Hiring a Concrete Contractor in Florida: Insurance and Licensing Requirements

Hiring a concrete contractor without verifying their license and insurance is one of the most common mistakes Gulf Blvd homeowners make. The consequences — from a lien on your property to personal liability for a worker injured on your job — can far exceed any savings from choosing an unlicensed contractor. Here’s what to verify, how to do it, and what red flags to watch for.

Florida Contractor Licensing: What’s Required

Florida requires contractors performing concrete work to hold one of the following licenses depending on project scope:

Certified General Contractor (CGC): Licensed to perform any construction work in Florida, including concrete.

Certified Building Contractor (CBC): Licensed for most residential and commercial construction including concrete work.

Certified Concrete Contractor: Specifically covers concrete work (foundations, slabs, flatwork).

Registered Contractor: Licensed to work only in the specific jurisdiction(s) where registered (city or county level, not statewide).

You can verify any Florida contractor license at myfloridalicense.com — the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) database. Enter the contractor’s name or license number to see license status, expiration, and any disciplinary history.

Unlicensed contracting is a second-degree misdemeanor in Florida. More importantly for you as a property owner: if a contractor without proper licensing performs work that causes damage, you have significantly less legal recourse, and your homeowner’s insurance may not cover the claim.

Insurance Requirements: What to Ask For

Ask any contractor for certificates of insurance before signing a contract. The two critical coverages:

General Liability Insurance: Covers property damage and third-party bodily injury caused by the contractor’s work or operations. Minimum $1 million per occurrence is standard for residential concrete work.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Covers medical expenses and lost wages for the contractor’s employees injured on your job. This is critically important — without workers’ comp, an injured worker can sue you as the property owner.

Florida law requires workers’ comp for all contractors with more than 1 employee in construction. However, subcontractors and unlicensed workers don’t always carry their own coverage — and you can be held liable if they’re injured on your property.

Ask to be listed as an Additional Insured on the general liability policy. This ensures the coverage applies to your property specifically.

Red Flags When Hiring

• No written estimate or contract: Never hire based on a verbal agreement for work over $500
• Cash-only requirement: Legitimate contractors accept checks and cards
• Significantly below-market bids: If one bid is 40%+ below others, something is being omitted
• Can’t provide license and insurance certificates immediately: Licensed, insured contractors keep these documents current and can email them within a day
• Pressure to decide immediately: High-pressure sales tactics are not how quality contractors operate
• No permit pull: For work that requires permits, a contractor who suggests skipping permits is creating liability for you

What We Provide

We are fully licensed in Florida and carry both general liability ($1M per occurrence) and workers’ compensation insurance. We provide certificates of insurance upon request, pull all required permits, and carry all work on our accounts — no unlicensed subcontractors.

If you’re comparing estimates for a concrete project on Gulf Blvd, we’re happy to discuss our licensing and insurance credentials upfront. Contact us for a free estimate.