How to Verify a Florida Roofing Contractor's License Before You Sign

Every year, Florida homeowners lose millions of dollars to unlicensed contractors. Some advertise heavily after hurricanes. Some are referred by neighbors with good intentions. Some carry business cards that look perfectly legitimate. The only way to know for certain is to look up the license yourself, before you sign anything.

This guide walks you through the Florida DBPR verification process step by step, explains what the license types mean, and gives you a checklist of red flags that should end the conversation immediately.

Robson Industrial Group LLC holds FL Certified General Contractor license CGC1541144 and FL Certified Roofing Contractor license CCC1337790, both verifiable on myfloridalicense.com.

Why License Verification Matters More in Florida Than Most States

Florida has some of the strictest contractor licensing requirements in the country, and for good reason. The state sits in a high-wind zone, homeowner's insurance rates are the highest in the nation, and South Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) demands code compliance that only properly credentialed contractors can legally perform.

Under Florida Statute §489.128, any contract entered with an unlicensed contractor is voidable at the homeowner's option. That means you may be able to get your money back, but it doesn't undo the unpermitted work, the failed inspection, or the insurance denial that follows.

The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) maintains a public license database. It costs nothing and takes under two minutes to use. There is no legitimate reason to skip this step.

Florida Contractor License Types: What You’re Looking For

For roofing work, you want to see a CGC or CCC license, both statewide Certified credentials. A Registered Roofing contractor (RR) can legally work in the jurisdiction they registered in, but they cannot legally take on a project in an adjacent county without re-registering there. This matters if your project spans county lines or if you move.

Step-by-Step: How to Verify a Roofing Contractor License on DBPR

1. Go to myfloridalicense.com. On the homepage, click “Verify a License.” No account or login is required — this is a public database.
2. Select the profession. From the dropdown, choose “Contractor.” The system will show you sub-options for license type. You can leave it broad or filter to “Certified Roofing Contractor” specifically.
3. Enter the contractor’s name or license number. If searching by name, use the business name as it appears on their contract or proposal. If you already have a license number (e.g., CGC1541144), enter it directly — this is faster and unambiguous.
4. Review the status field. You want to see “Current, Active.” Any other status — Suspended, Revoked, Inactive, Expired — means the contractor cannot legally perform work. Do not accept explanations like “we’re in the renewal process” without a fresh Active record to back it up.
5. Check the expiration date. Florida contractor licenses typically renew on a two-year cycle. A license expiring in the next 30 days is a yellow flag — ask for confirmation that renewal is submitted.
6. Review the qualifier name. The “Qualifier” listed on the DBPR record is the licensed individual responsible for the work. Ask who the qualifier is and confirm they will be actively supervising your project. Some companies use a qualifier’s license without that person being present on any jobs.
7. Check for complaints and discipline. The DBPR record shows administrative actions, citations, and active complaints. One dismissed complaint from years ago may be insignificant. Multiple complaints, a consent order, or a suspension history are serious red flags that warrant asking the contractor directly.

What the License Does — and Doesn’t — Guarantee

A valid Florida contractor license means the holder passed a state examination, met experience requirements, and is currently in good standing with the DBPR. It does not mean:

• The contractor is insured (you must verify that separately)
• The contractor will pull permits for your job (ask explicitly)
• The workmanship will meet HVHZ standards (verify they know the NOA requirements)
• The qualifier will actually be on your project site

Think of license verification as the floor, not the ceiling. It rules out the worst actors, but it doesn’t guarantee a quality outcome.

Insurance Verification: The Step Most Homeowners Skip

A licensed contractor without insurance is still a significant liability to you. Florida law requires contractors with employees to carry Workers’ Compensation. General Liability is not mandated by state law but is standard for any reputable contractor and typically required by project permits.

How to verify:

• Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming you as an additional insured on the GL policy. This costs the contractor nothing and is standard procedure.
• Contact the insurance company listed on the certificate directly to confirm the policy is active. Certificates can be forged or show expired policies.
• For Workers’ Comp, you can verify the contractor’s coverage on the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Proof of Coverage database at myfloridacfo.com.
• Minimum GL coverage you should accept: $1,000,000 per occurrence. In Miami-Dade, $2M is becoming standard for full roof replacements.

Permit Requirements: The Third Pillar

In Florida, any roofing project that replaces or substantially alters a roof structure requires a permit. This is not optional and is not something you can waive. Under Florida Statute §553.79, unpermitted work:

• Cannot be inspected or certified by the county
• Becomes a disclosure obligation when you sell the property
• Can result in a stop-work order and fines
• May void your homeowner’s insurance coverage for that system
• Can result in a lien against your property if the contractor abandons the job

Ask every roofing contractor directly: “Will you be pulling the permit for this project in my name, as required by Florida law?” The answer should be an unambiguous yes. A contractor who suggests doing the work “without the hassle of permits” is offering to put you in legal jeopardy.

Miami-Dade HVHZ: Additional Requirements

If your home is in Miami-Dade or Broward County, it falls in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), the most stringent wind-load zone in the continental United States. HVHZ requirements include:

• All roofing products must carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) — not just a Florida Product Approval, which does not satisfy HVHZ requirements
• Minimum 6 fasteners per shingle in the nailing zone, compared to 4 in standard zones
• Ring-shank nails for deck attachment (smooth-shank nails are not permitted)
• SBS-modified bitumen underlayment is required — standard felt (#30) is not sufficient as a standalone underlayment
• Every product assembly must be installed per the specific NOA instructions, not just “to code” generically

Ask any contractor bidding a Miami-Dade roof replacement: “What NOA do you use for the shingle/tile you’re proposing, and can I see the installation instructions?” If they can’t answer that question, they are not qualified to do HVHZ work.

The Pre-Contract Checklist

Before signing any roofing contract, confirm the following in writing:

• □ Contractor’s license number (CGC or CCC) and DBPR status confirmed Active
• □ General Liability insurance (≥$1M) — COI received and verified
• □ Workers’ Compensation coverage confirmed active
• □ Contractor will pull the permit under their license
• □ NOA for all products confirmed for HVHZ compliance (Miami-Dade/Broward)
• □ Detailed written scope of work including materials, fastener specs, underlayment type
• □ Payment schedule tied to milestones, not arbitrary dates
• □ Deposit does not exceed 10% of contract value (for contracts over $2,500)
• □ Workmanship warranty in writing, separate from manufacturer warranty
• □ Lien waiver signed upon final payment

Robson Industrial Group: Our Credentials

Robson Industrial Group LLC is a Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC1541144) and Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1337790), both statewide credentials verified on myfloridalicense.com. We are a GAF Certified™ Residential Roofing Contractor (GAF ID: 1164276), which allows us to offer the GAF System Plus Limited Warranty, a warranty that requires installation by a GAF-credentialed contractor.

We pull permits on every project, carry General Liability and Workers’ Compensation, and provide a certificate of insurance with your name as an additional insured before work begins. Every Miami-Dade installation uses NOA-approved product assemblies installed per HVHZ specifications. We welcome homeowners who verify our credentials before signing. It’s the right thing to ask.