Hendry County stretches from the Caloosahatchee River at LaBelle to the south shore of Lake Okeechobee at Clewiston. The county combines permitting and contractor licensing in one department, called Building & Licensing, and state certified contractors must register with it before they can use the permit system.
Certified or registered: the state side
Florida has two kinds of construction license. A certified contractor (license number starting with "C") passed the state exam and may contract anywhere in Florida. A registered contractor (number starting with "R") holds a local certificate of competency and may contract only in the jurisdictions where that local license is held (F.S. 489.105, F.S. 489.117). Every Division I and Division II certified license issued by the Construction Industry Licensing Board requires passing the state Business and Finance exam. Electrical and alarm licenses come from a separate board and use their own exam.
Hendry County Building & Licensing
Building & Licensing issues permits for new construction, additions, remodels, renovations and equipment changes. It has two offices:
| Office | Address (from the county site) |
|---|---|
| LaBelle | 640 S. Main St., LaBelle, FL 33935 |
| Clewiston | 1100 Olympia St., Clewiston, FL 33440 |
Registering a state certified license
The county's document library includes a State Certified Application, a State Certified Contractor Renewal form and a State Certified Contractor Change Form for updating an existing registration. The registration form asks for the license holder, company, certified trade and license number, and is emailed to the county's contractor licensing address.
The county's eTRAKiT portal says contractors must contact the county directly to register as a contractor; property owners can create their own public accounts. Contractor accounts cover design professionals too (engineers, architects, surveyors).
Other forms in the library cover subcontractor changes, main contractor changes and private provider (third-party inspection) registration.
Business tax receipt
The Hendry County Tax Collector issues county business tax receipts and accepts applications online. The application tells applicants to get sign-offs from county Planning and Zoning, the county Building Department, and the City of LaBelle or City of Clewiston where applicable, and to include any state contractor license with the application. Fees are not listed here; check with the Tax Collector.
State license guides
| License | Guide |
|---|---|
| General, building, residential (Division I) | General contractor license |
| Roofing | Roofing license |
| Air conditioning A and B | HVAC license |
| Plumbing | Plumbing license |
| Electrical (separate board) | Electrical license |
Hendry County FAQ
Can I set up my own contractor account in eTRAKiT? No. The portal says contractors must contact the county directly to register. Use the State Certified Application from Building & Licensing.
Do I need a BTR from the city as well as the county? The county BTR application lists the City of LaBelle and City of Clewiston as offices that may need to sign off or issue their own receipts. Check with the city where your business is located.
What are the main communities in Hendry County? LaBelle (county seat) and Clewiston, plus unincorporated communities such as Felda and Montura.
Next step
Every Division I and II certified license needs the state Business and Finance exam. Our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep covers the full B&F outline, including construction lien law and payroll tax.