Florida does not issue one license that covers water damage. Drying, permanent repairs and mold work each fall under different rules, and some people on a job may need a license the others do not. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, DBPR, is where each license can be checked.
Key takeaways
- There is no single water damage license in Florida. The work is split between contractor rules, mold rules and local permit rules.
- Mold assessors and mold remediators are licensed as individuals, not as companies, so a business name alone is not a mold credential.
- Extraction and drying are generally treated differently from permanent repairs, and the rebuild is where a contractor license most often matters.
- Check each license yourself on the state licensing search, and ask which named person holds it.
- A water heater or plumbing replacement generally needs a permit, and the requirement is confirmed with the local building office.
Which licenses does Florida use for this work?
Florida regulates construction contracting under Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes and mold assessment and remediation under Chapter 468, Part XVI. DBPR administers these rules, and its online license search is the place to check a name.
A homeowner can see three kinds of credential on one water job: a contractor license for construction work, an individual license for mold assessment or remediation, and a permit issued by the local building office for specified work. Each answers a different question, and none of them replaces the others. Asking for the license is too vague to be useful, so ask which license covers which task.
Chapter 489 covers construction contracting, which is where the rebuild falls once the drying is finished. Chapter 468, Part XVI covers mold assessors and mold remediators, and the full text is published on the Florida Legislature's website. The implementing rule is Rule 61-31 of the Florida Administrative Code, which includes training in water intrusion, mold and respiratory protection.
Local permits sit on top of both. The city or county building office decides which work needs a permit and inspects it, so a permit is a third check rather than a license. Permit fees and turnaround times vary by place and are not set out on this page.
Can an unlicensed person dry out a building?
Florida consumer guidance says a person without a contractor license may dry in a structure while permanent repairs go to a licensed contractor. Where extraction and drying end and a contractor's work begins is still a question firms answer differently.
DBPR and local consumer guidance describe a practical split. A person without a contractor license may dry in a structure, which means making it weathertight and drying it out, while the permanent repairs are carried out by a licensed contractor. That is the line most homeowners encounter, and it is a useful way to think about the job, although it is not the whole legal picture.
The question has also been argued in court. A 2024 appellate decision reported in law-firm summaries held that most mitigation tasks, such as water extraction and dehumidification, do not need a building contractor license, while the structural removal of drywall was left open for further consideration. This page does not take a side on that case. The practical effect is that the question is not settled in a way a homeowner can rely on without asking.
So the working rule is this. Extraction and drying are generally treated differently from permanent repairs. When a firm is on your property, ask which license covers the drywall removal and the rebuild, who holds it and whether that person will be on the job. A firm that answers clearly and in writing is easier to check than one that says no license is needed without giving a reason.
Who is licensed for mold work?
Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators as individuals. DBPR says it does not license mold businesses, so a company may employ licensed people, but the company itself does not hold a mold license.
A mold assessor inspects, measures and samples. A mold remediator removes growth and cleans up. The two roles are licensed separately, so ask who on the job holds each one and check each name. A sign or a web listing that calls a company a licensed mold firm describes something Florida does not issue.
The question to ask is which named person holds the assessor license or the remediator license and whether that person is on your job. Florida's public license search lets you check the name, the license type and the status. If the firm will not give you the names, treat that as a reason to pause before you agree to any mold work.
Training is part of the picture as well. Rule 61-31 of the Florida Administrative Code includes training in water intrusion, mold and respiratory protection. This page does not list course details or exam requirements, because those change, so check the current requirements with DBPR.
What should a water heater or plumbing replacement involve?
A replacement water heater or a repaired supply line generally needs a permit, and the work is inspected. Confirm the permit requirement with the local building office before work begins, not after the wall is closed.
Replacing a water heater usually changes gas, electrical or plumbing connections, and many local offices expect a permit for that work. The rule is set by the city or county, so the requirement for an Orlando address may differ from one in a nearby town. Ask the building office, or ask the firm to confirm, which permit covers the job and whether it must be inspected.
Permanent plumbing repairs are construction work. Where a licensed contractor is required under Chapter 489, the person doing the work should hold that license, and the permit should be pulled in the name the office requires. Ask how the permit will be pulled and who will receive the final inspection.
Keep copies of the permit, the inspection result and the invoice together with the drying records. An insurer or a future buyer may ask for them, and a clear set of documents is quicker to assemble when it is kept as the work goes.
