In response to recent natural disasters impacting Florida, on June 30, 2025, Governor DeSantis signed SB 180 into law. While the bill alters multiple statutes, relevant to this blog, it creates 489.1132, Florida Statutes, entitled “Regulation of hoisting equipment used in construction, demolition, or excavation work during a hurricane.”

This case from Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal thoroughly evaluates the licensing requirements for business engaged in contracting in Florida and concludes that it is not sufficient for an owner of the company to have a license. The license holder must also formally become the qualifying agent for the company. In this case, the lack of proper licensure resulted in the contractor’s contract for a new home being declared unenforceable.

While HB 683 (2025) modifies several statutes that apply to the construction industry, from a licensing perspective, it updates the definition of a Certified Alarm System Contractor to expand the scope of work that can be performed by those contractors.

Since 2019, roofing contractors have seen new requirements and changes to their scopes of work imposed under Florida’s contractor licensing statutes. Many of these changes require contractual disclosures and impose various timelines, including cancellation deadlines. On May 19, 2025 HB 715 (formerly SB 1076) was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. The new law creates multiple changes to Chapter 489, Florida Statutes, that effect roofers.

This case from Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal addresses Florida’s statute declaring that contracts entered into by unlicensed contractors are unenforceable.

Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal reinstated a contractor’s construction lien after finding that alleged unlicensed contracting in violation of local ordinances did not trigger the application of 489.128, Florida Statute. The court does a good job of outlining the differences between state and local licensing laws and the penalties and scope of enforcement available at the state and local level.

This case from Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal addresses the issue of whether an electrical contractor can contractor for work that includes the scope of work typically reserved to licensed underground utility and excavation contractors.

The new statute goes into effect July 1, 2024 and allows HVAC contractors of any class and Mechanical contractors to perform additional electrical work related to HVAC systems under certain conditions.

The new statute goes into effect July 1, 2024 and imposes new requirements for roofing contracts with residential property owners. Failing to comply could subject contractors to $10,000 fines.