How to Get a Contractor License in Leon County

Leon County contains Tallahassee, and that matters for contractors because there are two permitting jurisdictions: Leon County (unincorporated areas) and the City of Tallahassee. Each keeps its own contractor records, so a contractor working in both should register with both.

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.

Leon County: unincorporated areas

Building permits outside the city limits are handled by the Building Plans Review and Inspection Division of the Department of Development Support and Environmental Management (DSEM), at the Renaissance Center, 435 N. Macomb St., 2nd floor (division page). All building permits are applied for through the county's online permit portal.

Contractors' Licensing and Examination Board

Local licensing is handled by the Leon County Contractors' Licensing and Examination Board, which also administers the Registration for State Certified Contractors. The registration asks for:

Typical review times

The county FAQ lists typical approval times: new single-family home 8 days, manufactured home 5 days, accessory structures 5 days, commercial projects 15 days. Single-trade permits eligible for the online portal issue immediately. Septic permits are now issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, not the county.

City of Tallahassee

Inside city limits, the City of Tallahassee Growth Management department issues permits. Its contractor registration requirements ask for your state license and liability and workers' compensation certificates naming the City of Tallahassee, Building Inspection, as certificate holder; out-of-state workers' comp must list Florida. A licensed contractor must register with the city's customer portal to apply for sub-trade permits and inspections. See the joint contractor licensing matrix.

Business tax receipt

We could not find an official Leon County or City of Tallahassee page confirming current local business tax requirements. Check with the Leon County Tax Collector and the City before opening an office.

Major city

Tallahassee is the only incorporated city in Leon County.

State license guides

Leon County FAQ

Is a Leon County registration valid inside Tallahassee? No. The city runs its own permitting and contractor registration. Register with each jurisdiction where you pull permits.

Can my insurance agent email my certificate to me to forward? The county form says the general liability certificate must be submitted directly from the insurance provider.

Who issues septic permits now? The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, per Leon County.

Next step

Working in a state capital market often means public work, where Florida's retainage and lien law rules apply. Both are tested on the state B&F exam; prepare with our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.