- No license needed for casual, minor work where the total price for labor, materials and everything else is under $2,500. It does not apply if the job is part of a larger project, is split up to dodge the limit, or if you advertise as a contractor.
- None stated for exempt work. A license needs four years of experience.
Do you need a state license in Florida?
Florida licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
No license needed for casual, minor work where the total price for labor, materials and everything else is under $2,500. It does not apply if the job is part of a larger project, is split up to dodge the limit, or if you advertise as a contractor.
The Florida license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential Contractor (CR) | Building, remodeling, repair or improvement of one to three family homes up to two habitable stories |
Steps to get licensed in Florida
- Keep each job under $2,500 in total for labor and materials, and not part of a bigger project.
- Do not advertise yourself as a contractor or say you are qualified to contract.
- For larger jobs, get a Certified Residential Contractor license or bring in a licensed contractor.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. None stated for exempt work. A license needs four years of experience.
Florida handyman exams
Trade exam. No trade exam for exempt work.
Business and law exam. No business and law exam for exempt work.
What it costs in Florida
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The board's pages do not list one.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The board's pages do not list one.
Reciprocity. The board's pages do not list one.
Good to know in Florida
- Do not advertise as a contractor if you rely on the exemption.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.