How to verify a Florida contractor before signing a contract
A guide to reading Florida DBPR and DWC public records
Last reviewed: May 2026
Example: "Smith Roofing" or "CGC1234567"
Florida law requires most contractors performing construction work to hold a state license issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Before signing a contract, you can check a contractor's license status, insurance coverage, complaints, and disciplinary history using publicly available government records. This takes less than a minute and costs nothing.
What you can check
Florida Chapter 489, F.S. requires contractors performing most construction work to hold an active state license. DBPR records show whether a contractor's license is active, inactive, suspended, or revoked.
What this can tell you: Whether the contractor has met state requirements for examination, experience, and financial responsibility. An active license confirms they are legally authorized to perform licensed construction work in Florida.
What this cannot tell you: The quality of their work, their reliability, or whether they will honor their contract. An active license is a baseline requirement, not a performance guarantee.
Florida's Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) maintains records of employer insurance coverage. Contractors with employees are generally required to carry workers' compensation insurance. Sole proprietors with no employees may apply for an exemption.
What this can tell you: Whether the contractor currently carries workers' compensation coverage, which protects both workers and homeowners from liability for workplace injuries.
What this cannot tell you: Whether the contractor carries general liability insurance, which is a separate policy. DWC records cover workers' compensation only.
DBPR records include formal complaints filed against licensed contractors through the state's regulatory process.
What this can tell you: Whether formal complaints have been filed. Patterns of complaints — especially around deposits, abandoned work, or unlicensed subcontracting — may warrant additional due diligence.
What this cannot tell you: Whether a complaint is valid. Complaints can result from misunderstandings, billing disputes, or unrealistic expectations. A single complaint does not indicate wrongdoing.
When the Construction Industry Licensing Board investigates a complaint and finds violations, it can impose disciplinary actions including fines, probation, suspension, or revocation.
What this can tell you: Whether the state has formally found violations and imposed consequences. These are the most significant entries in a contractor's public record.
What this cannot tell you: The full context of the situation. A contractor with a past fine may have resolved the underlying issue years ago. Review the details before drawing conclusions.
Florida issues different license types for different trades. A Certified General Contractor can perform a broader range of work than a Certified Roofing Contractor, for example. Some contractors hold multiple licenses.
What this can tell you: Whether the contractor is licensed for the specific type of work you need. A plumbing contractor should not be performing roofing work under a plumbing license.
DBPR records include the original licensure date, which indicates how long a contractor has been licensed in Florida.
What this can tell you: How long the contractor has maintained a Florida license. A longer track record provides more public data to evaluate. A newer license is not inherently a concern — every contractor starts somewhere.
When to check
A license check is most useful before signing a contract, particularly in situations where independent verification is harder to obtain:
After a storm — Severe weather brings an influx of out-of-state contractors who may not be licensed in Florida. A license check confirms whether they hold a valid Florida license.
Unusually low bids — When one bid is substantially below the others, checking the license classification confirms whether the contractor is licensed for the scope of work being proposed.
No established web presence — When a contractor has limited online history, public records provide an independent source of verification.
Door-to-door solicitation — Contractors who solicit work directly, particularly after storms, can be verified in under a minute using their license number.
Pressure to sign immediately — Any contractor who discourages you from verifying their credentials independently warrants additional review.
What a license check does not cover
Public records confirm whether a contractor is licensed and whether formal complaints or disciplinary actions appear in state records. They do not cover:
· Quality of workmanship
· Pricing fairness
· Responsiveness or communication
· General liability insurance (separate from workers' compensation)
· Warranty fulfillment
· County or municipal permits and local licensing
A license check is a baseline verification step. Use it alongside references, written estimates, and your own judgment.
Where the data comes from
PublicWarden pulls from two Florida government databases, both publicly available under Florida's Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, F.S.):
DBPRFlorida DBPR — License status, license classification, original licensure date, expiration date, complaints, and disciplinary actions for state-licensed construction contractors. myfloridalicense.com
DWCFlorida DWC — Workers' compensation insurance policy records including insurer name, policy number, effective and expiration dates. myfloridacfo.com
For more detail on how we collect and display this data, see our methodology page.
Search by city or trade
You can also browse Florida contractors by location or license type:
By city: Miami · Tampa · Orlando · Jacksonville · Fort Lauderdale · All cities
By trade: General Contractors · Roofing · Plumbing · Air Conditioning · All trades
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to check a Florida contractor's license?
Yes. Florida contractor license records are public under the Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, F.S.). PublicWarden provides free access to these records with no account required.
What does an active license mean?
An active license means the contractor has met Florida's requirements for examination, experience, and financial responsibility and is currently authorized to perform licensed construction work. It does not guarantee the quality of their work.
What if a contractor has complaints on file?
Complaints in DBPR records indicate formal filings through the state's regulatory process. A complaint does not prove wrongdoing. Multiple complaints or complaints with specific patterns may warrant asking the contractor directly about the circumstances.
What if no workers' compensation insurance is listed?
If no insurance record is found, the contractor may carry coverage under a different business entity name, hold a valid exemption as a sole proprietor with no employees, or may not yet be indexed in our system. Ask the contractor for a current certificate of insurance.
Can I search by license number?
Yes. Enter the license number (e.g. CGC1234567 or CCC1328812) in the search bar. Florida contractor license numbers typically start with a letter prefix indicating the license type.
About this guide: PublicWarden displays public records from the Florida DBPR and DWC. We verify public record accuracy, not contractor quality. A clean public record does not constitute an endorsement. All data is sourced under Florida's Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, F.S.).
How to Verify a Florida Roofer Before You Sign
Focused guide for roofing contractors, including post-storm verification.
How PublicWarden Uses Public Records
Our methodology for collecting, matching, and displaying Florida contractor data.