Florida Contractor License Bond Requirements
The state Construction Industry Licensing Board at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation requires applicants for a Florida construction license to get bonded only if they need to prove financial responsibility. The contractor license bond is necessary if your FICO credit score is below 660.
The required amounts for the different Florida contractor license type are the following:
- Division I license - $20,000
- Division II license - $10,000
- Division II license after completing a board-approved financial responsibility course - $10,000
- Division I license after completing a board-approved financial responsibility course - $5,000
The purpose of the bond is to guarantee the applicants’ financial responsibility. It should be maintained until your credit score becomes more than 660.
In addition to the state level, contractors may need to get bonded to meet the criteria of local authorities too. You can check out the cities and counties with contractor bond requirements in the table below. It contains the contractor license types and the bond amounts necessary in each place.
Bryant Surety Bonds can provide you with any type of Florida contractor license bonds that you may need. You can fill out our online application form to get your free quote.
Need bonding for bidding on construction projects? Make sure to consult our contract bonds page.
Get a quick estimate of the cost of your bond by using our surety bond calculator below!
How Much Does a Contractor Bond Cost in Florida?
The price of your Florida surety bond is set on the basis of the bond amount that state or local authorities require.
Your bond premium is a small percentage of that amount. The most important factor that affects it is your personal credit score, but your personal and business finances, fixed and liquid assets, and industry experience may also have an influence.
The rates start at 1% for applicants with a good credit score and stable financial profile.
You can check a ballpark estimate of your bond in the table below.
Florida Contractor License Bond Costs | ||
License type | Bond Amount | Starting Price |
Division I contractor | $20,000 | $200 |
Division II contractor | $10,000 | $100 |
Division I contractor after completing a board-approved financial responsibility course | $10,000 | $100 |
Division II contractor after completing a board-approved financial responsibility course | $5,000 | $100 |
Auburndale contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Cape Coral registered contractor | $25,000 | $250 |
Dundee contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Fort Meade contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Hillsborough County contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Jacksonville sign contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Kissimmee contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Lake Alfred contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Lake County contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Orlando contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Osceola County contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Palm Beach County contractor | $2,000 | $100 |
Panama City contractor (different types) | $5,000 | $100 |
Pasco County contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Polk County contractor | $5,000 | $100 |
Winter Haven contractor | $10,000 | $100 |
You can consult our detailed surety bond cost guide for more details about the formulation of your price.
Florida Contractor License Requirements
The requirements for getting a Florida general contractor license and specialty licenses vary depending on your location.
On the state level, you’ll need to satisfy the following criteria to get a license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation:
- Complete the Florida contractor license application
- Meet the experience requirements of at least 4 years of experience or a combination of college and experience
- Pass state examination
- Submit a $300,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage insurance and a worker’s compensation insurance policy (if applicable)
- Post a Florida construction bond (if you don’t meet the financial responsibility criteria)
- Pay the relevant licensing fees
On the local level, the requirements are different and are set by your city or county authorities.