New Florida Specialty Contractor Licenses
The new Florida Construction licenses are nearly here. These are Specialty Licenses that kind of take the place of many of old county examinations/licenses that Governor DeSantis eliminated in 2023. The DBPR has uploaded the exam booklists, examination content information, and the new applications. There are an additional 15+ new license categories that take effect on July 1, 2024. Below is the scope of work covered by each of these new categories.
These licenses are brand-spanking new, so there will be a learning curve as far as testing and an application process goes, but we will do our best to help you license in these new categories. As always, we do not guarantee licensure (that’s the State’s authority and we aren’t the State), but we will give you our all! Please call us at 941-706-2336 or email robin@needfloridalicense.com if you have a serious interest in obtaining one of these new licenses. I’m excited! Some of these categories we’ve needed on a State-level for many years. I wish they included a remodeling license, but, this is a great start!
NEW*** Structural Aluminum or Screen Enclosures Contractor: A “structural aluminum or screen enclosures contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to perform any work involving aluminum screened porches, screened enclosures, pool enclosures, pre-formed panel-post and beam roofs, mobile home panel roof-overs, residential glass and window door enclosures, vinyl panel window enclosures and single-story self-contained aluminum utility storage structures not exceeding seven hundred twenty (720) square feet. The scope of the work shall include woodwork incidental to the aluminum and allied materials construction work. It shall be limited to the construction of wood framing for walls of uninhabitable utility storage structures, raised wood decks for enclosures, and the rescreening, repair and/or replacement of wood incidental to the installation of glass windows and doors, installation of siding, soffit, fascia, gutters, and preformed panel-post and beam roofs. The scope of such work shall include masonry concrete work and be limited to foundations, slabs and block knee walls incidental to the aluminum and allied materials construction work. The aluminum contractor, whose services are limited, shall not perform any work that alters the structural integrity of the building including but not limited to roof trusses, lintels, load bearing walls and foundations. The aluminum contractor shall subcontract, with a licensed qualified contractor in the field concerned, all work incidental to that which is defined herein but which is the work of a trade other than that of an aluminum contractor. The scope of licensure for an aluminum contractor includes and is limited to the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge and skill necessary for the fabrication, assembling, handling, erection, installation, dismantling, adjustment, alteration, repair, servicing and design work when not prohibited by law, in accordance with accepted engineering data and/or according to manufacturer’s specification in the aluminum metal, vinyl and fiberglass screening and allied construction materials.
Marine Specialty: The Marine License has been around for a while, but the DBPR now has additional licenses that should be a better fit for those who have limited experience in seawalls, docks, bulkhead, and pile driving; not all marine contractors engage in the full scope of the Marine Contractor, so these additional licenses mean new opportunities for those who do not meet the statutory requirements for the larger license. There are 5 different types of licenses in the Marine category; below are the scopes of work for each license:
- A “marine specialty contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to perform any work involving the construction, repair, alteration, extension and excavation for fixed docks, floating docks, boathouses, mooring devices, mooring fields, seawalls, bulkheads, piers, wharfs, boatlifts, boat ramps, revetments, cofferdams, wave attenuators, dune crossovers and other marine structures and activities, including pile driving, framing, concrete, masonry, dredge and fill, and wood shingle, wood shakes, or asphalt or fiberglass shingle roofing on a new structure of his or her own construction. This license has been around for a few years, but the 4 licenses below are new licenses.
New***2. A “marine seawall work contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to install, alter, repair, maintain, relocate, and replace supporting members of piers and docks, e.g., piles or pilings, columns, posts, stanchions. The scope of work of such contractor shall include all construction below, above, or beyond, the mean low water line, for the sole purpose of constructing, erecting or dismantling of piers, docks and seawalls.
NEW*** 3. A “marine bulkhead work contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to install, alter, repair, maintain, relocate, and replace bulkheads and its supporting members. The scope of work of such contractor shall include all construction below, above or beyond, the mean low water line, for the sole purpose of constructing, erecting, or dismantling of bulkheads.
New*** 4. A “marine dock work contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to install, repair, maintain, or alter docks, piers, and decks of marine nature, and may perform pile driving as well as other operations necessary for the safe construction of these structures.
