How to Get a Contractor License in Franklin County

Franklin County covers Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, St. George Island and Alligator Point on the Forgotten Coast. Its Building Department handles permits, inspections and contractor licensing for the unincorporated county, and it moved contractor records into the CitizenServe portal. Here is what that means for you.

Certified vs. registered in Franklin 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).

Franklin County treats the two very differently on renewals:

Building Department and CitizenServe

The Franklin County Building Department is at 248 Hwy 98, Eastpoint. It provides permitting and inspections for unincorporated Franklin County, including St. George Island, Eastpoint and Alligator Point, and oversees contractor licensing.

Applications can be filed online in CitizenServe, in person or by mail. Two account notes from the department:

• Existing contractors: if you already hold a Franklin County license, your account was created automatically. Do not create a new one; email the department for login details.
• New contractors: create an account in CitizenServe.

Online submissions are processed within 3 to 7 business days, and incomplete applications are returned.

Business tax: on hold

Franklin County adopted a Business License Ordinance (Ordinance 2024-04) to set up a countywide local business tax. A later ordinance (2024-09, adopted December 17, 2024) paused its effective date "until the adoption of another ordinance establishing a new effective date," and says it "shall not be enforced" until then. Check the county code for updates, and ask Apalachicola or Carrabelle about city requirements.

Coastal construction

Franklin is one of the Florida counties with a Coastal Construction Control Line per the Florida DEP. Gulf-front work on St. George Island and Alligator Point seaward of the line needs a DEP coastal construction permit.

Cities in Franklin County

Apalachicola (county seat) and Carrabelle. Eastpoint, St. George Island and Alligator Point are unincorporated.

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.

Franklin County FAQ

Do state certified contractors renew with Franklin County each year? No. There is no annual renewal or fee. Keep your documents current in CitizenServe.

I had a Franklin County license before CitizenServe. Do I make a new account? No. Your account was set up automatically; email the Building Department for login information.

Does Franklin County collect a business tax? The 2024 business tax ordinance is paused and not being enforced until a new effective date is adopted.

Does the county permit work inside Apalachicola? The Building Department says it serves the unincorporated county. Check with the city.

Next step

Franklin County rewards state certification with fee-free registration. Start with Business and Finance using our Florida Business and Finance Exam Prep.