How to check a contractor's license in Sarasota County
In Sarasota County, the DBPR license search is the place to confirm a state license. Then read the permit notice for your address, because the county, the City of Sarasota and North Port each run their own 1 2 3.
As of October 19, 2026
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 against the cited sources. A guide, not legal, tax or engineering advice.
Updated . Sources
Confirm the license first
- Search the license number on the DBPR license search 4.
- Check that the name and license type fit the job 5.
- Ask the contractor to say in writing which license it will use for your job.
Permit offices and their notices
Sarasota County's building bulletin of June 10, 2026 says a small single-family job can be exempt from a building permit from July 1, 2026, if it has no electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas or structural work and is outside a special flood hazard area 1.The owner must ask in writing 1.
The City of Sarasota has its own notice. It also needs a written request to the Building Official, and its examples are drywall replacement and roof repairs. It does not mention pools 2.
North Port says that from July 1, 2026 single-family work under $7,500 3 needs no building permit. Plumbing and other trade work, and structural work such as pool barriers and fences, still need permits.
What this means for a license check
A small-job exemption removes a permit, not the license question. Plumbing work is outside each of these exemptions, so a plumber's license still matters. A contractor without the trade license must subcontract plumbing (section 489.113(3)) 6.
What our file counts in the county
As of October 19, 2026
The DBPR file dated October 19, 20267 shows 280 businesses7 with an active certified plumbing license and 116 businesses7 with an active certified pool/spa license, using any mailing city in Sarasota County.
The Sarasota County page links the cities that have a listing page.
Facts used in this guide
As of October 18, 2026
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sarasota County's building bulletin says that from July 1, 2026 a project under $7,500 on a single-family home can be exempt from a building permit only if it has no electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas or structural work and is outside a special flood hazard area, and the owner makes a written request to the Building Official. | Under $7,500 exemption needs written request; no trade work; not in flood zone | [1] June 10, 2026 |
| The City of Sarasota's Development Services notice on House Bill 803 (effective 1 July 2026) says the building-permit exemption under s. 553.79(1)(g) needs all of these: a single-family home, no electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas or structural work in the full scope, a full-project value under $7,500, a home outside a special flood hazard area, and a written exemption request to the Building Official through the online portal. Its examples are drywall replacement and roof repairs. It does not mention pools.The City's exemption notice does not name pool resurfacing. The exemption has to be requested in writing and approved first. | exemption request needed; pools not named | [2] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
| North Port says that from July 1, 2026, owners of single-family homes and their contractors need no building permit for work valued under $7,500. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work, and structural work such as pool barriers and fences, still need permits. | Under $7,500: no building permit, from 2026-07-01 | [3] undated (retrieved October 18, 2026) |
| Florida s. 489.113(3) says a contractor must subcontract electrical, mechanical, plumbing and similar work unless the contractor holds a state certificate or registration in that trade category. | s. 489.113(3) | [6] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)As of October 19, 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 | [5] undated (retrieved October 19, 2026)As of October 19, 2026 |
| Plumbing: businesses with an active certified license and a mailing city in Sarasota CountyOur count from the DBPR file, counting every postal city in the county. Not an official DBPR figure and not a service area. | 280 businesses | [7] October 19, 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
| Pool resurfacing: businesses with an active certified license and a mailing city in Sarasota CountyOur count from the DBPR file, counting every postal city in the county. Not an official DBPR figure and not a service area. | 116 businesses | [7] October 19, 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
Questions people ask
Sarasota County on FL Pro List
Listing pages in Sarasota County
Guides for other counties
Sources
- Bulletin 2026-0002, HB 803 and $7,500 Exemption from Building Permits (Sarasota County), June 10, 2026
- Residential Permit Exemption Application Information (City of Sarasota Development Services), October 19, 2026
- Permitting (City of North Port), October 18, 2026
- License verification (Florida DBPR), October 19, 2026
- Understanding DBPR Codes (Florida DBPR), October 19, 2026
- Florida Statutes, section 489.113 (qualifications for practice; restrictions), October 19, 2026
- Florida DBPR licensee records, October 19, 2026