How to check a contractor's license in Miami-Dade County
In Miami-Dade, start with the DBPR license search, then use the county's contractor inquiry tool if the contractor works under a county license. County Code section 10-4.1 1 makes every published contractor listing show the contractor's certification number. This guide covers both lookups, what our file counts in the county and where permits fit.
As of October 19, 2026
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 against the cited sources. A guide, not legal, tax or engineering advice.
Updated . Sources
State and county licenses
A state license shows a code in the number, such as CFC for plumbing or CPC for pool and spa work 2.
Miami-Dade also licenses contractors itself. The county's licensing page describes personal and business licenses that each need an exam, and says contractors must meet the minimum requirements of Chapter 10 of the county code 3.
So the number on your quote may be a state number or a county one. Ask which it is.
Look it up in this order
- Search the number on the DBPR license search 4.
- If the contractor says it works under a county license, use the Contractor Inquiry and Complaint Search linked from the county's contractor licensing page 3.
- Match the business name on each result to your quote.
- Keep a screenshot or note of the result, with the date you looked.
The county rule behind every card here
Under section 10-4.1 1 of the county code, it is a misdemeanor for each advertisement to knowingly publish an ad circulated in the county that names a contractor offering chapter 489 or chapter 10 services without the certification number issued to that contractor. A listing or entry counts as an advertisement 1.
That is why each card on a Miami-Dade page prints the state number as DBPR lists it. The number comes from the same DBPR row as the business name, and a business without a valid number is not listed.
What our file counts in the county
As of October 19, 2026
The DBPR file dated October 19, 20265 shows 1,045 businesses5 with an active certified plumbing license and 246 businesses5 with an active certified pool/spa license. Both counts take any mailing city in Miami-Dade County. They are not service areas.
The Miami-Dade County page shows the cities that have a listing page and how many businesses each lists.
Permits: examples we read
Homestead's pool and spa checklist asks for a current contractor license and insurance with the permit application 6.
On small jobs, the City of Miami's page on HB 803 says some single-family work valued under $7,500 7 can be exempt from a building permit if you ask in writing. Plumbing and other trade work is not covered.
Facts used in this guide
As of October 18, 2026
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County Code s. 10-4.1 makes it a misdemeanor, for each advertisement, to knowingly publish an ad circulated in the county that names a contractor offering chapter 489 or chapter 10 services without the certification number the State or County issued to that contractor. The ordinance counts a listing or entry as an advertisement. | s. 10-4.1 | [1] 2026-09-23 (Municode version date)As of October 19, 2026 |
| Miami-Dade County's contractor licensing page says county personal and business licenses each need an exam, that contractors must meet the minimum requirements of Chapter 10 of the county code, and it links a Contractor Inquiry and Complaint Search. | county license plus complaint search | [3] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
| Homestead's Swimming Pools and Spas Checklist lists a notarized permit application, current contractor license and insurance, plans signed and sealed by a design professional, a current legal survey, and lot coverage calculations for zoning review. | Notarized application, sealed plans, survey, lot coverage calculations | [6] 2024-07 |
| HB 803 (2026), effective 2026-07-01: single-family work valued under $7,500 can be exempt from a building permit with a written exemption approval; excludes electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and structural work and excludes Special Flood Hazard Areas. | < $7,500 USD | [7] July 1, 2026 |
| DBPR's code list gives these construction license codes: CFC Certified Plumbing Contractor, CPC Certified Pool/Spa Contractor, CAC Certified Air Conditioning Contractor, CMC Certified Mechanical Contractor, CGC Certified General Contractor, CBC Certified Building Contractor and CRC Certified Residential Contractor. For pool/spa, Class A is commercial and Class B is residential. | license codes and pool classes | [2] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
| Plumbing: businesses with an active certified license and a mailing city in Miami-Dade CountyOur count from the DBPR file, counting every postal city in the county. Not an official DBPR figure and not a service area. | 1,045 businesses | [5] October 19, 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
| Pool resurfacing: businesses with an active certified license and a mailing city in Miami-Dade CountyOur count from the DBPR file, counting every postal city in the county. Not an official DBPR figure and not a service area. | 246 businesses | [5] October 19, 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
Questions people ask
Why is the county count larger than a city count?
As of October 19, 2026
A city page lists businesses with a ZIP code inside the city. The county count takes a mailing city anywhere in Miami-Dade County. Both come from the DBPR file dated October 19, 20265.
Miami-Dade County on FL Pro List
Listing pages in Miami-Dade County
Guides for other counties
Sources
- Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances, chapter 10 (Municode), September 23, 2026
- Understanding DBPR Codes (Florida DBPR), October 19, 2026
- Contractors Licensing (Miami-Dade County), October 19, 2026
- License verification (Florida DBPR), October 19, 2026
- Florida DBPR licensee records, October 19, 2026
- Swimming Pools and Spas Checklist (City of Homestead), 2024-07
- Building Permit Exemption Approval Process for Residential Properties (City of Miami), October 18, 2026