New*** 5. A “marine pile driving contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to drive concrete, wood, or steel piles in a marine environment to provide the foundations for fixed docks, floating docks, boathouses, mooring devices, mooring fields, seawalls, bulkheads, piers, wharfs, boatlifts, boat ramps, revetments, cofferdams, wave attenuators, dune crossovers and other marine structures.
Moving on to the other new licenses:
NEW*** A “structural masonry specialty contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to form, place, finish, install, repair, maintain, and replace any concrete or masonry products including: batching and mixing of aggregates, cement, and water to specifications, laying of block, brick, and other masonry units, the construction of forms and framework for the casting and shaping of concrete, the placing and erection of reinforcing steel and the pouring, placement, injecting and finishing of concrete. The scope of such work shall include all types of foundations, slabs, footers, curbs, walls, columns, beams and other structures, and terrazzo and other finishes.
NEW*** A “structural pre-stressed, precast concrete work specialty contractor” is qualified and certified to erect structural precast concrete units such as decks, beams, girders, walls, columns and stairs that are or may be used as structural members for buildings and structures, including welding and rigging in connection therewith and to erect precast concrete units for guard rails and decorative panels above the ground floor, including such minor field fabrication as may be necessary.
New*** A “structural steel work contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to install, repair, maintain, and replace steel framework, columns, sheathing, beams, and fabrication of metal buildings.
NEW*** A “window and door installation contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to install, replace, adjust, repair, and service, when not prohibited by law, in accordance with accepted engineering data and or according to manufacturers’ specification of exterior windows and doors, hurricane protection devices, shutters, and hardware in connection therewith which do not affect structural changes, except the replacement of window bucks in retrofit. THIS NEW LICENSE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE GLASS AND GLAZING CONTRACTOR!
A “glass and glazing contractor” is a specialty contractor whose scope of work is limited to the installation and attachment of all types of windows and glass, on residential and commercial applications without any height restriction, whether fixed or movable; the installation of swinging or sliding glass doors to existing walls, floors, columns or other structural members of the building; the installation of glass holding or supporting mullions or horizontal bars; the installation of structurally anchored impact-resistant opening protection attached to existing building walls, floors, columns or other structural members of the building; and the cutting and installation of glass and mirrors. A glass and glazing specialty contractor may also install prefabricated glass, metal or plastic curtain walls, storefront frames or panels, caulking incidental to such work and assembly, and installation of shower & tub enclosures and metal fascias.
New*** A “garage door installation contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to fabricate, assemble, handle, erect, install, dismantle, adjust, alter, repair, and service garage doors. The scope of such work shall include all types of garage doors, including the related hardware and operating devices. Such contractor shall be allowed to install low voltage wiring for safety features and cord and cap connected to the devices, motors, and equipment; any other electrical work related to the installation of a garage door shall be subcontracted to a licensed electrical contractor, including wire removal and/or rewiring, installation of receptacles, lights, and switches. Such contractor shall be allowed to subcontract with other licensed contractors for work directly related to the installation of the garage door.
NEW*** A “plaster and lath specialty contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to coat surfaces with a mixture of sand or other aggregate gypsum plaster, Portland cement or quicklime and water, or any combination of such material as to create a permanent coating. The contractor may perform lathing work.
NEW*** A “structural carpentry specialty contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to install any wood products or metal framing in a structure of a building including rough framing, door, window (including metal), and structural trusses.
Existing License: A “residential swimming pool/spa servicing specialty contractor” means a contractor whose scope of work involves the repair and servicing of residential swimming pools, hot tubs or spas. The scope of work includes the repair or replacement of existing equipment, any cleaning or equipment sanitizing that requires at least a partial disassembling, filter changes, and the installation of new pool/spa equipment, interior refinishing, the reinstallation or addition of pool heaters, the repair or replacement of all perimeter piping and filter piping, the repair of equipment rooms or housing for pool/spa equipment, and the substantial or complete draining, for the purpose of repair or renovation of residential swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas. The scope of such work does not include direct connections to a sanitary sewer system or to potable water lines.
