Lafayette County is a small rural county with Mayo as its only town and county seat. Permits, zoning, plan review, inspections and contractor licensing checks all go through one small office. Expect a short process, but bring complete paperwork.
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.
Lafayette County Building Department
The Building Department is at 120 W. Main Street, Mayo. It lists four services:
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Zoning review | Project location and FEMA flood requirements |
| Plan review | Compliance with the Florida Building Code |
| Permitting and inspections | From approval to completion |
| Contractor licensing | Verifying that contractors are licensed and insured |
The department is led by the Building Official, who is also the county's Zoning Administrator, under the Board of County Commissioners. Because one official handles both zoning and building, zoning and flood questions can usually be answered in the same visit.
The county notes that new construction activity is increasing. Forms and the permit fee schedule are on the forms page.
What "contractor licensing" means here
The department verifies that every contractor on a permit is licensed and insured. For a state certified contractor, that means your DBPR license and insurance certificates. For local (registered) licensing in this county, ask the department directly; we did not find a published local licensing ordinance on the county site.
Flood zones
Zoning review includes FEMA requirements. Check flood zone status early, before final plans.
Business tax receipt
The Lafayette County Tax Collector states that the office collects local taxes including the Local Business Tax. Contact the office at 120 West Main Street in Mayo for current requirements and amounts.
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 |
Lafayette County FAQ
Who issues building permits in Mayo? The Lafayette County Building Department, which handles zoning, plan review, permits and inspections.
Does the county check my license? Yes. Contractor licensing verification, including insurance, is one of the department's listed services.
Is there a local business tax? The Tax Collector lists the Local Business Tax among the taxes it collects. Ask that office for details.
Next step
In a small county, a state certified license is the practical way to work here and in neighboring Suwannee Valley counties. Every CILB certified license requires the Business and Finance exam; see our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.