Know when a permit is required, find your county's portal, and understand your rights — all in one place.
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| Work Type | Typical FL Fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater replacement | $50–$150 | Same-day to 2 weeks |
| Whole-home repipe | $200–$800 | 1–3 weeks |
| New bathroom addition | $150–$500 | 1–3 weeks |
| Kitchen plumbing remodel | $100–$350 | 1–2 weeks |
| Pool plumbing | $200–$600 | 2–4 weeks |
| Gas line installation | $100–$400 | 1–2 weeks |
| Tankless water heater (new install) | $150–$500 | 1–2 weeks |
Fees vary by county. Miami-Dade and Broward tend to be highest. Some counties offer streamlined same-day water heater permits ($50–$100).
Your homeowner's policy likely requires permitted work. An unpermitted repipe or water heater install that later causes damage may result in full claim denial.
FL real estate transactions involve permit history review. Unpermitted work must be disclosed or permitted retroactively — often at significant cost and can kill deals.
FL plumbing inspectors catch real problems — improper venting, wrong pipe sizing, cross-connections that contaminate your water, and code violations that cause future failures.
Get connected with licensed, permit-compliant plumbers in your area who protect you and your home.
FL-licensed contractors only · No obligation · Your info is never sold
All 67 Florida counties. Search your county, copy the portal URL, look up existing permits, or start a new application.
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Florida Statute 489 requires licensing for all plumbing work above a threshold. Before signing anything, verify the contractor's state license.
myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp — search by name, license number, or company name
Copy URLFL DBPR complaint portal at myfloridalicense.com — report unlicensed work, contract violations, or abandoned projects
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Jacksonville require a local certificate IN ADDITION to the state license. Always verify both in those jurisdictions.
Several FL county portals support address-based permit history search. This lets you:
Best for address search: Miami-Dade (MDPermits), Broward (ePermits), Palm Beach (PBCpermits), Hillsborough, Orange County — all have robust address-based permit history search with full permit status.
Florida law gives homeowners real protections. Know them before you sign a contract.
The Florida CILB maintains the Construction Industries Recovery Fund — a fund that compensates homeowners who suffer financial harm from licensed contractors who violate the law.
Maximum recovery per project
This is why license verification matters — the $50,000 recovery fund is only available for licensed contractors. Hiring unlicensed forfeits this protection entirely.
These warning signs indicate a contractor cutting corners — and transferring all legal and financial risk to you:
"I'll save you money by not pulling a permit" — This transfers ALL risk to you. If the work fails, your insurance won't cover it and you'll bear the full cost.
Cannot provide a license number when asked — Any licensed FL contractor can instantly state their state license number. Refusal is a major warning sign.
"You should pull the permit yourself" — This circumvents licensing requirements. See the Homeowner Permit Exception below — this scheme is frequently used by unlicensed contractors.
Cash only, no written contract — All substantial FL construction work should be in writing. Cash-only signals unlicensed operation and eliminates your legal remedies.
Price 30–50% below all other quotes — Usually indicates unlicensed work, no insurance, or cutting code requirements that will cost you significantly more to fix later.
Florida law allows homeowners to pull their own permits for work on their own primary residence only (not rental or investment properties). The rules:
Understanding the inspection process lets you verify your contractor is following through:
Permit Issued
Work begins after permit approved & posted on-site
Rough-In Inspection
Called before covering pipes in walls or floors
Inspector Visit
1–3 business day notice typically required
Pass or Fail
Pass: work proceeds. Fail: corrections & re-inspection
Final Inspection
After all work complete, before CO is issued
Certificate of Completion
Your proof of permitted, inspected, code-compliant work
If a contractor performed unpermitted work, violated their contract, or caused damage:
myfloridalicense.com — file complaint online with contractor name, license number, and documentation of the issue
FL DBPR Unlicensed Activity: 1-866-532-1440 — for reporting unlicensed contractors performing licensed work
For financial harm from a licensed contractor — max $50,000 after obtaining an unsatisfied civil judgment
FL contractor dispute mediation through DBPR is available before formal administrative hearings — faster and less expensive than litigation
Report unpermitted work to your county building department — they can require the work to be permitted retroactively or removed
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Get connected with vetted, FL-licensed plumbing contractors in your area who pull all required permits and protect your investment.
FL-licensed contractors only · No obligation · Your info is never sold