MyFloridaCode.com

Ken, there is not one singular place you can go to find out the rules
and regulations for operating as a contractor legally in FL at the
county or municipality level. There are 67 counties in FL and each
county has it's own set of requirements. Those can range from a very
stringent licensing requirement for almost every trade imaginable as in
the case of Pinellas County to no license or business tax receipt
required which is the case in some of the very rural sparsely populated
areas of FL. 

My job with my company is to understand and stay abreast of these
regulations and I can only tell you that you must check regularly with
each county and municipality for the requirements. Some counties have
written code that can be accessed by muni-code, some you can only get
the information by calling and finding out which department handles
licensing and enforcement if it exists at all in the county. I maintain
a spread sheet with all the codes, requirements, and phone contacts. It
is proprietary to our company and is not able to be shared publicly. I
have not been able to find this information published in a singular book
or internet form. If it were I would buy it.

My advice is to get on the phone, the internet, and go visit in person
to find the answers for each county and municipality as it relates to
licensing requirements for specific trades.

 

Michael Turner

 

________________________________

From: codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com
[mailto:codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com] On Behalf Of Ken Rodgers
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 2:42 PM
To: codetalk at myfloridacode.com
Subject: Re: [Florida Code Talk] License, Insurance & WC requirements

 

I really appreciate all the inputs on this subject thus far...they've
been very useful.  However, the fact that so far no one has chimed in
with a clear cut answer is somewhat troubling.  So, a tile guy,
sheetrock guy, etc can go and do work in a home for a contractor or
homeowner and not have liability and worker's comp and it's ok????  I
would think that most of us agree it is not but where is it in writing?

 

Many of these types of small jobs do not require a permit and the
particular trades do not fall under DBPR so where's the requirement???

 

From: codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com
[mailto:codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com] On Behalf Of Ken Rodgers
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 12:22 PM
To: codetalk at myfloridacode.com
Subject: Re: [Florida Code Talk] License, Insurance & WC requirements

 

Thanks for all the great inputs on this subject thus far.  However, I'm
specifically looking for info regarding those trades that are NOT
covered under the DBPR.  In my example below, the tile guy is not
governed under DBPR.  So, I'm looking for specific information on the
repercussions of, for example, a tile guy working without insurance (or
WC or a tax receipt)?  I know that if I cannot produce evidence of WC
and liability for each of my subs when I get my insurance audit each
year then I am charged for carrying them on my policy.  If that's the
case then there should be something in writing somewhere that says you
have to have liability, WC, etc to do this type of work even though they
don't fall under the DBPR.

 

From: codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com
[mailto:codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com] On Behalf Of Ken Rodgers
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 7:20 PM
To: codetalk at myfloridacode.com
Subject: [Florida Code Talk] License, Insurance & WC requirements

 

Evening all,

  It seems like recently there are a lot more guys out there doing work
without a license, insurance and worker's comp (insurance or exemption).
For clarification, when I say license I'm mainly referring to the local
business tax receipt.  Many of these guys know full well they are
operating illegally but some seem to think that as long as they are
working for "just a homeowner" they don't need some or all of these.
I've heard things like, "I'm just going at my own risk" with regards to
not having insurance.  One guy I ran into recently who was laying tile
tried to say that Walton County doesn't require any of that.  He tried
to justify it by saying he was performing a "service" in just repairing
their tile.  He said they already had tile and he was just replacing it
with new tile, he wasn't really doing anything construction related (I
tried really hard to hold back the laughter).  There are just a lot of
guys out there that are, in my opinion, operating completely illegally.
Not only are they endangering themselves and the homeowner by not having
liability insurance but they are not paying for worker's comp and
probably not reporting income and thus paying taxes.  All this adds up
to their ability to undercut those of us who have all this and have to
make enough to pay for it.

 

  So, my question is where can I find the best info on all the
requirements for doing business, specifically in the construction field.
I know guys doing tile and such are not licensed per se like a general
contractor, electrician, plumber, etc but they still have requirements
right?  And what are the penalties for operating in this manner.  Also,
is there any penalty for a homeowner or contractor who hires these
types?  It is my understanding that if a homeowner hires an unlicensed,
uninsured person then they are required to withhold the appropriate
taxes and carry appropriate insurance.  If so, where can I find info on
this?  I'd just like to have something in writing that I can give to
these guys (and homeowners) to "educate" them on the requirements.

 

Thanks,

 

Ken Rodgers

ArtisanBilt Construction

 

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