How to Get a Contractor License in Sumter County

Sumter County is in west-central Florida, northwest of Orlando. Contractor licensing here is a function of the Sumter County Building Services Department, based at 7375 Powell Road, Wildwood.

Three ways to qualify for a permit

The county's Contractor Licensing page says contractors may obtain building permits in Sumter County if they:

1. hold a State of Florida certificate of competency (a state certified license);
2. are registered with the State through Sumter County (a state registered license based on Sumter competency); or
3. hold a Sumter County Certificate of Competency.

State licensed contractors register online through the county's CitizenServe portal. CitizenServe also lets contractors manage their account, upload updated certificates of insurance and licenses, and pay escrow deposits online.

The county licensing board

Section 6-22 of the county code establishes the Construction Industry Licensing Board of Sumter County. Its main duties are to:

• approve or deny contractors for local licensing through competency cards. When a contractor applies by reciprocity (section 6-29), the Building Official decides instead;
• act as an impartial hearing board for complaints against licensed contractors and discipline them when warranted;
• hear reports of unlicensed contractor activity.

The board has five members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, all county residents, with membership consistent with Rule 61G4-20.001(1)(b), F.A.C.

Competency card requirements

For all contractor categories, Sumter County requires one of two qualifications:

• Education: an associate degree from an accredited two-year college in engineering, architecture or building construction, plus at least two years of proven experience in the category; or
• Experience: at least four years of active experience as a workman who learned the trade as an apprentice and skilled worker, including at least one year as a skilled workman or as a foreman in charge of a group of workers.

Compare that to the state certified route, which requires four years of experience with one as a foreman, or degree and experience combinations, plus the state exams (see the Florida hub). Applicants submit the application through the new online system along with a letter of reciprocity (if applying that way), a driver's license or state ID, corporate or fictitious name documents, and a copy of any state license.

Business license

The county's FAQ is short: "The unincorporated areas of Sumter County do not require a business license." If your office is inside one of the county's cities, check with that city.

Owner-builders

The county confirms that owners may act as the contractor on their own property, within the limits of the state owner-builder exemption.

State license pages

For new homes, the residential contractor and building contractor licenses are the usual choices, alongside roofing, HVAC, plumbing and electrical. Every CILB category requires the Business and Finance exam.

FAQ

I hold a DBPR license. What do I do before pulling a Sumter permit? Register online through the county's CitizenServe portal and keep insurance certificates current there.

Who approves a competency card by reciprocity? The Building Official, not the licensing board, under sections 6-22 and 6-29 of the county code.

Do I need a county business license? Not in unincorporated Sumter County.

Next step

A state certified license is the first of Sumter's three qualifying routes and works everywhere in Florida. Start with Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.