How do I check if a contractor is licensed?

Short answer

Look the contractor up on the licensing authority's official website — never rely on a license number printed on a truck, business card or estimate. In Florida, search the DBPR Licensing Portal by name or license number and confirm the license is active, in the right category, and matches the business you are hiring.

Full explanation

Licensing is public record. Every state that licenses construction trades publishes a free online lookup, and that lookup is the only reliable proof. A photo of a license, a number on an invoice or a screenshot can all be copied from someone else.

What to confirm when you search:
- The license is active (not expired, suspended, revoked or "null and void").
- The name on the license matches the person or company signing your contract.
- The license category covers your work. A roofing license does not authorize electrical work, and a specialty license does not authorize general contracting.
- The license covers your location. Some states issue statewide licenses; others license by county or city.
- Any complaint or disciplinary history the state publishes.

Not every trade is state licensed, and some work is licensed only at the city or county level. If your state does not license the trade, check the local building department and the state or county business registration instead.

Write the license number, the exact licensee name and the date you checked into your file. If a dispute happens later, that record matters.

State-specific rules

Florida licenses construction contractors through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Construction Industry Licensing Board. Use the DBPR Licensing Portal license search to verify any Florida contractor.

Florida issues two kinds of construction licenses:
- Certified contractors may work anywhere in Florida.
- Registered contractors may work only in the local jurisdictions where they have qualified.

Confirm the license status is "Current, Active" and that the category matches your job. Local building departments may also require a separate local registration or permit privileges, so check with your county or city as well.

Common mistake to avoid

A license number on an estimate is not verification. Contractors sometimes list a number belonging to another company, a former employer, or an expired license. Search the official state site yourself, every time.

Sources & References

Licensing Portal — Verify a License — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation official source
Construction Industry Licensing Board — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation official source
§489.105, Florida Statutes — Definitions — Florida Legislature — Online Sunshine official source
How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Federal Trade Commission official source

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