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Hiring a licensed contractor in Florida: What you need to know

As the demand for home improvement projects increases in Florida, homeowners must be cautious when hiring a contractor.

The state requires contractors to be licensed and insured, but not all contractors adhere to these regulations. Hiring an unlicensed contractor can put homeowners at risk for subpar work, financial loss and legal trouble.

The Better Business Bureau and Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation remind Floridians to thoroughly research professionals and businesses prior to hiring and to report suspected unlicensed individuals. Unlicensed activity is against the law—BBB and DBPR take unlicensed activity very seriously because it threatens the safety of Florida’s consumers and takes away business from licensed professionals throughout the state.

Unlicensed activity occurs when an individual offers to perform or performs services that require a state license and the individual does not hold the required license. Florida law sets specific rules and guidelines for obtaining professional licensure, and the people who have met these requirements are held to professional standards.

“With summer and hurricane season in full swing, homeowners are searching for contractors to perform quality, affordable home improvement work,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “I encourage homeowners to do their research and verify licenses at MyFloridaLicense.com to ensure they are hiring a licensed professional with the education and experience necessary to do the job correctly the first time.”

To avoid these potential hazards, homeowners should do their research before hiring a contractor. The first step is to verify the contractor’s license with DBPR. Homeowners can visit DBPR’s website or call their customer contact center to check if the contractor is licensed and has a clean record.

In addition to a license, homeowners should also ask for proof of insurance. Contractors should carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance to protect themselves and the

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual event on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ calendar homeowner in case of an accident or injury.

Once the contractor’s license and insurance have been verified, homeowners should ask for references, examples of work, check a contractor’s track record at BBB.org and look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal to know the company is committed to BBB’s standards of trust in the marketplace.

“Choosing a licensed contractor is crucial for any home improvement project,” said Karen Nalven, president and CEO of Better Business Bureau serving West Florida. “Homeowners should take the time to research their options. Go to BBB.org and make sure you are hiring someone who is both qualified and trustworthy.” proud to make investments in broadband Internet infrastructure that will benefit all Floridians and make longterm, resonating impacts in communities across the state.”

Hiring a licensed contractor may require more effort and research, but it can save homeowners time, money, and headaches in the long run. Both BBB and DBPR have online resources to educate consumers on how to hire a licensed professional and to report unlicensed activity.

• BBB provides information for consumers to help make informed buying decisions and find properly licensed professionals, BBB Accredited Contractors, as well as an easy-to-use checklist. Resources to help businesses build trust in the marketplace are also available at BBB.org/consumers.

• Report unlicensed contractors to BBB and to DBPR.

• Consumers can verify professional licenses that fall under DBPR’s jurisdiction by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com (click “Verify a License” in the middle of the home page), by calling (850) 487-1395 or by downloading the free DBPR Mobile app through iTunes or the Google Play store.

• An FAQ including information on services requiring a state professional license from DBPR and how to report suspected unlicensed activity is available on the DBPR website.

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida is expanding broadband Internet to small and rural areas of the state that will now have new access to critical resources,” said Florida DEO Secretary J. Alex Kelly. “Broadband Internet infrastructure will change the landscape and quality of life for Florida families and businesses, connecting them to workforce training, jobs, educational resources and telehealth services. ”

The following projects will be awarded through the Broadband Infrastructure Program:

• The unincorporated areas of Rotunda and Cleveland and parts of Charlotte County — $3,085,000 to add 96.49 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 805 unserved locations within Charlotte County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

• Burnt Store Road corridor and U.S. 41/Interstate 75 corridors — $2,160,000 to add 92.1 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,268 unserved locations within Charlotte County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

• City of Immokalee – $122,000 to add 61.93 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 242 unserved locations within Collier County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

• Unincorporated areas of

Arcadia/East and Pine Level –

$2,550,000 to add 82.48 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 634 unserved locations within DeSoto County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

• Cities of Arcadia and Hull –$3,490,000 to add 98.58 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 689 unserved locations within DeSoto County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

• Unincorporated community of Nocatee – $2,600,000 to add 72.35 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 453 unserved locations within DeSoto County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

• City of Bonita Springs –$612,830 to add 6.9 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 328 unserved locations within Lee County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100/100 megabits per second (Mbps).

• City of Fort Myers, the unincorporated areas of Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers, Alva and Olga – $2,050,000 to add 68.31 miles of fiber optic cable to provide 1,196 unserved locations within Lee County with symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1GB.

The Florida Department of Commerce is hosting a series of public workshops host a series of public workshops to hear directly from Floridians about barriers to accessing broadband Internet service in their communities. The workshops will help inform Florida’s plan to access funding for the expansion of broadband Internet service, and the deployment of online devices and digital skills training.