Contractor Licensing For Okaloosa County
There are different types of contractor licensing available.
State Certified – Certified through the state to perform work in a specific trade. May work anywhere in the state of Florida, but must registered with each county or municipality. If you are interested in becoming state certified please visit DBPR’s website for more information.
County Local Specialty Licensing – Competency license issued on the county level. County level testing and board approval required.
State Registered License – Competency License issued and contractor is registered through the state for a specific trade. County level testing and board approval required.
Prior to receiving a license (local specialty or state registerequiredred) you must appear before the appropriate Trade Competency Board for approval; if approved, you must take the examinations. If you have received a license in another county in Florida check with licensing staff to determine if reciprocity is accepted from that jurisdiction.
Okaloosa County Insurance Certificate Guidelines
Before a Competency Card is issued to any applicant, the applicant shall file with the Okaloosa County Department of Growth Management a certificate of Public Liability and Property Damage Insurance showing Okaloosa County Department of Growth Management as the certificate holder in the following amounts:
Electrical and Alarm Contractors:
Liability, including complete operations and products, $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence, $500,000 Property Damage OR, a minimum combined single limit policy of $800,000.
All Others:
General Liability, $300,000 single limit coverage.
Liability Insurance Certificates must contain the following information as prescribed by Florida Administrative Code 61G4-15.003(2) (c), and Okaloosa County Contractor Ordinances.
- Date that the Certificate of Insurance was issued.
- Okaloosa County Dept of Growth Management listed as certificate holder.
- Name and Signature of Insurance Agent.
- Name of insured must reflect the exact name of the business organization qualified by applicant, and the insured’s fictitious name or D/B/A, if any.
- Name of Insurance Company.
- Policy Number must be on the Certificate.
- Effective date of policy.
- Expiration date of policy.
- Proper aggregate amount of public liability and property damage as defined….
- Cancellation notice with minimum of ten (10) days.
- Valid Binders must be replaced with an original Certificate within thirty (30) days.
EFFECTIVE MAY 4, 2012:
All General Liability Certificates submitted after this date must show the type of license(s) and state or county license number(s) in which the contractor is operating in the ‘Description of Operation’ section of the certificate.
Workers Compensation Insurance Certificates are to contain the following information as prescribed by Florida Statues 440
- Date that the Certificate of Insurance was issued.
- Okaloosa County Dept of Growth Management listed as certificate holder.
- Name and Signature of Insurance Agent.
- Name of insured must reflect the exact name of the business organization qualified by applicant, and the insured’s fictitious name or D/B/A, if any.
- Name of Insurance Company
- Statement that coverage is provided pursuant to Florida Workers’ Compensation Law: “This certificate meets the minimum premium policy”
- Policy Number must be on the Certificate.
- Effective date of policy.
- Expiration date of policy.
- Cancellation notice with minimum of ten (30) days.
- Valid Binders must be replaced with an original Certificate within thirty (30) days.
If your Insurance Company is located in another state they must be registered with the Worker’s Compensation Bureau of Compliance Department @ 1-800-342-1741 to be able to write policies within the state of Florida. In addition we will require a copy of the declaration page of the policy (section 3-A).
If you do not have employees, Okaloosa County will accept a valid Workers’ Compensation Exemption card. If you have partners/officers’ who are also exempt (limit 3), please submit a copy of their exemption cards, and a copy of your partnership agreement or incorporation papers.
Address for Certificate holder should be:
812 E James Lee Blvd, Crestview, FL 32539
Email certificates to:
Fax certificates to: (850) 651-7184
Acknowledgement of Compliance Affidavit
Okaloosa County Ordinances are quoted here in part.
By signing this statement, please click here for Compliance Affidavit Form.
- I understand that my Okaloosa County Competency Card expires annually at midnight on the last day of my birth month. At renewal, I may request that a two (2) year license be issued and will expire in the same manner except every other year.
- I understand that I must renew my competency card within 30 days of the initial expiration date to avoid being charged a late fee.
- I understand that failure to renew my competency card within 30 days of the expiration date will subject me to a late fee of $100.
- I understand that should I cease to engage in contracting that I can place my competency card in ‘Retired’ status for $75 per year as long as my state registered license remains ‘current/active’ or ‘current/inactive’ and I provide verification (except for Locally Specialty Contractors).
- I understand that failure to renew the competency card prior to time and date shall cause the competency card to expire and it is unlawful for me to engage or offer to engage or hold myself out as engaging in contracting under the competency card unless the competency card is restored or reissued.
- I understand that after two (2) years of non-renewal, that my competency card will be purged.
- I understand that failure to renew my competency card (whether active or retired) will require me to reapply for a competency card in the same manner as a new applicant and be required to apply to the appropriate Trade Board and pass the required examinations with a score of 75% or greater.
Letter of Authorization For Okaloosa County
This Authorization Letter supersedes all previous lists on file unless otherwise indicated
If any time the person(s) you have authorized is/are no longer employee(s), partner(s) or officer(s), you MUST notify this department in writing of all changes.
Okaloosa Department of Growth Management
Application For Certified Contractors ONLY
Form can be faxed to (850) 651-7184 or
emailed to:
When emailing, please include your company name in the ‘subject’ line. Please allow 7 to 10 working days upon receipt for processing. Once completed, you will receive notification via email confirming the completion of your registration or renewal.
