Contractor Licensing

Contact Contractor Licensing

Licensing Requirements & Regulations

Licensing requirements are regulated by Florida State Statute Chapter 489 and City of Port St. Lucie Ordinance Chapter 150.501.

Important Licensing Update - Effective July 1, 2025

City of Port St. Lucie – Contractor Licensing Changes

Effective July 1, 2025, the City of Port St. Lucie will no longer accept Certificates of Competency as a valid form of licensure for contractors.

  • Under Florida Statute 489.117, all contractors (as defined in FS 489.105(3)(a)-(o) must be State Registered or State Certified to operate legally in Florida.
  • If you're currently using a Certificate of Competency issued by the City to perform/contract work, you will need to take action to comply with state requirements.
  • To become a State Registered Contractor, contact St. Lucie County for direction.

Note: The City of Port St. Lucie no longer offers sponsorship for registration, however, State Registered licenses issued by DBPR and approved for St. Lucie County will be accepted by the City (registration required).

  • If you were previously sponsored through the City and you hold a State Registered license, no changes are required — your status remains valid (supporting documents must be current).
  • If you held a Certificate of Competency in a specialty category but were not previously required to be state registered, you may qualify for a State Certified Specialty License.

Please refer to FS 489.113(6)(b) to see the list of eligible specialty contractor categories.

For further information on licensing requirements and for job scopes for which a local government may not require a license, please refer to FS 489.117 (4)(a)1. 

For questions regarding state-mandated license requirements, please contact the Department of Business & Professional Regulation at www.myfloridalicense.com.

Registration Process

Certified Contractors and St. Lucie County Registered Contractors licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) may streamline the permit process by registering as a Computer Member with the Contractor Licensing Division.

Certificate Holder information must be listed as follows:

City of Port St. Lucie - Building Department                                                                                  121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd                                                                                                                        Bldg B                                                                                                                                                        Port St. Lucie, FL 34984

Register as a Computer Member:

  • Complete the Computer Member Registration Form(PDF, 400KB) and email it to contractorlicensing@cityofpsl.com with the required documents noted on the form.
  • Should the Certified Contractor elect not to become a Computer Member, the Qualifier must submit a copy of his/her driver's license, state certification, general liability insurance, and workers compensation insurance with each permit applied for.

Request for Letter of Reciprocity

Request a Letter of Reciprocity:

Resources

Unlicensed Contractors

Report Unlicensed Activity

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation:

City of Port St. Lucie Contractor Licensing Division

Hiring a Contractor Tips

Here are a few tips to know before hiring a contractor for your next project:

  • OBTAIN AT LEAST 3 WRITTEN PROPOSALS
  • INSIST ON A WRITTEN CONTRACT: Include detailed description of work to be performed, list of materials, specific start/completion dates. Record any monies paid including check number. Retain detailed records (i.e. copies of contracts, receipts, letters, dates & times of phone calls, names of person(s) you have been in contact with, etc.).
  • CONFIRM LICENSE IS VALID: Eliminate any potential scams by Searching for a Contractor to verify the license produced is valid.
  • CALL THE COMPANY: Ask for references & confirm the person you are dealing with does in fact work for the company. Upon acceptance of the contract, verify that he/she has submitted your contract/deposit to the appropriate personnel.
  • CONFIRM A PERMIT IS ISSUED IF REQUIRED: Prior to commencing work, if a permit is required, it should be posted at the property. The information on the permit should have the property address, contractor name, permit number & type of permit. You may also call the Building Department at 772-871-5132 to verify.
  • DO NOT APPLY FOR YOUR OWN PERMIT: This should raise a “red flag”. If you do not intend to do the work yourself and have been asked to apply for the permit, you are at risk of financial harm.
  • DO NOT PAY CASH OR WRITE A CHECK TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
  • DO NOT HIRE SOMEONE “WORKING ON THE SIDE”: You will not be protected if he/she gets hurt and you could be liable for the injuries incurred on your property. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not honor your claim if the work being performed required a licensed contractor.

Section 455.277(1)(j), Florida Statute prohibits any person from aiding, assisting, procuring, employing, or advising any unlicensed person or entity. Individuals who aid unlicensed persons may face fines of up to $5,000.

Glossary

Registered contractor: Any contractor who has registered with the department (DBPR) pursuant to fulfilling the competency requirements in the jurisdiction for which the registration is issued. Registered contractors may contract only in such jurisdictions.

Certified contractor: Any contractor who possesses a State Certified License issued by the department (DBPR) and who shall be allowed to contract in any jurisdiction in the state without being required to fulfill the competency requirements of that jurisdiction. 

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