Broward County are severe: the contractor faces criminal charges (third-degree felony) and civil penalties (USD fines from DBPR of $5,000 per violation and above); permits pulled under false pretenses are revoked; all work performed must be inspected and may need to be redone by a licensed contractor; the property owner loses insurance coverage for damage caused by the unlicensed work; and the property may face code enforcement liens that must be cleared before sale.

After a hurricane, unlicensed contractors from other states invade South Florida seeking quick USD profits from desperate homeowners needing repairs. Many of these contractors take large USD deposits and disappear or perform sub-standard work that fails inspections. Always verify licenses before signing any contract, particularly for emergency repairs.

Continuing Education for Broward County Contractors

Florida state-certified contractors must complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license — including mandatory hours covering the Florida Building Code, workers' compensation, business practices, and workplace safety. Broward County local competency card holders have separate continuing education requirements set by the CEBB.

Continuing education providers are approved by the DBPR and must be verified before taking courses. Courses taken from non-approved providers do not count toward license renewal. License renewals with deficient continuing education hours result in a lapsed license — which means the contractor cannot pull permits until the deficiency is corrected and the license is reinstated.

Working with Endless Life Design and Licensed Contractors

Endless Life Design works exclusively with Florida state-certified licensed contractors for all construction projects in Broward County and throughout South Florida. We verify the license status, insurance coverage, and local business tax receipt of every contractor before recommending or engaging them on client projects. Contact Endless Life Design before beginning any construction project in Broward County to ensure your contractor team is fully licensed, insured, and legally authorized to perform the work.