6 Smart Steps to Verify a Contractor's License in Miami-Dade

Your contractor says they're licensed. But licensed for what?

Verifying a contractor's license in Miami-Dade takes less than 5 minutes and is completely free. We show you exactly how to do it, what each result means and why the question you should ask isn't “are you licensed?”. It includes the Homeowner's Research Kit: 6 missions to verify your contractor before you sign.

At La Tribu Life Remodelaciones we verify contractor licenses every day. The most common mistake we see isn't hiring someone without a license: it's hiring someone with the wrong license for the job.

Are they licensed? The question everyone asks and no one knows how to answer well

Every time we get a call for a quote, the conversation follows almost the same pattern. The homeowner describes the project, the space and the budget, and just before hanging up, lowers their voice a little and asks: “But… you work with a license, right?”.

“Of course,” we answer. “But tell me, which license will your project need?”. Dead silence.

Many homeowners come to that first call after weeks of research: they asked the neighbor, checked Facebook groups, read articles and watched videos. And out of all that noise, the only thing that stuck was the most repeated phrase in Miami: “Before you hire, check that your contractor is licensed.” It's not bad advice. The problem is that nobody explains what it really means.

The right question before you hire

When a contractor says “I'm licensed and insured,” most homeowners assume that covers everything: that if they have a license, they can do any remodeling work in their home.

Wrong.

In Florida there are multiple types of construction licenses, and each one authorizes a different scope of work. A contractor can have a current, active license with no complaints and still not be authorized for the job they're quoting you.

These are the most common types of construction licenses in Florida:

If you remodel your entire kitchen (plumbing, electrical, carpentry and finishes), a contractor licensed only for plumbing can't legally do all the work. And if they do, you take on the risk. That's why you need two questions: what type of license do you have? and does that license authorize you to do exactly what you're quoting me?

What the DBPR is and why it's the only reliable source

The DBPR (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) is the official Florida agency that issues, regulates and oversees contractor licenses. It's the only authorized source to verify whether a contractor is licensed. Official portal: www.myfloridalicense.com · Verification phone: (850) 487-1395.

• 1.6 M professional licenses regulated by the DBPR
• +22,000 complaints processed in 2024-2025
• 2,658 enforcement actions

Although working without a license is a third-degree felony on projects over $5,000, complaints spike after every hurricane, when so-called storm chasers flood the market. The DBPR also records the disciplinary history of each license:

• License number and type
• Current status: Active, Inactive, Delinquent, Suspended or Revoked
• Expiration date
• Full history of sanctions and complaints
• Name of the license holder and registered company

Homeowner's Research Kit: Operation Verified License

A prepared homeowner does their research before signing. Here is your verification file. You have 5 minutes.

• 🟢 Mission accomplished: Current, Active, the right license type, a clean history and the name matches.
• 🟡 Mission at risk: something doesn't add up. Don't sign anything until it's resolved.
• 🔴 Mission failed: inactive, suspended, revoked or not found license. Warning.

Beyond the license: what else you should verify

• General liability insurance: covers damage to your property during the work. In Miami-Dade, the minimum is $300,000 for injuries and $50,000 for property damage. Ask for the certificate and check that it's current.
• Workers’ Compensation: if a worker gets hurt in your home and the contractor doesn't have it, the liability can fall on you. In Florida it's mandatory if they have employees.

And a fact few people know: if a licensed contractor commits fraud or abandons the job, you have access to the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund, a state fund of up to $100,000. It only applies to contractors with a current license.

Red flags even when the license is active

• Asks to be paid in cash only. Serious contractors accept checks or bank transfers.
• Doesn't want a written contract. In Florida, every residential contract over $2,500 must be in writing.
• Asks for a deposit of more than 50% before starting. Florida Statute §489.126 regulates advance payments.
• Has no verifiable physical address. Look up the company on sunbiz.org.
• Creates artificial urgency. “This offer is only for today.” A serious contractor doesn't need to pressure you.

Frequently asked questions

Informational content. It does not replace professional advice or constitute legal advice. La Tribu Life Remodelaciones supports and represents you, but does not perform construction work.