Calhoun County is a rural Panhandle county with Blountstown as its county seat. Its Building Department handles permitting and contractor registration from one office, and it works on Central Time. Here is what the county's official pages say a contractor needs.
Certified vs. registered in Calhoun County
A state certified contractor (license number starting with "C") passed the state exams and can contract anywhere in Florida without meeting local competency rules (F.S. 489.105). A state registered contractor (license number starting with "R") holds a local competency license and can contract only where that local license is recognized (F.S. 489.117).
Calhoun County's ordinances have long carved out state certified contractors. Ordinance 1997-06 required all persons contracting in the county to register with the county board "unless they are already certified by the Florida Construction Licensing Board." In practice today, the Building Department asks every contractor, state certified included, to register the company before permitting.
Registering with the Building Department
The Calhoun County Building Department is at 20867 SE Fannin Avenue, Blountstown. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Central. To register your company, the department asks you to attach to its Contractor Information Registration form:
| Item | |
|---|---|
| Copy of current State of Florida DBPR license | |
| Current general liability insurance | |
| Workers' compensation insurance or exemption | |
| Government-issued photo ID of the license holder | |
| Letter authorizing any employee who will sign for permits | If applicable |
Permit applications can be emailed or returned in person.
Insurance minimums on the county application
The county's older contractor license application (still posted on the county site) lists the insurance it expects: general liability of $300,000 for general and building contractors and $100,000 for other trades, and property damage of $50,000 for general and building contractors and $25,000 for others, plus workers' compensation or exemption. It also states county competency cards are not required for applicants who attach a copy of their Florida registration or certification.
Those amounts appear on a dated form. Ask the department whether they still apply before you buy a policy.
Business tax
We could not find an official Calhoun County page that describes local business tax requirements for contractors. Ask the Calhoun County Tax Collector and the city where your business is located.
Cities in Calhoun County
Blountstown (county seat) and Altha.
Practical notes for small counties
- Time zone: Calhoun is on Central Time. Inspection and office hours are Central.
- One office: Calhoun's Building Department handles both registration and permits, so a complete registration packet up front is the fastest route to your first permit.
State license guides
The county steps above come after the state license. For the state side, start with the Florida licensing hub and the trade guides: general contractor, roofing, HVAC, plumbing and electrical. Every CILB construction license, Division I or II, requires the Business and Finance exam: 120 questions, 6.5 hours, 70% to pass. Pearson VUE exam performance reports show a 56% first-time pass rate statewide for that exam in 2025.
Calhoun County FAQ
Do I need to register with Calhoun County if I am state certified? Yes. The Building Department asks every contractor to register the company with a copy of the DBPR license, insurance and photo ID.
What insurance does Calhoun County want? The county application lists $300,000 liability for general and building contractors and $100,000 for other trades, plus property damage and workers' compensation. Confirm current amounts.
Can an employee sign for permits? Yes, with a letter of authorization from the license holder.
What time zone are office hours in? Central Time.
Next step
The state certificate begins with the Business and Finance exam. Our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep is built for it.