Running a trade business in Florida: licensing after HB 735, liens and workers comp

Florida just finished the biggest licensing shake-up in its history. If your license knowledge dates from before July 2025, it is out of date. Here is the current lay of the land for Sunshine State trades.

Licensing after HB 735: the state took over

On July 1, 2025 most county and city occupational licenses became invalid under HB 735 (as amended by HB 1383 and SB 1142). Trades that used to run on a local card, painters, flooring installers, cabinet fitters and more, now either work unlicensed where no state category exists or hold one of the new state specialty licenses. The established state framework continues: the DBPR's Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) issues certified (statewide) and registered (local-scope) licenses for general, building, residential, plumbing, HVAC and specialty contractors, while electrical and alarm contractors are licensed by the separate Electrical Contractors Licensing Board (EC license). Certified is now overwhelmingly the license worth holding, since it travels across all 67 counties.

Mechanics liens: the 45-day Notice to Owner

Florida lien rights start with the Notice to Owner: anyone without a direct contract with the owner must serve it within 45 days of first furnishing labor or materials, and missing it kills lien rights entirely. The claim of lien must be recorded within 90 days of final furnishing, sworn and served on the owner within 15 days of recording, and enforced by suit within one year. Florida also polices lien paperwork strictly, so exact legal descriptions and licence numbers matter.

Workers comp: construction is a one-employee trigger

Non-construction businesses in Florida need workers comp at four employees; construction needs it at one, and owners count unless they hold a valid exemption. Exemption certificates are limited per company and heavily audited on commercial sites, where GCs demand certificates from every sub.

Sales tax, OSHA and quick facts

Real property improvement contracts are generally not taxable to the customer; the contractor pays sales tax on materials instead, while repairs to tangible personal property are taxable. Florida is a federal OSHA state and has no state income tax, and the DBPR license lookup is public and widely used by customers checking contractors.

Florida FAQs for trade businesses

My county license disappeared in 2025. What now?

Under HB 735 most local occupational licenses became invalid on July 1, 2025. If your trade has a state category (including the new specialty licenses), you need the DBPR license; if it has none, you can generally work without one, subject to local permitting.

What kills more Florida lien claims than anything else?

Missing the 45-day Notice to Owner. Without it, everyone who lacks a direct contract with the owner has no lien rights at all, no matter how good the rest of the paperwork is.

Do owners count toward the one-employee workers comp trigger in construction?

Yes, unless they hold a valid exemption certificate, and exemptions are limited per company. GCs on commercial work typically demand certificates from every sub regardless.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Licensing thresholds, lien statutes and tax rules change; always confirm current requirements with the licensing board, an attorney or your accountant before relying on them.