do I need a contractors license in FLORIDA to build decks and small sheds or can I do it with a handyman license
1 reply
Dec 3, 2019
Tampa to St. Petersburg is a short drive, but it appears that parts of these cities may lie in different counties (much of Tampa in Hillsborough County and much of St. Petersburg in Pinellas). So, because specific trade licensing requirements often vary from county to county in Florida, there may not be one clean answer which applies to both. Instead, it'd depend on where the property being worked on is located.
Generally, as long as the following types of work aren't being performed, there's a chance that the work will fall into the handyman exception for Florida contractor licensure:
- foundations,
- structural walls,
- plumbing,
- electrical,
- asbestos abatement,
- other tasks that require licenses (which could depend on the location)
Unfortunately, though, I'm not intimately familiar with the licensing requirements of those counties, so I'm not able to provide much more insight than that. But, reaching out to the agencies in charge of licensing in each location should help to clear up what requirements might be present.
For more basics on Florida license requirements: Florida Contractor’s License: Requirements, Exceptions, and Penalties.