How to Get a Contractor License in Flagler County

Flagler County, home to Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, has a Contractor Licensing division inside its building department and a Contractor Review Board that can discipline contractors. Registration for state certified contractors is document-driven and strict about names matching. Here is what the county and its Tax Collector publish.

Certified vs. registered in Flagler 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).

Flagler County has also offered a county "Class 1" license for contractors who test locally. Its 2025 checklist says those licensees must register the county-authorized license with DBPR, and that "your license will limit you to work only in the trade tested." That is the registered path.

Registering a state certified license

Send these to the Contractor Licensing Division by email (contractorlicensing@flaglercounty.gov):

The county emphasizes: "License, corporation, insurance, and/or exemption information MUST match."

Contractor Review Board

The Contractor Review Board (Ordinances 2007-10 and 2015-06) has seven members from licensed trades plus a consumer member and "the power and authority to discipline Authorized or Certified contractors." It meets monthly on the third Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Government Services Complex in Bunnell.

Local business tax receipt

The Flagler County Tax Collector issues the county LBTR, which expires each September 30. For a state-certified occupation such as general contractor, roofer or plumber, the Tax Collector says you must show your current state certification at application and at every annual renewal, and the receipt will be issued "exactly as it appears on your state license." It adds that "state registration (or certification from another county) will not be sufficient." After the county receipt, you buy city receipts for the municipalities where you do business. The Tax Collector also notes that most construction businesses must register with the county building department before getting the LBTR.

Coastal construction

Flagler is one of the Florida counties with a Coastal Construction Control Line per the Florida DEP. Oceanfront work seaward of the line needs a DEP permit.

Cities in Flagler County

Palm Coast, Bunnell (county seat), Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach and Marineland.

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.

Flagler County FAQ

What is the most common registration problem? Mismatched names. License, Sunbiz record, insurance and exemption must all show the same company name.

Can I get a Flagler LBTR with a state registered license? The Tax Collector says state registration is not sufficient for occupations that require state certification.

Who disciplines contractors locally? The Flagler County Contractor Review Board.

When does the county LBTR expire? September 30 each year.

Next step

Flagler's business tax rules favor state certificate holders. Certification starts with Business and Finance; see our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.