General Contractor License Miami

May 17, 2023

A General Contractor’s License is required in Miami-Dade County to perform construction, repair, alteration, remodeling, or demolition of any structure over many for labor and materials.

The Board of County Commissioners has delegated the authority to issue General Contractor’s Licenses to the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources’ Building Code Compliance Office.

To obtain a General Contractor's License, an applicant must:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria

To be able to obtain a General Contractor’s License in Miami-Dade County, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

– Be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or an alien with the ability to work legally in the U.S.

– Have the financial ability to obtain public liability and property damage insurance and show proof of coverage to the Building Code Compliance Office

– Pass the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fund Examination, which all general contractors are required to pass

– Have two (2) years of verifiable experience in the trade in which the individual is applying

– Provide any additional documents that the Building Code Compliance Office may request

– Pass a financial fitness test examining the applicant’s credit rating, financial stability, and overall financial responsibility.

2. Complete the application

Once you have met the required eligibility criteria, you must complete an official application to obtain a General Contractor’s License from Miami-Dade County. The application must be completed in full and include the following:

– Proof of financial responsibility

– Proof of insurance

– The Completed Examination Application and Certificate of Achievement, which must be completed and passed before the application can be accepted

– A current copy of the Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Fund Examination

– A signed affidavit stating that you have the financial ability to obtain appropriate public liability and property damage insurance coverage

– A signed affidavit that the applicant has two (2) years of verifiable experience in the trade they are applying for.

Completing and submitting the application is the first step to becoming a licensed general contractor in Miami-Dade County.

3. Submit supporting documents

Once your application is complete, you must submit supporting documents to the Miami-Dade County Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department. The records must include the following:

– Copies of diplomas, certifications, or other training documents

– Copies of any relevant professional experience or licensure

– Letters of recommendation from industry professionals

– Professional references

– A current copy of your General Contractor’s Financial Statement.

You must also provide proof of financial responsibility, proof of insurance and make sure that you obtain the proper liability insurance. The Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Fund Examination must also be included. To become a licensed contractor in Miami-Dade County, these documents must be validated and presented to the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department.

4. Pass the examination

After submitting your supporting documents, the next step towards obtaining your general contractor license in Miami-Dade County is to pass the certification examination. The certification examination is taken online and consists of a two-hour section and a one-hour section. The two-hour section covers the basics of construction management, specialty trades, and construction law. The one-hour section covers the Miami-Dade County Contractor’s Guide, Miami-Dade County ordinances, and Local Business Tax regulations.

You must pass both sections to receive your license. If you do not pass the certification examination on your first attempt, you may retake the exam; however, you must wait 90 days before attempting the exam again. Once you have successfully passed the examination, you will receive your general contractor license for Miami-Dade County.

5. Provide proof of insurance

The final step towards obtaining your general contractor license in Miami-Dade County is to provide proof of insurance. The applicant must provide evidence of public liability and workers’ compensation insurance to get a general contractor license. You must provide proof of insurance to the Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax office at the time of application.

The general liability insurance must be for at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Furthermore, an automotive insurer licensed in Florida must issue public liability insurance.

The workers’ compensation insurance must meet the Florida Workers’ Compensation Law requirements and the Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax. An approved out-of-state insurer must issue workers’ compensation insurance, and the insurance must cover all employees who are involved in a construction project.

6. Pay the fees

Once you have submitted your application and insurance documentation, there are a few final steps to take to receive your general contractor license in Miami-Dade County. The first of these is to submit the applicable fees. The applicable prices for a general contractor license in Miami-Dade County include an application fee and a license fee.

The application fee for a general contractor license in Miami-Dade County is $95. The license fee for a general contractor license in Miami-Dade County is $300. Both of these fees must be paid to complete the application process. Additionally, applicants must pay any other applicable fees that the Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax office may require.

7. Renew your license

To keep a general contractor license in Miami-Dade County, license holders must renew their licenses every two years, and the deadline for renewal is June 30 every other year. Renewing your license requires completing a few steps, including:

Paying a renewal application fee.
Submitting any changes to your original application and insurance documents
Paying the applicable renewal license fee.
Submitting proof of the continuing education requirements

Any changes to your original application must be made before submitting a renewal application. Additionally, any changes to the insurance information should be updated simultaneously to ensure the information is correct. All renewal fees must be paid to complete a general contractor license renewal in Miami-Dade County.