Holmes County, on the Alabama line in the Panhandle, has a small county Building Department in Bonifay. The detail contractors most often miss: Holmes County issues a Contractor's Competency Card, and its certified contractor packet asks state licensed contractors for one before permitting.
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.
Holmes County Building Department
Building, Planning & Zoning publishes separate permit packets for commercial construction and for certified contractors. The department is at 107 East Virginia Avenue, Bonifay (per the county's contractor packet).
The Contractor's Competency Card
The county's Contractor Packet lists these contractor requirements:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Competency Card application | Completed application form |
| State license | Current copy |
| Driver's license | Current copy |
| General liability insurance | Certificate of insurance, issued to Holmes County Building Department |
| Workers' compensation | Certificate, or exemption card if exempt |
| Contractor Permit Authorization | If someone else will pull permits |
The packet notes that a copy of the insurance policy itself will not be accepted; your insurer must issue a certificate to the Building Department.
County licensing board
Holmes County Ordinance 09-02 created a county construction industry licensing board of five members (three familiar with the building trades and two laypersons), appointed by the County Commission, and it uses the Chapter 489 definitions. That board handles local certificates of competency, which are the basis for a state registered license valid in Holmes County.
Commercial projects
The commercial checklist sends applicants through land development approval in the Building Department, 911 addressing, a septic permit from the Health Department, and a driveway permit before the building permit.
Business tax receipt
We did not find an official Holmes County page describing a county local business tax. Ask the Holmes County Tax Collector in Bonifay, and the city if you are located inside Bonifay or another town.
Communities
Bonifay (county seat), Ponce de Leon, Esto, Noma and Westville.
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 |
Holmes County FAQ
I am state certified. Do I still need a Holmes County competency card? The county's certified contractor packet includes a Competency Card application alongside your state license, so plan on it. Confirm with the Building Department.
Can I send my insurance policy instead of a certificate? No. The packet says policies are not accepted; the insurer must issue a certificate to the Building Department.
Who issues local licenses here? The county construction industry licensing board created by Ordinance 09-02.
Next step
A state certified license is accepted in every county, including Holmes. All CILB certified licenses require the Business and Finance exam; our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep is designed for it.