CGC vs. CBC: What Florida Contractor Licenses Actually Mean

The Two Main License Types for General Construction

Florida issues two primary general construction licenses: the Certified General Contractor (CGC) and the Certified Building Contractor (CBC). Both require passing state examinations, demonstrating financial responsibility, and holding active general liability and workers' compensation insurance. But their scope of authorized work is not the same.

Certified General Contractor (CGC)

A CGC license is the broadest contractor license Florida issues. It authorizes work on any structure, any height, any occupancy type — residential, commercial, or mixed-use — with no cap on project value. The CGC exam is more demanding, and applicants are required to demonstrate experience working on structures greater than four stories. If you're hiring someone to build a custom home, perform a full gut rehab, add a second story, or do any scope of work on a residential structure in Florida, a CGC license covers it entirely.

Certified Building Contractor (CBC)

A CBC license is restricted to commercial and residential buildings up to three stories in height, with an individual project cost not exceeding $600,000 per contract. A CBC can perform non-structural renovations on taller buildings, but cannot build new structures above three stories. For typical South Florida residential construction — one-story CBS homes, two-story custom builds — the scope limitation usually doesn't matter. But a CBC contractor cannot take on projects that exceed the project cost threshold without potentially exceeding their license scope.

Other License Types You'll Encounter

• Certified Residential Contractor (CRC): Limited to single-family residential and light commercial up to two stories. Narrower scope than either CGC or CBC.
• Certified Roofing Contractor: Covers roofing work specifically. A roofer needs this license; a GC coordinating a roofer as a subcontractor does not.
• Certified Air Conditioning Contractor (CAC): Required for HVAC installation and service. Your GC's HVAC subcontractor should hold this.
• EC (Electrical Contractor): Required for all electrical work. State-licensed electrical contractors must perform electrical work on permitted projects.
• CFC (Certified Plumbing Contractor): Required for all plumbing work on permitted projects.

Certified vs. Registered: A Critical Distinction

Florida also issues 'registered' contractor licenses in addition to 'certified' ones. A certified license is valid statewide. A registered license is valid only in the county or municipality that issued it — not across county lines. If you're in Broward and a contractor says they're 'registered' but not certified, their license doesn't cover work in Miami-Dade or Palm Beach. For any licensed contractor working across South Florida's three counties, a state-certified license is the appropriate credential.

How to Verify Any Florida Contractor License

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation maintains a public license lookup at myfloridalicense.com. Search by name, business name, or license number. A legitimate license will show: the license type (CGC, CBC, etc.), the license number, the licensee's name, the status (active, inactive, or suspended), and the expiration date. Verify before you sign any contract. Don't take a contractor's word for it — the lookup takes thirty seconds.

Why This Matters for Your Project

Florida requires that any contractor performing structural work, pulling permits, or coordinating licensed trades hold the appropriate active license. An unlicensed contractor cannot legally pull permits. Work done without permits, or with permits pulled under an invalid license, creates title and insurance complications that fall on the property owner. When you're investing $300,000–$1,000,000+ in a custom build or gut rehab, verifying the contractor's license is not optional due diligence. It takes thirty seconds. Do it.

Continuing Education Requirements

Both CGC and CBC license holders are required to complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain their license. Required courses include workplace safety, Florida Building Code updates, and business practices. License holders who don't complete CE see their licenses go inactive. Another reason to verify at myfloridalicense.com: the lookup will show you whether CE requirements are current.