Registration/Renewal For Registered OR Specialty Contractors ONLY
Competency Cards not renewed within 30 days after expiration date will be charged a $100 late fee
MAIL TO:
812 E. James Lee Blvd,
Crestview, FL 32539
Courtesy Renewal Notices are mailed out one (1) month prior to registration expiration date. These notices are NOT guaranteed and will be mailed to the address currently on file.
Hold Harmless Agreement
- The Contractor, for and in consideration of a building permit issued by Okaloosa County, Florida, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless said Okaloosa County, Florida, its Officers and Agents, from all claims, damages or expenses that Okaloosa County may be liable for which arise from the construction or doing of any work by the Contractor within Okaloosa County, Florida.
State Registered Checklist
IF you “GRANDFATHERED IN” with another county, we CANNOT accept your license in this county unless you take and pass the an approved testing agency exam.
IF you took the trade and business & law exams in another county that we have a reciprocal agreement with, the following items are required:
You must contact sponsoring county and request that they mail a reciprocal letter to us stating all the particulars of the examinations. (Must be prepared, proctored, and graded by an approved testing agency, your grade (75% is passing), applicant number, which trade, etc. must be listed. We will accept a fax, emailed or mailed copy from county.
You will also need to contact the testing agency for a letter. Prometric@ (800) 280-3926 (request a duplicate score letter); GITS@ (800) 997-2129 (request a grade verification letter); PROV@ (866) 720-7768 x103 (provide applicant number);
NOTE: Please notify licensing staff if exam(s) are older than three (3) years from original examination date(s).
** BOTH LETTERS MUST SHOW INFORMATION FOR TRADE AND BUSINESS & LAW EXAMS. **
State Certified Checklist
Once the Reciprocal Agreement Process is Complete the Following items are Required:
- Copy of Your Current State Certified License.
- Copy of Your Current Business Tax Receipt (formally occupational license) From a Jurisdiction within the State of Florida or FOrm the State in Which Your Home Office is Located For Your Particular Trade. (Companies setting up a job site trailer or office in Okaloosa County must have an Okaloosa County Business tax receipt).
- General Civil Liability Insurance Certificate
- Worker's Compensation Insurance Certificate.
OR if you do not have employees, We will accept your Worker's Compensation Exemption Card. (If you have partners or officers who have worker’s compensation exemption (Limit 3), please submit a copy of their exemption cards & your company partnership agreement or corporate papers.) - Letter of Authorization (LOA) If you are allowing employees, partners, or officers to purchase permits or call for inspections on your behalf you must complete form, have it notarized, and will be accepted by fax or email.
- Okaloosa County Application Form.
- Administration Fee.
If your state license has been issued by the Dept of Business & Professional Regulation, then no administrative fee required. If you hold a state license from the Dept of Agriculture for Liquid Petroleum OR a Mobile Home Installer’s License from the Dept of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles OR a Fire Sprinkler (Category 1-5) or Fire Extinguisher Licenses from the State Fire Marshall Office, please contact our office for a fee quote.
- Hold Harmless Agreement Signed, Dated AND Witnessed.
- Copy of your Drivers License.
- Copy of Articles of Incorporation. Per Florida Statute 607 & 608 all corporations or limited liability companies must have active Articles of Incorporation in order to transact business within the State of Florida.
**VERY IMPORTANT—ALL PAPERWORK MUST RECORD YOUR COMPANY NAME EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR STATE LICENSE.**
Specialty Contractor Checklist
- Copy of your Current Okaloosa County Business Tax Receipt (formally occupational license)
- General Liability Insurance Certificate (See Insurance Guidelines for specifics)
- Worker's Compensation Insurance Certificate (See Insurance Guidelines for specifics)
OR
if you do not have employees, We will accept your Worker's Compensation Exemption Card. (If you have partners or officers who have worker’s compensation exemption (Limit 3), please submit a copy of their exemption cards & your company partnership agreement or corporate papers.) - Letter of Authorization. If you are allowing employees, partners, or officers to purchase permits or call for inspections on your behalf you must complete form, have it notarized, and will be accepted by fax, email or mailed to us.
- Okaloosa County Application Form.
- Acknowledgement of Compliance Affidavit Signed AND Notarized.
- Okaloosa County Competency Card Fee. Please contact our office for the required fee. Make checks payable to Okaloosa County Dept. of Growth Management.
- Hold Harmless Agreement Signed, Dated AND Witnessed.
- Copy of your Drivers License.
- Copy of Articles of Incorporation. Per Florida Statute 607 & 608 all corporations or limited liability companies must have active Articles of Incorporation in order to transact business within the State of Florida.
**VERY IMPORTANT—ALL PAPERWORK MUST RECORD YOUR COMPANY NAME EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS ON FICTICIOUS NAME REGISTRATION OR ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION/CORPORATION. **
This checklist as well as the forms needed is also available on the Growth Management website under licensing at www.co.okaloosa.fl.us
812 E. James Lee Blvd, Crestview, FL 32539
1250 Eglin Parkway, Suite 301, Shalimar, FL 32579
Rene’e Lucas, License Specialist
(850) 651-7526; (850) 651-7184 fax;
ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE 22 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
