Homeowner Tips

Tips for Homeowners

Watch for warning signs which may indicate the person/company is not licensed:

Newspaper/flyers or yellow page ads where only the telephone number appears and there is no business address.
No license number on the vehicle, business card, contract, newspaper/flyers or yellow page ad.
A large down payment is requested before work begins.
You are asked to obtain the permit.
Individual only displays an "occupational license" which is not a license to contract.
Permit is obtained by someone other than the person or company contracting to do the work.
You are informed that the job does not require a permit or inspection.
Verbal contract only, person is not willing to put all terms in writing.
The individual is only willing to work on weekends or after hours.
Many requests for money during early phases of construction.
You are asked to make checks payable to the individual's name when it should be in a company name, or asked to make payment in cash, or to make a check payable to "cash".
The individual does not have proof of General Liability or Worker's Compensation insurance.

Did you know:

According to Florida Statute 455.228, if you hire an unlicensed individual, the Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) may issue a cease and desist order and also may take you to Circuit Court and could impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for aiding and abetting unlicensed activity. You could also be liable for court costs.
Florida Statutes489.128 reads: "as a matter of public policy, contracts entered into on or after October 1, 1990, and performed in full or in part by any contractor who fails to obtain or maintain his license ... shall be unenforceable in law, or in equity ..."
The hiring of an unlicensed individual could cause you to pay more for the job than if you had hired a licensed contractor to begin with. Especially if the work is done incorrectly or never finished. You may have to pay twice as much or more for the same job to be corrected or finished.
If the unlicensed individuals fail to pay his sub-contractors or suppliers, you may be required to pay them, even though you have already paid the "contractor".
Any work in Jackson County for which a Certificate of Competency or license is required, should be performed by licenses contractors. Any work subcontracted out should also be performed by licensed contractors. Unless the contractor holds a Certificate or Competency or license which includes such work within its scope, then they may carry out the work with employees who are subordinate to the licensed contractor.
As the property owner, you are responsible for making sure that the proper permits are obtained for the job.
You may be liable for any injuries on you property if the unlicensed individual has no insurance or worker's compensation.

For your information

There are two classifications of licenses contractors: State Certified - who have taken a state exam and can contract anywhere in the State of Florida, or State Registered - who must be licensed in Jackson County prior to contracting.

You can help yourself
You can greatly reduce your risk of loss to an unlicensed contractor by doing the following:

Call to obtain a second bid for the work to be done.
Require references and call to verify those references.
Call the Building Department at 850-482-9802 or 850-482-9805 to confirm that the contractor is licensed and if a permit is required.

Jackson County Building Department
4487 Lafayette Street
Marianna, FL 32448
Phone: (850) 482-9805
FAX: (850) 718-0029

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