A CBC license in Florida is a Certified Building Contractor license, issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) through its Construction Industry Licensing Board. It authorizes the holder to construct commercial and residential buildings up to three stories tall and to perform non-structural remodeling on buildings of any size. Florida classifies the CBC as a Division I contractor license, one tier below a general contractor in scope but broad enough to cover most standard construction work.
What You Can Build With a CBC License
A certified building contractor can put up commercial buildings and single-dwelling or multiple-dwelling residential buildings that do not exceed three stories in height. The license also covers accessory structures attached to those buildings, including garages, guest houses, and storage sheds.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions
Remodeling, repair, and improvement work is open to CBC holders on buildings of any size, with one firm limit: the work cannot affect the structural members of the building.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions A CBC contractor can renovate interior finishes in a ten-story office tower, for instance, but cannot add load-bearing walls or alter the structural frame on that same building.
Site work like clearing, grading, and excavation is allowed, but only on the specific lot where the building sits. Framing and carpentry can be self-performed. Specialty trades such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC must be subcontracted to appropriately licensed professionals unless the CBC holder personally carries those trade licenses.
How a CBC Compares to CGC and CRC Licenses
Florida sorts contractor licenses into Division I (general, building, and residential) and Division II (specialty trades like roofing, sheet metal, and air conditioning). The CBC sits in the middle of Division I, and which license you actually need depends on the ceiling of the work you plan to take on.
CGC (General Contractor)
A certified general contractor has no height or project-type restriction and can contract for any work that requires licensure under Florida’s construction statutes.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions A CGC can also self-perform underground utility work and structural swimming pool construction, which a CBC cannot. The CGC exam is harder and the experience bar is higher, since applicants have to document experience with buildings over four stories.
CRC (Residential Contractor)
A certified residential contractor is limited to one-family, two-family, or three-family residences that do not exceed two habitable stories above one uninhabitable story, plus accessory structures.1Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.105 – Definitions A CBC can do everything a CRC can and then some: commercial buildings and residential buildings up to three stories. If you only plan to build single-family homes, a CRC may be enough. If you want small commercial projects or three-story apartment buildings in your pipeline, the CBC is the right fit.
What It Takes to Qualify
The Construction Industry Licensing Board sets the minimums. Meeting them does not guarantee approval, but missing any one of them will stop the application cold.
- Age. You must be at least 18.
- Experience. Four years of construction experience, verifiable through W-2 forms, tax returns, or detailed employer letters confirming dates, responsibilities, and level of supervision. Self-employed applicants face extra scrutiny and should assemble business records and client contracts. Some college education in construction-related fields can substitute for a portion of the four years.
- Financial stability. A minimum FICO credit score of 660. Applicants below that threshold can satisfy the financial responsibility requirement by completing a board-approved 14-hour financial responsibility course, though the course alone does not guarantee approval.
- Surety bond. Division I contractors, which includes CBC holders, must secure a $20,000 surety bond. Completing the 14-hour financial responsibility course can reduce the required bond to $10,000.
- Background check. Fingerprinting and a criminal background check are standard.
- Exams. Applicants must pass both a trade knowledge exam and a business and finance exam. The CBC trade exam has 60 questions covering construction methods, materials, and building codes.
Anyone contracting for building work within this scope must hold either a certified or registered building contractor license. Florida law makes certification or registration a prerequisite to engaging in the business of contracting.2Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.113 – Qualifications for Practice
What It Costs
Several separate charges stack up on the way to a license. Application fees paid to the DBPR generally run between $145 and $350, depending on the application type and time of year. Exam fees are paid separately to the testing provider. The surety bond itself is inexpensive relative to its face value: annual premiums typically run 1% to 5% of the bond amount, so a $20,000 bond might cost roughly $200 to $1,000 per year depending on your credit.
Once you are licensed, active renewal fees run roughly $105 to $155 per cycle. A late renewal adds a surcharge of about $25. If you let the license go inactive, the renewal fee drops to $30, but reactivating later costs around $205.3Florida DBPR. Certified Contractors Insert – Current Licensees
Keeping the License Active
A CBC license is not a one-time achievement. Florida requires ongoing compliance to keep it in good standing.
Continuing Education
Certified and registered contractors must complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years before their renewal expiration date. The hours cover updates to building codes, safety practices, and business regulations. Falling short will block an active renewal.
Insurance
Active CBC holders must carry workers’ compensation insurance if they have employees. Florida requires nearly all businesses with employees to maintain this coverage; the exemptions depend on factors like the number of workers and the nature of the employment relationship. General liability insurance is standard too, with minimums tied to the kinds of contracts you pursue. Many owners and general contractors require at least $1,000,000 per occurrence before letting a subcontractor on site.
Active vs. Inactive Status
If you need to step away from contracting temporarily, you can place the license on inactive status rather than let it lapse. An inactive license is on hold: no bidding, no contracts, no contracting activity of any kind. Work performed while inactive is treated as unlicensed activity. The upside is that you do not have to keep the surety bond or workers’ compensation coverage in force while inactive. You still have to renew each cycle and keep your business address current with the board.
Working Without One
Florida treats unlicensed contracting as a serious offense, and the penalties escalate quickly. A first offense is a first-degree misdemeanor. A second violation becomes a third-degree felony. Working without a license during a declared state of emergency is a third-degree felony on the first offense.4Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.127 – Prohibitions, Penalties That provision targets the pattern of unlicensed contractors approaching homeowners after hurricanes.
On top of criminal charges, local code enforcement boards can impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day for each violation.4Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.127 – Prohibitions, Penalties Property owners who hire unlicensed contractors face their own exposure: work may not pass inspection, warranties may be void, and legal recourse for defective work is limited.