Apply for a Hillsborough County Contractor License

If you want to perform construction-related work or operate a construction-related businesses in Hillsborough County, you must have a license. If you already have a state license, you can register that with us instead of going through our process.

Trade	First time/Reinstatement	Renewal
Building Trades	$280	$70
Electrical Contractor	$280	$70
Irrigation Contractor	$280	$70
Journeyman Plumber	$150	$35
Journeyman Electrician	$150	$35
LP / Natural Gas	$75	$70
Mechanical Contractor	$280	$70
Plumbing Contractor	$280	$70
Reinstatement Application	$280	varies
Renewal Application	n/a	$70
State Certified Registration	$70	n/a

The following trades require a license (see the "How To" section to download complete checklist and application for each):

• Building Trades Contractor
• Electrical Contractor
• Irrigation Contractor
• Journeyman Plumber
• Journeyman Electrician
• LP / Natural Gas (must have state license first)
• Mechanical Contractor
• Plumbing Contractor

• You will need to sit for an examination and receive a score of at least 75%
• Exams are open book, unless noted differently in the checklist
• The exams are recognized for reciprocity in almost all counties in the state of Florida
  • We reciprocate only with jurisdictions which reciprocate in turn
  • Normally, when applying for reciprocity to another jurisdiction, you will not have to retest if your scores meet the requirements of that jurisdiction
    • You will still have to meet any additional requirements of the jurisdiction being reciprocated
  •  All Reciprocity applications into Hillsborough County require Board approval
• You must renew your license every year
• If you have a license issued from the state, you only need to register it with Hillsborough County, and don't need to go through our licensing process
• If you were previously licensed and let it lapse for longer than 2 years, but less than 5 years, you can apply for reinstatement
  • You may have to retest
  • The appropriate licensing board will make that determination
  • If you have let your license lapse for longer than 5 years, you will need to reapply as if you have never had a license and will need to take the appropriate exam and pay the full fees

1. Download the appropriate application:
   • Trades
     
     • Building Trades Contractor application
     • Electrical Trades Contractor application
     • Irrigation Contractor application
     • Mechanical Trades Contractor application
     • Plumbing Trades Contractor application
   • Journeyman
     • Journeyman Plumber
     • Journeyman Electrician
   • State
     • LP / Natural Gas (must have state license first)
     • Register with the County - for state certified contractors
   • Renewals/Reinstatements
     
     • Renewal license application
     • Reinstatement license application
2. Fill out the application completely and attach all required information
3. Submit application packages per instructions found in the individual applications
   •  You must submit all trade and reinstatement applications a minimum of 30 days prior to the appropriate board meeting

• Apply for Reciprocity
• Code Compliance Bond
• Credit Card Authorization 
• Permit Agent Authorization
• Verification of Construction Experience
• Work History
• Workers' Compensation Certificate Requirements