Existing License: An “industrial facility specialty contractor” is a contractor who is qualified and certified by the board to perform any work involving the construction, repair, demolition, modification, and alteration of uninhabitable industrial structures housing manufactured industrial equipment being installed therein by the contractor of specialized equipment used to produce or move goods or materials including but not limited to energy production, gas production, chemical production, installation of fixed equipment, above ground storage tanks and related accessory piping; and construction of habitable or uninhabitable attached accessory use structures not exceeding 1,500 square feet used solely to house related operating and controlling equipment. An industrial facility specialty contractor shall be unlimited in his or her ability to enter contracts for the scopes of work described herein and who may perform such work permitted under this rule, except as otherwise expressly provided in section 489.113, F.S. An industrial facility specialty contractor shall be required to subcontract all work above that falls within the scopes of work set forth in sections 489.105(3)(b)-(p) or 489.505, F.S., or for fire protection systems under section 633.318, F.S., to a licensee who holds a state certification or registration in the respective category of work.
Existing License: A “building demolition specialty contractor” is a contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge, and skill to demolish, if not prohibited by law, steel tanks 50 feet or less in height; towers 50 feet or less in height; other structures 50 feet or less in height, other than buildings or residences over three stories tall; and buildings or residences three stories or less in height. Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to restrict or limit in any manner the scope of work authorized by law of other contractor classifications.
Existing License: An “irrigation specialty contractor” is a contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts requiring the experience, financial means, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, manage, monitor, audit, or, if not prohibited by law, design irrigation systems. An irrigation specialty contractor may install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, manage, monitor, audit, or, if not prohibited by law, design irrigation systems, including any excavation work incidental thereto. An irrigation system includes all: piping; fittings; sprinklers; drip irrigation products; valves; irrigation controllers; control wiring; rain sensors; water pumps, water conservation devices; water harvesting systems; irrigation main lines downstream of a utility potable water meter or utility alternative water supply distribution line and dedicated backflow prevention device; and associated components installed for the delivery and application of water for the purpose of irrigation. Irrigation systems used for agricultural purposes shall not be included within the scope of this rule. An irrigation specialty contractor is precluded from conducting work on water wells or pumps per Florida Plumbing Code and Section 373.323(10), Florida Statutes.
Existing License: A “tower specialty contractor” is qualified and certified by the board to perform any work involving the construction, repair and alteration of uninhabitable towers for purposes of communications, energy, water, or utilities; including construction of accessory use structures not exceeding three stories in height which house related equipment. An applicant for a tower specialty contractor certification shall pass the general contractor examination and shall demonstrate experience in the construction, repair and alteration of towers and accessory use structures.
Existing License: A “gypsum drywall contractor” is a specialty contractor whose scope of work is limited to the installation of all necessary and incidental metal accessories, including non-load bearing metal studs, runners, hangers, channels, drywall metal suspension accessories and prefabricated ceiling materials; and the preparation of the surface over which drywall product is to be applied. This includes the application of base and finish coats specifically designed for the gypsum drywall products of their own erection. This category shall not include plastering, block, or wood partitions.
Existing License: A “gas line specialty contractor” is a contractor whose scope of work is limited to installation, modification, alteration, testing, repair and maintenance of natural gas transmission systems and natural gas distribution systems with all appurtenances within rights-of-way, easements, or terminating at meter.
NOT LISTED: THERE IS A ROOFTOP SOLAR HEATING INSTALLATION LICENSE ADDED, BUT THE CURRENT F.A.C. DOESN’T HAVE IT IN THE 61G4-15.100 AS OF 6/25/2024. We have the application downloaded, but I am searching for the scope of work. Check back for an update.
Certification procedures and fees for certified specialty contractors shall be the same as those provided for the certification of other contractors as required by and set forth in sections 489.109, 489.111, 489.113, 489.114, 489.115, 489.116, F.S., and related rules.
Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to restrict or limit in any manner the scope of work authorized by law of other contractor classifications.
Certified specialty contractors must maintain applicable worker’s compensation and general liability insurance as required by state and federal laws, including but not limited to the provisions of the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C.A. §901 et seq. and Title 46 U.S.C.A. for marine specialty contractors.
