---
title: "Verify a Florida Contractor License: Before You Sign"
url: https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/verify-contractor-license/
date: 2026-10-11
modified: 2026-10-11
lang: en
author: "Blane Perun"
description: "How to verify a Florida contractor license on DBPR, read CGC, CBC and CRC scopes, check insurance and spot unlicensed contractors before you sign."
image: https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/General-Contractor-from-Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Springs-2-1024x572.webp
word_count: 898
---

# Verify a Florida Contractor License: Before You Sign

![Verify a Florida Contractor License Before You Sign by Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/General-Contractor-from-Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Springs-2-scaled.webp)General Contractor · Bonita Springs & Naples
# Verify a Florida Contractor LicenseBefore You Sign
Projects From$25.5KBased on our General Contractor packagesDesign VisitFreeLiDAR scan and photo-real 3D renderBuilt ByOur CrewsLicensed Florida GC, 500+ SWFL remodels
By **Blane Perun**, Owner · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath·20 years property management · 500+ SWFL remodels · Updated October 2026

The short answer
To verify a Florida contractor license, search the contractor's name or license number with the Verify a License tool at myfloridalicense.com, run by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Confirm the license is current and active, that its type covers your project, and that the name matches the company on your contract. Then ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and review any complaints or discipline shown on the license record.

[Part of our General Contractor guide →](/general-contractor-bonita/)

![Licensed general contractor reviewing remodel plans in Bonita Springs](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/General-Contractor-from-Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Springs-3-scaled.webp)General Contractor · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath

## How Do You Check a Contractor's License?
The state search takes a few minutes. Enter the person's name, the business name or the license number, then open the record. Look for status, expiration date, license type and the business the license qualifies. In Florida a company does not hold a construction license by itself; a licensed individual qualifies it, so the qualifier's license should be tied to the company name on your proposal. Certified licenses, with codes such as CGC, CBC and CRC, are valid statewide. Registered licenses are limited to the local jurisdictions where the contractor holds a local competency.

Scope matters as much as status. A general contractor license has no limit on building type, a building contractor is limited to buildings up to three stories, and a residential contractor covers one- to three-family homes up to two habitable stories. Electrical, plumbing, roofing and air conditioning are licensed separately, so the subcontractors on your job need their own licenses too. Ask for certificates of insurance sent directly from the insurer, and check that workers' compensation coverage or a valid exemption is in place.

| License | Code | Scope in brief |
| ------- | ---- | -------------- |
| Certified General Contractor | CGC | Any type or size of building, statewide |
| Certified Building Contractor | CBC | Commercial and residential buildings up to three stories |
| Certified Residential Contractor | CRC | One- to three-family homes up to two habitable stories |
| Registered contractor | RG, RB, RR | Same categories, limited to local jurisdictions |
| Specialty trades | EC, CFC, CCC, CAC and others | Electrical, plumbing, roofing, air conditioning |

Hire a *Licensed GC.*
See how our licensed general contractor team manages permits, trades and inspections for every remodel.

[See GC Services →](/general-contractor-bonita/)[Set an Appointment](/contact/)

## What Should Southwest Floridians Watch For?
After every major storm, crews from out of the area arrive in Lee and Collier counties offering quick repairs and remodels, and many of them are not licensed here. Florida treats unlicensed contracting seriously, and penalties are harsher during a declared state of emergency. Warning signs include a request for a large cash deposit, an offer to let you pull the permit as owner-builder, no license number on the proposal and no physical office. Florida requires the license number to appear on contracts and bids, so its absence is a red flag.

Local records add a second check. Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs, Collier County and the City of Naples all have permit portals where you can see a contractor's recent permits and inspections. Condo associations and HOAs will ask for a certificate of insurance naming them before work starts, which is another quick test of legitimacy. Florida law also protects deposits: a contractor who takes more than 10 percent of the price up front must apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days of permit issuance, unless you agree otherwise in writing.

![Permitted home remodel underway in a Southwest Florida home](https://remodelbycuttingedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/General-Contractor-from-Cutting-Edge-Bonita-Springs-4-scaled.webp)General Contractor · Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath

## Contractor License Questions

### How do I check a contractor license in Florida?
Use the DBPR's Verify a License search at myfloridalicense.com. Search by name or license number, then confirm the status is current and active, the license type fits your project and the qualified business matches your contract. Check the record for complaints or discipline as well.

### What is the difference between a CGC and a CRC license?
A Certified General Contractor can build or remodel any type of building with no height limit. A Certified Residential Contractor is limited to one-, two- and three-family homes of no more than two habitable stories. For most single-family remodels either license applies; larger or commercial work needs the broader one.

### What happens if I hire an unlicensed contractor in Florida?
You take on the risk. An unlicensed contractor cannot legally pull permits, may carry no insurance if a worker is hurt on your property, and leaves you with fewer remedies if the work fails. Unpermitted work can also cause trouble at resale or with your insurer.

Check Us *Out First.*
Ask for our license and insurance certificates at your free consultation, then let us scan your home.

[Book a Free Consultation →](/general-contractor-bonita/)[Set an Appointment](/contact/)

## Why Licensing Matters at Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge Kitchen & Bath is a licensed Florida general contractor, and we encourage every homeowner to verify that before signing with us or anyone else. Our 4,000-square-foot showroom at 28280 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs is a real address you can visit, and more than 500 Southwest Florida remodels and nine Best of Houzz awards stand behind the name. Every project includes a free LiDAR scan, a photo-real 3D render, permits pulled under our license, one fixed-price contract and our own crews on site. Ask for our license number, then check it.