Florida LAW requires contractors to be licensed489.127 Prohibitions; penalties...
(1) No person shall:
(f) Engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor or advertise himself or herself or a business organization as available to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor without being duly registered or certified or having a certificate of authority
489.127 Prohibitions; penalties....
For purposes of this subsection, a person or business organization operating on an inactive or suspended certificate, registration, or certificate of authority is not duly certified or registered and is considered unlicensed. An occupational license certificate issued under the authority of chapter 205 is not a license for purposes of this part.
(2)(a) Any unlicensed person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (1) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b) Any unlicensed person who commits a violation of subsection (1) after having been previously found guilty of such violation commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(c) Any unlicensed person who commits a violation of subsection (1) during the existence of a state of emergency declared by executive order of the Governor commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
FLORIDA STATUES ON-LINE CHAPTER 489 CONTRACTING
MORE INFORMATION ON THE FLORIDA HOMEOWNER CONSTRUCTION RECOVERY FUND
In laymen terms; a person shall not engage in contracting if he is not licensed to do so. Recap; to obtain the license one must pass an exam and demonstrate competency.
It's still a crime to use an expired and/or suspended license. I am sure there is a good reason why the license is not valid!!
My favorite, An Occupational License (finally it's no longer called a license it's appropriately call a TAX) it is not a license to do contracting...it's a tax. Nice work to those that pushed to get that changed!
Contracting without a license is a misdemeanor of the 1st degree. However, if someone has previously been charged and convicted of this crime then the second offense is a 3rd degree felony.
When our Governor declares a State of Emergency the first offense becomes a 3rd degree felony!
We are talking about "Contracting without a License" Chapter 489.127(1)(F) of the Florida Statues. Here is the distinction; We are only talking about the single crime of "Contracting without a License" don't confuse it with anything else. The law states that you need a license! So, if an unlicensed person is contracting it's a crime.
CIVIL and not CRIMINAL; If your dealing with a licensed contractor than it's not criminal, and I am only referring to the contract issue, if the contractor stole from you then yes were talking criminal. Remember, we are talking about contracting without a license.
CRIMINAL and not CIVIL; When you dealing with an unlicensed contractor.
GOOGLE YOUR CONTRACTOR
Other criminal charges that can be associated with contracting, contractors, and contracting without a license, click here.
