Hollywood's Building Division sits in the Development Services Hub on the second floor of City Hall, 2600 Hollywood Boulevard. Building customer service is 954.921.3335, option 1, and permit email goes to epermits@hollywoodfl.org. Contractors register in the city's Accela citizen portal before they pull permits. For county-level rules, see the Broward County page.
Three registration types
Hollywood's registration form has three application types:
- Professional licensed contractor
- Unlicensed contractor (for scopes that do not need a state license)
- Architect / engineer
A licensed contractor provides copies of:
- State certification or Broward County Certificate of Competency
- Certificate of general liability insurance
- Workers' compensation insurance or exemption
- Sunbiz (Florida Division of Corporations) record for the business
Insurance certificates should show the City of Hollywood as certificate holder.
Registering in Accela, step by step
The city's Accela guide boils down to this:
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in at the Hollywood Accela Citizen Access portal |
| 2 | Apply, then choose Licenses |
| 3 | Accept the disclaimer and select the Contractor Registration type |
| 4 | Add contacts, including the business mailing address |
| 5 | Enter license information |
| 6 | Upload the required contractor documents and submit |
When a permit is required
The city's FAQ says a building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove or demolish any building or structure, or any equipment in or on it, and for changes in use or occupancy. Its examples of "structures" include driveways, patio decks, walkways, fences, retaining walls, sheds, gazebos, trellises, fountains, spas and pools. One exception the city lists: wireless or battery-operated alarms no longer need a permit.
Hollywood is in Broward, so it falls in the Florida Building Code's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Roofing and opening protection products need HVHZ-valid approvals.
Local business tax
Chapter 110 of the Hollywood code requires a city BTR from anyone with a permanent business location or branch office in the city, including a home-based business. The city also requires a Certificate of Use for commercial and home-based locations. A DBPR-regulated business must show an active state license before the BTR is issued or renewed (Section 110.13). After you get the city receipt, the city notes you may also need a Broward County Local Business Tax Receipt.
FAQ
My office is in another city. Do I need a Hollywood BTR? The city BTR applies to businesses with a permanent location or branch office in Hollywood. Under F.S. 205.065, a DBPR-regulated contractor who paid business tax where its permanent office is located can't be charged another local business tax for temporary work elsewhere. You still need to register as a contractor.
Can a handyman register? Yes. The form includes an "unlicensed contractor" type for work that doesn't require a state license.
Who should be the certificate holder? The City of Hollywood.
Start with the state license
Licensed registration in Hollywood requires a state license, and every CILB construction license requires the state Business and Finance exam. See the roofing, general contractor and HVAC license guides, and prepare with our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.
Sources
- City of Hollywood: Contractor Registration Form
- City of Hollywood: Steps to Register a License Contractor (Accela)
- City of Hollywood: Building Division contact
- City of Hollywood: Building FAQ (permits)
- City of Hollywood: Local Business Tax
- City of Hollywood: Business Resources
- Hollywood Code of Ordinances 110.13, proof of state license
- Miami-Dade County: HVHZ PV workshop presentation (HVHZ consists of Miami-Dade and Broward)
- F.S. 205.065 Exemption; nonresident persons regulated by DBPR (2026)