How to Get a Contractor License in Collier County

Collier County, which includes Naples, Marco Island and Immokalee, runs contractor licensing through the Growth Management Community Development Department's Operations and Regulatory Management Division. The county still issues local certificates of competency for some trades, but it dropped 24 specialty licenses in 2025. Here is the current picture from Collier County's own pages.

Certified vs. registered in Collier 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).

Collier County's licensing page states that under F.S. Chapter 489 and County Ordinance 2006-46, anyone in the construction contracting business "must have a county contractor license/certificate of competency or be a state-certified contractor."

The 2025 specialty license changes

Effective July 1, 2025, Collier County discontinued 24 local specialty contractor licenses, citing F.S. Chapter 489 and Senate Bill 1142 (the 2024 law that also amended F.S. 163.211). The list includes painting, floor covering, tile and marble, insulation, cabinet, landscape, paving, excavation, tree trimming, swimming pool cleaning, pollutant storage and others. The county's FAQ explains that local governments can no longer require a license for certain work considered limited in scope.

The core state-regulated trades are not on that list. For general, building, residential, roofing, A/C, plumbing, pool and electrical work, you still need either a state license or a valid local certificate of competency.

Local certificate of competency

For trades Collier still licenses locally, the county's individual application asks for:

State certified contractors

Per the county's building permits page, state certified contractors "may voluntarily register with Collier County to maintain an active status and use the GMD Public Portal to apply for permits and request inspections." In practice, registration is how you get portal access.

The county also reminds the public that unlicensed contracting during a declared state of emergency is a felony (F.S. 489.127(2)(c)), which matters after hurricanes.

Business tax receipt

All businesses operating in Collier County need a county Business Tax Receipt, including businesses inside Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City. The county says the BTR must be specific to the type of work, and it is issued annually by the Collier County Tax Collector. Receipts run through September 30.

Coastal construction

Collier is one of the Florida counties with a Coastal Construction Control Line per the Florida DEP. Beachfront projects seaward of the line need a DEP permit.

Cities in Collier County

Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City. Immokalee, Golden Gate and Ave Maria are unincorporated communities.

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.

Collier County FAQ

Do I need a Collier County license to paint or lay tile? Not since July 1, 2025. Collier dropped those specialty licenses. You still need a BTR.

I am state certified. Must I register with Collier County? Registration is voluntary per the county, but it is how you get portal access to apply for permits and request inspections.

What credit score does Collier require for a local certificate? A minimum FICO-derived score of 660.

Do I need a county BTR if my office is in Naples? Yes. The county BTR is required countywide, including inside city limits.

Next step

For the core trades, state certification is the cleanest path. It starts with Business and Finance; see our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.