Plumbing License in Florida: Fees, Requirements & Startup Costs
Quick answer: Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, oversees plumbing contractors. A new firm needs a Certified Plumbing Contractor qualifier for statewide work or a Registered Plumbing Contractor backed by local competency for its approved jurisdictions. The official CILB fee rule lists a $40 post-exam application charge, a $200 initial certification charge, and a $50 charge for initial issue to a qualified business organization; exam payments are separate.
Decide how far the company will work
The certified route covers the plumbing trade statewide. The registered route depends on a local competency license and restricts contracting to the jurisdictions supported by that local qualification. This choice affects marketing and dispatch: a registered operation should check the location of every prospective job before quoting it. The credential holder can apply individually or qualify a business organization, so an entity launch needs the correct qualifier paperwork.
Florida’s researched record does not identify a statewide journeyman plumber license. Counties and municipalities can issue journeyman licenses under the statute cited in the record. Worker credentials and contractor authority answer different questions; ask the local office about the people who will perform and supervise the planned work.
Licensing in Florida
Jurisdiction: mixed
Authority: Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
Plumbing CONTRACTORS are licensed by the state Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB, ch. 489 Part I F.S.) as either 'certified' (statewide, state exam) or 'registered' (limited to local jurisdictions where the holder has a local competency license). There is no state journeyman plumber license: s. 489.1455 F.S. authorizes counties and municipalities to issue journeyman licenses.
Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC)
BUSINESS Unlimited in the plumbing trade statewide (s. 489.105(3)(m) F.S.). Applied for as an individual (CILB 5-M) or as qualifier of a business (CILB 6-M).
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Examination development fee paid to DBPR or its exam vendor upon scheduling tests (part of the $335 application+exam fee) | $135 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | — |
| Examination administration fee per test administered | $80 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | — |
| Application processing after passing the exam | $40 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | — |
| Initial certification fee (rule says $100 if remitted in the second year of the biennium) | $200 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | 2 |
| Biennial renewal, certification or registration (active); certified renew Aug 31 of even years | $200 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | 2 |
| Application and initial issue of certification/registration for a business organization (qualified business) | $50 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | 2 |
| Biennial renewal of business organization certification/registration | $50 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | 2 |
| Initial designation fee for a financially responsible officer (optional route) | $200 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | — |
Registered Plumbing Contractor (RF)
BUSINESS Plumbing contracting only in local jurisdictions where the holder holds a local competency license; state registration required.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee for registration | $100 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | — |
| Biennial renewal (registered contractors renew Aug 31 of odd years) | $200 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.flrules.org | 2 |
Journeyman plumber (local)
INDIVIDUAL No state journeyman plumber license; counties/municipalities issue journeyman licenses in plumbing (s. 489.1455 F.S.). The owner/qualifier's credential is the state CFC certificate (or local competency + registration).
Exam: Provider: Professional Testing, Inc. (registers candidates, develops/scores exams); plumbing trade knowledge exam is paper-and-pencil (Kissimmee dates in 2026); business & finance exam is computer-based via Pearson VUE · Source
Experience: Four years of field experience in the category, at least one year supervisory; up to three years may be substituted with military service or college credit.
Bond: $100,000 VERIFIED DATA Source — www2.myfloridalicense.com
Insurance: Requirement: Categories other than general/building contractors (incl. plumbing): $100,000 liability and $25,000 property damage insurance; workers' compensation or exemption within 30 days of licensure. · Source
Renewal and CE: Renewal period: 2 years · Continuing education: 14 hours · Source
Local note: Journeyman plumber licenses are local (s. 489.1455 F.S.). Registered contractors need local competency licenses; local business tax receipts and permits apply.
Data notes
Fee amounts are from the adopted CILB fee rule 61G4-12.009 F.A.C. (effective 10/30/2017), an official source. Rule states the total 'application and examination fee ... shall be three hundred thirty-five dollars ($335.00)' but then itemizes $135 + $80 per test + $40, so the exact total a candidate pays depends on the number of tests (business/finance + trade). The DBPR checklist page says only 'Pay the required fee as provided in the application'; the current printable application (www2.myfloridalicense.com PDF) The source could not be independently reviewed at the time of verification, and a search snippet citing $249/$149 initial-certification amounts could not be verified, so it is NOT recorded. A $5 unlicensed-activity fee may be added at initial licensure/renewal under s. 455.2281 F.S. (verified in ECLB rule, not confirmed in CILB rule text). CE = 14 classroom hours per biennium (s. 489.115 F.S.).
Verified: 2026-09-24
Exam and experience before the business opening
The certification route calls for trade and business or finance examinations. The record describes trade experience with supervisory work and possible substitution from college credit or military service. Applicants should have supporting documents ready before building an opening date around an exam. The adopted fee rule separates development, administration, application, and license charges; an exam administration charge applies by test administered. Read the DBPR exam information with the current application.
