Madison County sits between Tallahassee and Lake City along I-10. The county seat, the City of Madison, runs its own permitting at City Hall, so a contractor must first figure out which side of the city line the job is on.
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.
Madison County Building Department
The Building Department examines plans, issues building and mobile home permits, and inspects work. It is also responsible for licensing contractors registered through DBPR within Madison County, "done through the Competency Licensing Board." In other words, state registered contractors get their local competency here; state certified contractors only need to provide license and insurance documents.
City or county?
Per the county, residents of the City of Madison obtain permits and inspections at City Hall, 321 SW Rutledge Street. All other areas go through the county Building Department.
| Job location | Permit office |
|---|---|
| City of Madison | City Hall, 321 SW Rutledge Street |
| Rest of Madison County | Madison County Building Department |
Ask the county if you are unsure whether a town handles its own permits.
County permit packages
The county's forms page includes packages that show local practice: a roofing package, a "Termination of Virtual Roofing Inspections Acknowledgment", an electrical permit package with an electrical disclosure, a cell tower permit package, NFIP elevation certificate agreement and floodplain non-conversion agreement, an evacuation plan checklist, and a declaration of construction debris removal.
Business tax receipt
The City of Madison issues its own occupational (business) license to businesses in the city. We did not find an official county page describing a county business tax; check with the Madison County Tax Collector.
Communities
Madison (county seat), Greenville and Lee.
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 |
Madison County FAQ
I have a job inside the City of Madison. Where do I get the permit? At City Hall, 321 SW Rutledge Street, not the county Building Department.
Who issues local competency licenses? The county Building Department, through the Competency Licensing Board.
Does the county allow virtual roofing inspections? The forms page includes a "Termination of Virtual Roofing Inspections Acknowledgment" in its roofing package; ask the department about current practice.
Next step
A state certified license means you do not need the local competency board at all. Every CILB certified license requires the Business and Finance exam; prepare with our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.