Date: 06/26/2023
To: Construction Industry
From: Ben Bailey, Community Development Director
Subject: Local Contractor Licensing Update
House Bill 1383 was signed by the Governor on June 20, 2023, which makes several changes to local licensing. The effects of this bill will eventually add more state specialty licenses and extend the sunset period for current local licenses.
Local licenses that sunset next year on July 1, 2024, include:
Building movers; Cabinet and trim carpentry; Concrete Place and Finish; Grade, fill & clear; Shed tie down; Swimming pool shell; Sign contractor.
The County will still allow renewal of these local licenses this fall to continue working for the next year until the sunset period. After July 1, 2024, if any scope of work within your license above requires a permit from the County, you will be required to obtain a state certified license or work directly for a state certified contractor as an employee or a subcontractor according to Florida Statute 489.113 (2) to continue working.
For example:
After July 1, 2024, the cabinet and trim carpentry license will sunset, and a license will not be required for installation of cabinets and trim. However, the scope of work of a cabinet and trim carpentry license also includes exterior soffit which requires a permit. To continue installing soffit you will be required to obtain a state certified license or work directly for a state certified contractor as an employee or a subcontractor according to Florida Statute 489.113 (2).
If you hold one of the licenses listed below, your license will not sunset and it will remain with the County as a local license, as it substantially matches a current or proposed state certified specialty license.
Aluminum; Building demolition; Carpentry; Concrete/Masonry; Door, window and garage door; Drywall; Glass and glazing; Lawn irrigation; Marine; Pile driving; Plaster, stucco & spraycrete; Structural steel.
Nothing further will be required for retaining these licenses and they should be renewed as you normally would with the Community Development Department. There will be public local license forum in the coming months that will be held at the Murdock Campus to discuss these changes and to answer questions. More details of this event will be sent out soon.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Deputy Building Official, Jack McStravic at jack.mcstravic@charlottecountyfl.gov.
Florida Statutes 489.113(2)
A person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state. However, for purposes of complying with the provisions of this chapter, a subcontractor who is not certified or registered may perform construction work under the supervision of a person who is certified or registered, provided that the work is within the scope of the supervising contractor’s license, the supervising contractor is responsible for the work, and the subcontractor being supervised is not engaged in construction work that would require a license as a contractor under any of the categories listed in s. 489.105(3)(d)?(o).