How to Get a Contractor License in Nassau County

Nassau County sits in the northeast corner of Florida, between Jacksonville and the Georgia line. Contractor licensing for unincorporated Nassau County runs through the Nassau County Building Department in Yulee, which issues permits, reviews plans, performs inspections and runs a local contractor licensing program. This page covers what a contractor needs before pulling a permit here.

Certified vs registered in Nassau County

Florida has two kinds of construction license, both issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR):

Nassau County is one of the counties that still issues local certificates of competency. In a July 2025 notice, the Building Department said that "as of July 1, 2025, Nassau County will continue to issue 'registered' contractor licenses via a certificate of competency," and that the categories, scopes of work and experience requirements mirror the state certified categories under the CILB and the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board. The same notice explains the background: HB 735 (2021) set out to end local licensing of certain specialty trades, and later bills (HB 1383 in 2023 and SB 1142 in 2024) pushed the effective date to July 1, 2025.

The county's business license page puts the choice plainly: a DBPR license lets you work anywhere in the state, while a county contractor or specialty license from the Building Department is for contractors who only want to work in Nassau County.

Registering a state license before you pull permits

A state certified contractor still has to register with the county before permitting. The Building Department's checklist (dated July 2025) asks for:

1. Your state license. The D/B/A and company name must match your corporate documents and insurance certificates.
2. A Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) record showing an active company.
3. A general liability insurance certificate listing the Nassau County Building Department as certificate holder.
4. A workers' compensation certificate (or exemption for the license holder only), also listing the county as holder.
5. A completed information sheet.
6. A business tax receipt from the county where your business is located, if applicable.

The checklist also reminds contractors to send updated copies when the state license or insurance renews, to avoid an interruption in permitting. This matches state law: under F.S. 489.113(4)(a), a certificate holder only has to show the local building official evidence of a current certificate and pay the normal permit and occupational license fees.

Business tax receipt

Nassau County does not require a county occupational license (business tax) for businesses in unincorporated areas; the county says this was ended by Ordinance No. 2008-05. A business located inside a city or town may still owe a local business tax to that municipality. The county has three municipalities (the City of Fernandina Beach and the Towns of Callahan and Hilliard), so check with the city if your office is there.

Building department and local rules

• Office: Nassau County Building Department, 96161 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. The county lists (904) 530-6250 and permitting@nassaucountyfl.com.
• Owner-builders: when an owner applies under the F.S. 489.103(7) exemption, the owner must appear in person and sign the application at the office.
• Coastal construction: Nassau County is one of the Florida counties with a state Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) set by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Work seaward of the line on Amelia Island's beachfront can need a separate DEP CCCL permit, and the county's own permit forms include an "FDEP CCCL 3109 Elevation Certificate."
• Product approval: the county's permit form list includes a Florida Product Approval specification sheet, so expect to document approved products for windows, doors and roofing.

Which state license fits your work

• New homes and additions: residential contractor or building contractor; commercial work: general contractor.
• Re-roofs after coastal storms: roofing license.
• A/C change-outs: HVAC license. Plumbing: plumbing license. Electrical: electrical license (ECLB, not CILB).

Every CILB license, certified or registered through the state, requires passing the Business and Finance exam.

FAQ

Can I still get a Nassau County-only license? Yes, as of the county's July 2025 notice. The county issues certificates of competency that you then register with DBPR as a registered license, valid only where you meet local requirements.

Do I need a county business tax receipt in unincorporated Nassau County? No. The county repealed its occupational license requirement (Ordinance 2008-05). A city may have its own requirement.

I am state certified. Can I just show up and pull a permit? You must first register your license, insurance and company documents with the Building Department using its checklist.

Who handles the beach permits? The county issues the building permit; work seaward of the CCCL is also regulated by the Florida DEP.

Prepare for the state exam

If you want a license that works in Nassau County and every other county, the state certified route is the one to study for. Our Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep covers the B&F part that every CILB license requires.