You can check any Florida contractor’s license for free on the state’s DBPR lookup at myfloridalicense.com, and you can look up a home’s permit history on the county or city building department’s website. Do both before you hire anyone, and look up permits on any home you’re buying, especially if the roof, A/C, windows or an addition look recent.
If you’re moving to Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas, there’s a good chance you’ll want something done to your new home in the first year. A new roof, a pool, a screen enclosure, impact windows. Here’s how I’d check the people doing the work, and the work that was already done before you buy.
How Do You Look Up a Contractor’s License in Florida?
Go to the DBPR license search and search by the person’s name, the company name or the license number. Then check three things:
Is the license active? Not inactive, suspended or delinquent.
Does the license match the job? Florida has separate licenses for roofing, plumbing, air conditioning, pools, solar and more. A residential contractor isn’t the same as a roofer.
Is it certified or registered? According to DBPR, a license number starting with “C” is certified and can work anywhere in Florida. One starting with “R” is registered and can only work in the local area where it’s registered.
Isn’t a business license enough?
No. A local business tax receipt is not a contractor’s license. Florida law says that directly. If someone shows you a business tax receipt when you ask for a license number, keep looking.
What else should you ask for?
The license number in writing, on the estimate and the contract.
Proof of insurance. DBPR points to the state’s workers’ comp coverage database for checking coverage status.
Who pulls the permit. If the contractor asks you to pull it as the owner, that’s a red flag worth a second conversation.
Why Does an Unlicensed Contractor Matter So Much in Florida?
Because the law takes the work seriously, and you’re the one left holding the house. Under Florida Statute 489.127, contracting without a license is a crime, and doing it during a declared state of emergency is a felony. That matters here after a storm, when door-knockers show up offering quick roof and tree work.
Florida also makes a contract with an unlicensed contractor unenforceable by that contractor, with no lien rights. That’s a protection for you, but it doesn’t fix bad work, and it doesn’t get your deposit back. The easiest win is checking the license before you sign.
How Do You Check Permits on a Home You’re Buying?
Permits tell you what work was done with the county or city signing off on it. Look up the address on the building department that covers the home:
Unincorporated Hillsborough County: Hillsborough County permit records. Records from January 20, 2021 on are in HillsGovHub. Older records from 2005 on are on the county’s Building Permits Reports page, and anything earlier is a records request.
Pasco County: the Pasco County Services Portal lets you search by address, permit number or license number.
Inside a city: if the home is in the City of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater or another city, check that city’s building department. For Tampa, start at City of Tampa Construction Services. For unincorporated Pinellas, start at Pinellas County Building and Development.
Not sure which one covers the address? A Tampa mailing address doesn’t always mean the City of Tampa. The property appraiser’s record will tell you the county and whether it’s inside city limits.
What should you look for?
Major work with no permit. If the listing says new roof in 2023 and there’s no roof permit, ask why.
Open or expired permits. A permit that was pulled but never got a final inspection. Ask the seller to close it before closing, or talk with your title company and attorney about how it’ll be handled.
The contractor on the permit. Look that license up too.
A home inspection is still a must. Your inspector looks at the condition of the work, and the permit record tells you whether it was signed off. You want both. I cover what insurers look at on older homes in my 4-point inspection post.
What Happens If the Home Has an Open Permit?
It’s usually fixable, but it takes time, so find it early. Florida law lets a property owner close an open permit by keeping the original contractor or hiring a different licensed contractor to finish what’s needed and get the inspections. The cleaner path is asking the seller to handle it before closing. How that’s written into your contract is a question for your attorney or title company, and I’ll make sure it’s on the list when we write the offer. More on that in my offer prep post.
Want Help Checking a Home Before You Make an Offer?
Call or text me at 813-495-7238. If you’re buying in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas, I’ll pull the permit history with you, flag anything that doesn’t match the listing, and help you figure out what to ask the seller before you’re under contract.
Jennifer Messina Realtor | Tampa Bay (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas) Luxury Service at Every Price Point Phone: 813-495-7238
This post is general information about Florida licensing and permit records. It isn’t legal advice. Rules and search tools vary by county and city, so confirm details with the building department, your title company or a Florida real estate attorney.
FAQ: Contractor Licenses and Permits in Tampa Bay
How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Florida?
Search the contractor’s name, company or license number on the DBPR license lookup at myfloridalicense.com. Make sure the license is active and matches the type of work.
What’s the difference between a certified and a registered contractor?
A certified contractor’s license starts with “C” and is good anywhere in Florida. A registered contractor’s license starts with “R” and only covers the local area where it was issued.
Is a business tax receipt the same as a contractor’s license?
No. Florida law says a business tax receipt is not a contractor’s license.
How do I find permits on a house in Hillsborough or Pasco County?
For unincorporated Hillsborough, use the county’s permit records page and HillsGovHub. For Pasco, use the Pasco County Services Portal. If the home is inside a city, check that city’s building department.
Can I buy a house with an open permit in Florida?
Often yes, but get it addressed before closing. Florida law lets an owner close an open permit with a licensed contractor, and your attorney or title company can help you decide how to handle it in the contract.