Florida Contractor License Classifications

To obtain a Florida contractor license, you should apply to the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. There are two broad types of licenses you can obtain:

• Certified license (allows the licensee to work across the whole state)
• Registered license (allows the licensee to work within specific local jurisdictions)

Division I Contractor Classifications

General Contractor

A general contractor is someone, who (whose):

• services are not limited to the construction, repair, alteration, remodeling and improvement of any structure or building type
• can contract for activities and perform work requiring licensure under that part
• is  responsible for the construction or alteration of a structural component of a building/structure
  does clearing and grubbing, grading, excavation and other works for any type of construction project

Building Contractor

A building contractor is someone, who (whose):

• services are limited to the construction, repair, remodeling and improvement of commercial/residential buildings, which do not surpass three stories in height
• is responsible for the construction or alteration of a structural component of a building/structure
• can do clearing and grubbing, grading, excavation and other site works for the construction project, which is limited to the lot of the specific building location

Residential Contractor

A residential contractor is someone, who (whose):

• services are limited to the construction, remodeling and improvement of one, two or three family accommodations, which do not exceed two stories in height
• can do/perform clearing and grubbing, grading, excavation and other site works for the given construction project

Division II Contractor Classifications

Sheet Metal Contractor License

The license actually permits the licensee to perform fabrication, assembling, erection, handling, installation, dismantling, conditioning, adjustment, manufacture, alteration, repair, servicing and design of ferrous, as well as nonferrous metal work.

Roofing Contractor License

They, in short, install, maintain, repair, alter, extend and design all kinds of roofing, waterproofing, and coating.

Air Conditioning Class A Contractor License

To clarify, they install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend and design central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, including ductwork.

Air Conditioning Class B Contractor License

They work with central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, ventilating systems and ductwork limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 Btu of heating.

Air Conditioning Class C Contractor License

This, in short, limits the services to air-conditioning, heating, or refrigeration systems, including duct cleaning and equipment sanitizing.

Mechanical Contractor License

To clarify, they complete an air-distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, lift station equipment, piping, and all apparatus/equipment used in connection therewith.

Commercial Pool/Spa Contractor License

Their work, in general, includes construction, repair, and servicing of any swimming pool and hot tub/spa, both public and private.

Residential Pool/Spa Contractor License

To clarify, they install, repair, or replace existing equipment, any cleaning or equipment sanitizing, which requires at least a partial disassembling.

Servicing Pool/Spa Contractor License

They, in short, repair and replace existing equipment, any cleaning or equipment sanitizing, excluding filter changes.

Plumbing Contractor License

To clarify, the license includes contracting business, consisting of the execution of contracts requiring the skills to install, repair, alter, extend, and design plumbing.

Underground Utility and Excavation Contractor License

They, in general, install and repair public/private property, through directional drilling, auger boring, trenchless technologies, wet and dry taps, grouting, slip lining, of sanitary sewer collection systems, water distribution systems and storm sewer collection system.

Solar Contractor License

To clarify, the licensee can install, alter, as well as replace solar panels for potable solar water heating systems, swimming pool solar heating systems and photovoltaic systems.

Pollutant Storage System Contractor License

In short, the license allows the license holder to use materials and items installing and maintaining pollutant storage tanks.

Marine Contractor License

To simplify, the license makes it possible to work with floating docks, boathouses, mooring devices/fields, piers, wharfs, boatlifts, boat ramps, revetments, wave attenuators, dune crossovers and other marine structures.

Specialty Classifications

Structure Specialty Contractor License

The licensee, as a rule, installs, replaces, adjusts and repairs work in in compliance with accepted and confirmed engineering data.

Irrigation Specialty Contractor License

They, in short, install, maintain, repair, manage and monitor irrigation systems.

Industrial Facility Specialty Contractor License

To clarify, they modify and alter uninhabitable industrial structures for energy, gas and chemical production.

Gas Line Specialty Contractor License

The license, in general, covers altering and modifying natural gas transmission systems and natural gas distribution systems.

Tower Specialty Contractor License

It covers repairing and altering uninhabitable towers for purposes of communications, energy, water, as well as utilities.

Electrical Contractor Classifications

Alarm System Contractor

It, in general, installs and lays out alarm systems for all purposes.

Alarm System Contractor I

The license, in general, covers all types of alarm systems.

Alarm System Contractor II

To clarify, it includes all types of alarm systems, except for fire.

Certified Alarm System Contractor

A certificate, which, in reality, demonstrates competency and is limited to alarm circuits and equipment.

Electrical Contractor

To clarify, it actually allows the contractor to conduct business in the field of electrical trade and work with electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances and conduit.

Registered Electrical Contractor

To clarify, the contractor can only perform work in the given jurisdiction.

Registered Alarm System Contractor I

The license includes all types of alarm systems, but allows work in the given jurisdiction.

Registered Alarm System Contractor II

Gives the opportunity to involve all alarm system types, but fire for performing work in the given jurisdiction.

Registered Residential Alarm System Contractor

In this case, the work is limited to burglar alarm systems in single-family residential accommodations.

Lighting Maintenance Specialty Electrical Contractor

It actually covers replacing, as well as repairing lighting fixtures in buildings, billboards, roadways, streets and other structures.

Residential Electrical Contractor

To clarify, it is a certificate, which covers altering and replacing electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, raceways and conduit.

Limited Energy Systems Specialty

To clarify, it covers installing, repairing and designing electrical wiring, fixtures, appliances, raceways and conduit.

Utility Line Electrical Contractor

To clarify, the license covers transmission of electrical circuits, distribution electrical circuits, and substation construction.

The Swimming Pool Specialty Contractor Sub-classifications

• Layout Specialty Contractor
• Structural Specialty Contractor
• Excavation Specialty Contractor
• Swimming Pool Trim Specialty Contractor
• Piping Specialty Contractor
• Finishes Specialty Contractor