Liberty County is a small rural county west of Tallahassee, with Bristol as its county seat. Its Building Department handles permits, inspections, and registration of contractors. State certified contractors register with a single form.
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.
Liberty County Building Department
The Building Department, within Growth Management, reviews construction plans, issues permits and conducts inspections. Permits are applied for, managed and paid through the county's online permitting portal. The portal lets you search for your property and your contractors, and requires uploading any required documents.
Forms for contractors
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Certified Contractor Form | Registers a state certified contractor with the county |
| Agent-Applicant's Affidavit | Lets an agent apply for permits |
| Notice of Commencement | Lien law notice for qualifying jobs |
| Electrical Affidavit | Electrical work |
| Private Provider Registration and Notice | Third-party plan review or inspection |
The department also publishes an annual fee schedule and planning and zoning forms (development permit, 911 address request).
Local licensing ordinance
Liberty County's Contractor Licensing Program ordinance requires people contracting in the county to register with the county board in the proper classification unless they are already certified by the state. When the ordinance was adopted, contractors who had worked in the county since January 1, 1992 could register by showing at least one county permit per year; others had to qualify under the ordinance's other provisions. Fees collected under the ordinance pay the board's expenses. This local registration is what a state registered license in Liberty County is based on.
Business tax receipt
We did not find an official Liberty County page describing a county local business tax. Ask the Liberty County Tax Collector in Bristol.
Communities
Bristol (county seat and only city), Hosford, Sumatra and Telogia.
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 |
Liberty County FAQ
Do state certified contractors need to register with the local board? The ordinance exempts contractors already certified by the state from local board registration. The Building Department still has a Certified Contractor Form to put you on file.
Can I apply for permits online? Yes, through the county's iWorQ permit portal.
Can someone else pull permits for me? Use the county's Agent-Applicant's Affidavit.
Next step
In a county this small, most contractors come from elsewhere, and a state certified license is the license that travels. Every CILB certified license requires the Business and Finance exam; see our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.