How to Check a Florida Contractor License Before You Sign

Search the license on MyFloridaLicense.com by number, name or business before you sign. Flooring itself often needs no state license, so for a flooring-only job also check local requirements, insurance and a written contract.

How to run the DBPR search

DBPR's construction page lists three ways to verify a contractor on MyFloridaLicense.com: click “Verify a License”, then search by license number, by the contractor's first and last name, or by the business name in the “Organization/Establishment Name” field.

If you search by business, DBPR says the results show the individual contractors who qualify that business, and you should then repeat the search with the individual's name to confirm they really qualify it. A company name on a truck is not a license.

DBPR's hiring brochure adds two points worth remembering: an occupational license does not qualify someone to act as a contractor, and neither does registering an Inc. or LLC with the Division of Corporations.

Does a flooring installer need a state license?

Often not. DBPR lists installing wood or tile flooring among examples of work that do not require its state license (DBPR, services requiring a license), and its construction page notes that flooring, cabinets, countertops, paint and similar trades may be licensed through a local building department instead.

So for a flooring-only job, an empty DBPR result is not by itself a red flag. Ask the installer about any local registration, a certificate of liability insurance from their insurer, and a written estimate. If the job also moves plumbing, adds electrical or repairs structure, those parts need the right licensed trade.

Our flooring permits and licensing guide has the city-by-city permit notes for the Orlando area.

Warning signs DBPR lists

The DBPR brochure describes patterns it sees in unlicensed construction cases. Watch for them in any trade, including flooring helpers who offer to do plumbing or electrical work on the side.

• Money: all or most of the payment up front, cash only, or a check made out to a person or to “cash”.
• Address: a post office box instead of a street address, or unmarked vehicles with out-of-state tags.
• Permits: claims that a permit is not necessary, or that it is cheaper if you pull it yourself.
• Ads: no license number in advertising; DBPR says licensed contractors must include it.

Insurance, estimates and the contract

DBPR's “Trust but Verify” flyer warns that unlicensed workers are often uninsured, that a homeowner may end up liable for injuries or damage, and that many homeowner policies require work to be done by a licensed contractor.

Ask for a certificate of insurance sent by the insurer, not a photo of a card. Get several written estimates that state the work, materials, completion date and total cost, as the DBPR brochure recommends, and compare them with our estimate checklist and the questions to ask an installer.

If something already went wrong

DBPR's Unlicensed Activity Program takes complaints online, by phone at 1-866-532-1440, by email at ULA@myfloridalicense.com or through the DBPR mobile app, and lets you search existing complaints first.

DBPR says a complaint that meets legal requirements may be investigated and can lead to a cease-and-desist notice, a citation or a referral for prosecution. It also says it does not represent individual consumers or give legal advice, so a dispute over money may need separate legal help.

Glossary

DBPR

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which licenses state-certified contractors.

Qualifier

The licensed individual whose license allows a business entity to contract in Florida.

Certificate of insurance

A document from the insurer showing the contractor's liability coverage and dates.

ULA

DBPR's Unlicensed Activity Program, which reviews reports of unlicensed work.

Sources

Reviewed October 2026. Third-party figures and claims are attributed to the source.

• DBPR, Construction Industry – Business Information — three ways to verify a license; flooring and similar trades may be licensed locally.
• DBPR, Hiring Licensed Contractors brochure — hiring tips and warning signs.
• DBPR Unlicensed Activity Program, Take Action — how to file and search complaints and what happens next.

Questions and answers

Related guides

Get a free estimate for your project

Describe your rooms, approximate area and existing floor. The request is free with no obligation to hire; an independent installer confirms availability, assessed scope and written price separately.

About this guide

Written by Daniel Reyes, flooring journalist at Orlando Flooring Contractors. Estimated reading time: 5 minutes.

This guide is planning information. An independent installer must evaluate the property and confirm scope and price.