How to Get a Contractor License in Jefferson County

Jefferson County, just east of Tallahassee, is a small rural county with one shared building department. If you work in the City of Monticello or the unincorporated county, you deal with the same office. New contractors register by submitting a short document checklist.

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.

A shared building department

The Jefferson County Building Department is at 445 W. Palmer Mill Road, Monticello. Its commercial permit application is titled "Jefferson County / City of Monticello Building Department," and the county FAQ says building permits for both the city and the county go through the Building Department. The department also coordinates commercial and business licensing with the Planning Department.

The department page states that applications must be complete and that electronic submissions were not accepted for the listed paper forms; it also links an online system for permit activity after January 1, 2021. Ask the department which route applies to your permit type.

Contractor registration checklist

The registration checklist asks all new contractors for:

Owner-builders and licensed trades

The county's residential permitting requirements remind owner-builders that electrical, plumbing, roofing and mechanical work not done by the owner must be done by properly licensed contractors.

Business tax receipt

The county FAQ sends a "retail sales license" in the county to the Planning Official and in the City of Monticello to City Hall. We did not find an official page describing a county business tax receipt for contractors; check with the Planning Official, Monticello City Hall, and the Jefferson County Tax Collector.

Communities

Monticello (county seat and only city), plus unincorporated communities such as Lamont, Wacissa and Lloyd.

State license guides

Jefferson County FAQ

Do I need separate permits from the City of Monticello? No separate building department is involved; the Jefferson County / City of Monticello Building Department handles both.

Can my office manager pick up permits? Yes, with a signed, notarized authorization letter on letterhead from the license holder, delivered or mailed to the department.

Who must be listed as certificate holder on my insurance? Jefferson County, 445 W Palmer Mill Road, Monticello, FL 32344.

Next step

Jefferson County's checklist starts with a Florida state certified license. Every CILB certified license requires the Business and Finance exam; our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep covers it.