Find Certified Contractors in South Florida

Most home improvement projects in South Florida require a building permit, especially those involving structural changes, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, or impact-resistant windows and doors. Each county has its own building department.

What Typically Requires a Permit:

• New construction and additions
• Roofing (repairs and replacements)
• Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work
• Pools, spas, and screen enclosures
• Hurricane shutters and impact windows

Owner-Builder Exemption: Florida allows homeowners to pull their own permits for personal residences, but you must sign a disclosure statement acknowledging your responsibilities.

County Permit Offices:

• Miami-Dade County Permits
• Broward County Building Division
• Palm Beach County Contractors

Licensing requirements in Florida vary depending on service category.

Most trade service contractors, such as electricians and plumbers, are required to hold either a state-issued license or a county-issued license that has been registered with the state. In general, contractors who provide home improvement services, like painters and flooring companies, will hold a license for each county they serve, although larger companies who operate across multiple areas have the option to carry a state-issued general contractor license.

Certain services, including housecleaning, landscaping, appliance repair, and energy audits, do not require a license. For more information, visit the website of your state or local government.

State of Florida

• Miami-Dade County
• Broward County
• Palm Beach County

Workers' Compensation: In Florida, construction businesses must carry workers' compensation starting with their very first employee. This is stricter than many other states.

General Liability: Florida-licensed general contractors need $300,000 bodily injury/$50,000 property damage minimums. While residential contractors are only required to carry $100,000/$25,000, many South Florida municipalities and HOAs require contractors to carry $1,000,000+ for larger projects.

The Best Pick Promise: We verify that every Best Pick contractor holds valid general liability insurance and meets all state-mandated workers' compensation requirements. You can also verify a license directly at MyFloridaLicense.com.

South Florida's characteristically warm, humid weather persists year-round, and many homeowners celebrate the tropical climate by investing in their outdoor spaces. Landscaping and pool service companies are extremely busy during peak spring and summer months.

Arranging a pre-season checkup with an air conditioning professional can help prevent a system failure during the hottest part of the year, when HVAC companies are in high demand.

South Florida weathers its fair share of hurricanes and tropical storms, so most window and door companies offer hurricane shutters and impact-resistant windows and doors, which are designed to protect against damage from wind, rain, and airborne debris. Should a natural disaster occur in your area, know the contact information of a qualified disaster restoration company.

Best Pick Reports conducts independent consumer satisfaction research in South Florida annually. We survey thousands of homeowners who have recently hired home service companies, analyzing their experiences to identify contractors who consistently deliver quality work.

To earn Best Pick certification in South Florida, companies must:

• Maintain a 4.0+ Google rating or 80%+ customer recommendation rate
• Hold all required state and local licenses
• Carry general liability insurance [+ workers' compensation where required]
• Have no unresolved complaints or regulatory violations
• Re-qualify annually through fresh consumer satisfaction surveys

We verify licensing and insurance annually for every certified company. When you hire a Best Pick contractor, you're also protected by our Best Pick Guarantee, which provides up to $2,500 in coverage if a certified company fails to meet their commitments.