How to Get a Contractor License in St. Johns County

St. Johns County, south of Jacksonville and home to St. Augustine, keeps an active local contractor licensing program. The county says it "continues to actively license individuals in various construction trades." It also requires every state contractor to register before working here.

Certified vs registered in St. Johns County

The county's licensing page states: "All State Contractors must register to operate in St. Johns County." Contractors must be licensed before advertising, bidding or performing work under Florida Statute 489 and St. Johns County Ordinance 2002-48.

What state certified registration requires

The county's registration page asks for copies of:

1. Your state license. The D/B/A and company name on the license must match your corporate documents and insurance certificates.
2. A Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) record showing an active corporation and verifying the company name.
3. A liability insurance certificate naming St. Johns County as certificate holder.
4. A workers' compensation certificate naming St. Johns County as certificate holder.

If the license that qualifies your company changes (for example, moving from a local license to a state certified license, or a new qualifier), the county requires you to notify Contractor Licensing, close out or transfer open permits under the old license, and update your online permitting account.

Local exams and the Contractor Review Board

For a county license, St. Johns County lists ProV as its testing provider, with online proctored testing available. The county posts Contractor Review Board meeting dates on the same page. It also warns applicants to verify that any school is legitimate before signing up for classes. Contractor Licensing can be reached at (904) 827-6820 or conlicen@sjcfl.us.

Business tax receipt

The St. Johns County Tax Collector issues the Local Business Tax Receipt. County Ordinance 87-36 requires everyone doing business located or operating in St. Johns County to obtain one; the fiscal year runs October 1 to September 30. Before applying, get zoning approval for your business location: county zoning for unincorporated areas, or the City of St. Augustine or City of St. Augustine Beach if you are within those city limits. The Tax Collector also publishes a list of work that can be done in St. Johns County without a contractor's license, which the county's licensing page links to.

Coastal and permitting notes

• St. Johns County is on the Florida DEP list of counties with a Coastal Construction Control Line. Beachfront work seaward of the line can need a DEP permit in addition to the county permit.
• The Building Department offers 24/7 online tools for permit status, inspection history, fee estimates and contractor search.

Major cities

The county has two municipalities: St. Augustine (the county seat) and St. Augustine Beach. Outside city limits, the county Building Department issues permits.

State license pages

General contractor, residential contractor, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical. Every CILB category requires the Business and Finance exam.

FAQ

Does St. Johns County still license contractors locally? Yes. The county says it continues to actively license individuals in various construction trades, with exams through ProV.

Do I have to register my state license? Yes. All state contractors must register with St. Johns County Contractor Licensing before operating in the county.

My insurance shows a slightly different company name. Is that a problem? Yes. The county requires the name on your license to match your corporate documents and insurance certificates.

Who issues the business tax receipt? The St. Johns County Tax Collector, after zoning approval for your location.

Next step

A state certified license still has to be registered here, but it is accepted everywhere. Start with Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.