For a qualified business, identify who is responsible for the license and finances. A financially responsible officer is an optional arrangement in the record and triggers a surety bond requirement. That bond should not be inserted into every Florida startup budget automatically. The licensing route and company structure determine whether it belongs.
Insurance and local authority
The DBPR record gives liability and property damage coverage requirements for plumbing contractors and calls for workers’ compensation coverage or an exemption after licensure. Ask an insurer to prepare evidence that matches the application and the offered scope. Service inside occupied buildings creates a different exposure from a construction-only operation, so the quote should describe the actual work.
A certified license does not remove local permit obligations. A registered contractor also needs the local competency basis for the jurisdiction. Local business tax receipts and journeyman credentials may apply. Contact the building department for each service area to learn who may pull a plumbing permit and how inspections are booked. Keep those steps in the estimate and job schedule.
Florida renewals follow the Board’s cycle, and the record includes continuing education. Track the contractor credential and the qualified business organization separately where applicable. The DBPR construction industry office is the place to confirm current forms and deadlines.
Model a Florida launch
Choose the service territory first, then price the vehicle, common repair inventory, testing and drain tools, insurance, and working cash. A statewide certificate might support a wider market, but long routes can reduce billable time. The preset below is a planning model; it does not know the local competency charge, permit fees, or how many examinations an applicant will take.
| Cost category | Range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Varies by state — see license table | Official fees depend on state and structure |
| Business formation | Varies by state — see license table | Official fees depend on state and structure |
| Insurance (first year) | $1,750 MARKET ESTIMATE Source | Selected coverage |
| Vehicle | $0–$48,400 MARKET ESTIMATE Source | Own vehicle to cash purchase |
| Tools & equipment | $830–$7,650 MARKET ESTIMATE Source | Basic to pro priced kit anchors |
| Software (first year) | $590–$6,000 MARKET ESTIMATE Source | Basic to pro annual subscription |
Marketing, payroll, working capital, permits: set in the calculator.
Startup Cost Calculator
Estimated startup cost: $12,000–$14,400
Estimated startup cost: $12,000–$14,400. Break-even at about 7 jobs per month.
| Licensing & exam fees | $100–$455 OFFICIALLicense details |
|---|---|
| Business formation (state filing) | $125 OFFICIAL |
| Insurance (first year) | $1,750 MARKET ESTIMATEGeneral liability |
| Vehicle acquisition | $0 YOUR INPUTYour existing vehicle; acquisition cost $0Vehicle price sources |
| Tools & equipment | $3,100 MARKET ESTIMATEExcludes unpriced kit items: Pipe wrenches, Tubing cutter, Drain auger, Ladder, Safety gearStarter kit items
|
| Software (first year) | $590–$2,250 MARKET ESTIMATEPublished monthly list price × 12Software price sources
|
| Launch marketing | $1,500 YOUR INPUTYour input — default: 3 months × $500 |
| Payroll reserve | $0 CALCULATEDBLS median wage × 173 hours/month × employees × employer taxes and ECEC benefits × working-capital months |
| Working capital | $4,800–$5,250 CALCULATEDMonthly overhead × working-capital months |
| Permits & compliance | $0 YOUR INPUTYour input — default $0; local requirements may apply |
Monthly overhead: $1,600–$1,750 · Annual operating: $19,300–$21,000 · Break-even: 7 jobs/month
Vehicle operating per month: $760 CALCULATED
Phone and admin per month: $150 YOUR INPUT
Show formula
Startup total is the sum of available first-year cost lines. Monthly overhead includes insurance, software, marketing, vehicle operating, phone and admin, and payroll. Break-even jobs = monthly overhead ÷ (average ticket × gross margin).
The license overview compares the researched states, while the startup cost guide explains the equipment and cash-flow choices. Use the pricing guide to reflect drive time and permit work in customer quotes.
Official sources
Market sources
- www.flrules.org — Examination development fee paid to DBPR or its exam vendor upon scheduling tests (part of the $335 application+exam fee)
- www.insureon.com — Insureon
- www.ramtrucks.com — 2026 Ram ProMaster cargo van (base)
- www.cars.com — 2026 Ford F-150 XL (base)
- www.cars.com — 2026 Ford Transit-150 cargo van (base, T-150 130in low roof RWD)
- www.coxautoinc.com — Used vehicle average listing price (all segments, not cargo-van specific)
- www.walmart.com — Milwaukee M18 FORCE LOGIC 2922-20 press tool (ONE-KEY)
- www.walmart.com — Milwaukee 2773-22L M18 Force Logic long throw press tool kit 1/2-1 in.
- www.walmart.com — RIDGID K-400 drum drain cleaning machine
- www.getjobber.com — Jobber
- www.housecallpro.com — Housecall Pro
- quickbooks.intuit.com — QuickBooks Online
- form.sunbiz.org — Florida LLC filing fee
Last updated: September 24, 2026