How do you check a license yourself?
Check each license through DBPR's online license search at myfloridalicense.com, using the person's name or the license number the firm gives you. A firm that will not name the person doing the work has given you a reason to look elsewhere.
The DBPR search is the place to confirm a name, the license type, the status and any recorded complaints or discipline. Ask the firm for the name of the person whose license covers each task, then search that name directly rather than relying on a logo or a certificate that may be out of date.
Check the company name as well where the firm is a contractor. A licensed individual may work for a company that is not registered for the type of work in question, and that difference matters when a dispute arises. Ask whether the company and the individual are the same party on the contract.
The state's consumer guidance also recommends written estimates, clear scope descriptions and copies of permits. Keep a record of every license you check, with the date, so you can show what you verified if the job is questioned later.
Who is responsible for the paperwork?
The firm that sends a technician to the property is responsible for holding whatever licenses, permits and insurance its own work requires. You are entitled to ask for that paperwork, and you should check it rather than take it on trust.
On a water loss several parties touch the job: the firm doing the drying, a contractor for the rebuild, the building office that issues permits and the insurer that may be paying. Each has its own obligations. The firm on site is responsible for the licenses and permits its own work requires and for carrying its own insurance.
That division matters to a homeowner because the protection you need sits with the firm doing the work, not with the phone call that started the job. A firm that sends a technician should be able to say which license covers the work, produce its certificate of insurance on request and name the permit. If the answer is vague, ask for it in writing.
Nothing on this page is a check that any specific firm has been vetted. It describes what the law and the local offices expect, and the homeowner's job is to ask for the proof and confirm it.
What should you ask before work starts?
A short list of questions, asked before the first machine is set, shows whether a firm knows the rules. Ask who performs each task, who holds the license, who pulls the permit and how the rebuild will be handled.
Start with the people. Ask for the name of the technician on site, the name of the mold assessor or remediator if mold is present and the name of the contractor for any rebuild. Check each name against the state search before you sign anything, and note who is responsible for which task.
Then ask about the paperwork. Which permit is needed, who will apply for it, what inspections are expected and what documents the homeowner will receive at the end. A firm that intends to comply will answer those questions without hesitation, and a firm that cannot may be planning to leave them for later.
Last, ask the question that is easiest to skip: what is not included. Some drying work leaves out the rebuild, and some rebuild quotes leave out mold testing. Get the answers in writing. You can call (833) 490-5225 to ask about the technician's license and the permit before a visit is booked.
How do you keep the licensing paperwork organized?
A single folder for each job, holding the license checks, permits, inspection results and certificates of insurance, makes it easy to answer a question from an insurer, a buyer or an inspector. Build the folder while the work is happening, not afterward.
Start the folder with the names of every person and firm on the job, the task each one performs and the license or certificate that covers it. Add a printout or screenshot of each state search with the date it was run. A license search done on the day of the work is stronger evidence than a memory of having checked.
Add the permit application and the permit number, the inspection dates and results, and any notice of the work sent to the local office. If a permit is refused or an inspection fails, add that too, with the corrective work and the re-inspection. An honest record of a failed inspection is more useful later than a clean record with gaps.
Keep the folder for the life of the house. Future sales, insurance renewals and later repairs all ask about past work, and the people asking are usually looking for the same three things: who did the work, whether it was permitted and whether it was inspected.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to dry out my house?
Drying and extraction are generally treated differently from permanent repairs under the guidance DBPR and local consumer offices publish. Ask any firm which license covers the drywall and rebuild work, and who holds it.
Is a mold company licensed in Florida?
No business license exists for mold work. Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators as individuals, so ask for the name of the licensed person on the job and check it on the state search.
Does a water heater replacement need a permit?
It generally does, and it is expected in Orlando and Orange County, but confirm the requirement with the local building office for your address, because the rule and the fee are set locally.
Where do I check a license?
On DBPR's online license search at myfloridalicense.com. Search the individual's name and check the license type and status.
What if the firm will not give me a name?
Treat it as a reason to pause. You are entitled to the names of the people doing the work before you agree to anything in writing.
Sources
- Florida DBPR: mold-related services frequently asked questions
- Florida Legislature: Chapter 468, Part XVI (mold assessors and remediators)
This guide is general information for Orange County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.