Florida contractor license number: where it has to go on your website, ads and trucks
Florida law says your state license number goes on every ad, "regardless of medium." That includes your website. Here's what the statute actually says, what it means for your truck, what happens if the number is missing, and where I put it on a contractor's site and Google profile.
If you hold a state license in a construction trade (general, building, residential, roofing, plumbing, air conditioning, pool and the other Part I trades), your license number has to appear in every offer of services, proposal, bid, contract and advertisement, "regardless of medium."[1] DBPR says that includes websites.[5]
You don't have to letter your truck. But if it shows your business name, or any text or artwork that tells people it's a contracting truck, the number has to be on it.[1]
A first miss gets a notice of noncompliance and 30 days to fix it. After that, or on a repeat, the board can fine you.[1] Electrical and alarm contractors fall under section 489.521, which has different wording and penalties. I cover it below.
I build websites for contractors on the Treasure Coast and Space Coast, from Sebastian and Vero Beach to Palm Bay and Melbourne. The license number is one of the first things I check on a contractor's site.
This post sticks to what the law and DBPR actually say. I read every source in November 2026, and they're all linked at the end. Where I'm giving my own reading or advice, I say so.
This isn't legal advice. I'm a web designer, not a lawyer. This is my plain-English summary of the statute. For your own situation, check with DBPR or an attorney.
What Florida's contractor advertising law actually says
The rule is in Florida Statutes section 489.119(5)(b). It covers the trades licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board under Part I of chapter 489: general, building and residential contractors, roofers, plumbers, air conditioning and mechanical contractors, pool contractors and the rest:
"The registration or certification number of each contractor shall appear in each offer of services, business proposal, bid, contract, or advertisement, regardless of medium, as defined by board rule, used by that contractor or business organization in the practice of contracting."[1]
Two phrases do the work. "Regardless of medium" means print, signs, radio, TV and online are all in. "As defined by board rule" points to the board's definitions rule, Florida Administrative Code rule 61G4-12.011.[4]
The board's rule lists what counts as advertising. The list includes "business cards, business proposals, contracts, construction site signs," "any electronic media including Internet sites" and "signs on vehicles."[4]
The statute covers both kinds of state number: certification and registration. DBPR's construction page explains the difference. Certified contractors have an occupation code that begins with "C," and registered contractors have one that begins with "R." For example, roofing is "CC and RC."[18]
Which number goes on a company's ads? DBPR says, "Each construction business must be qualified by a properly licensed individual contractor." It adds, "The name of the approved business entity will appear on the contractor's individual license."[8]
So on a company's ads, I use the qualifier's number and the business name exactly as they appear on that license. Contracting under a name other than the one "set forth on the issued certificate or registration" is its own ground for discipline.[3]
A registered (R) license is also local. Section 489.117(1)(b) says registration allows contracting "only in the counties, municipalities, or development districts where he or she has complied with all local licensing requirements, if any, and only for the type of work covered by the registration."[14] My advice: if you hold an R license, don't advertise work in places it doesn't cover.
Electrical and alarm contractors fall under a separate part of the same chapter with slightly different wording. I cover that below.
Where your number has to go
Some of these the law or the board's rule names outright. Others are my reading of "regardless of medium," and I've marked them that way.
| Where | Number required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your website | Yes | DBPR says Florida law requires the number on "advertisements, websites, business materials and contracts."[5] The board's rule covers "any electronic media including Internet sites."[4] |
| Proposals, bids, contracts, estimates | Yes | The statute names "offer of services, business proposal, bid, contract."[1] |
| Business cards | Yes | The board's rule names "business cards."[4] |
| Lettered truck, van, trailer or magnetic door sign | Yes, if it shows your name or contracting text or artwork | The statute's vehicle paragraph (Part I trades).[1] See your truck. |
| Yard signs, flyers, door hangers, billboards, mailers, radio and TV | Yes | They're advertisements, and the statute covers every medium.[1] The rule names "construction site signs."[4] |
| Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram ads, paid Nextdoor ads and other paid online ads | Yes | A paid ad is an advertisement, and the statute covers every advertisement "regardless of medium."[1] The rule adds "any electronic media including Internet sites."[4] |
| Google Business Profile, social media profiles, free lead-site profiles | My reading: treat them as ads | Not named in the statute, the rule or the DBPR pages I read. They're electronic media that offer your services, so I put the number on them. |
| Invoices | Not named | The statute lists offers, proposals, bids, contracts and ads, not invoices.[1] I put it on the template anyway. |
| Letterhead and envelopes | My reading: no | The statute excludes "business stationery" but doesn't define it.[1] A proposal or contract on letterhead still needs the number. |
| Hats, shirts, pens, balloons | No | Excluded as "promotional novelties."[1] |
Your truck: lettering is optional, but a lettered truck needs the number
This is the part that's easy to get wrong. Florida doesn't make you letter your truck. The statute says so directly: "Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create a mandatory vehicle signage requirement."[1]
But once you put your name or trade on it, the number comes with it. Section 489.119(5)(c) says that if a vehicle "bears the name of a contractor or business organization, or any text or artwork which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the vehicle is used for contracting," the license number "must be conspicuously and legibly displayed with the name, text, or artwork."[1]
So a plain white pickup needs nothing. A pickup with your company name on the door, or a roof graphic and "Free Estimates," needs the number right there with it. The board's rule lists "signs on vehicles" as advertising.[4] The statute doesn't separate paint from magnets or wraps, so a magnetic door sign or a lettered dump trailer gets the number too.
The statute doesn't set a letter size or a spot on the vehicle. My advice: put it next to your name, big enough to read from the curb, on both sides.
The same vehicle paragraph also says local governments may require locally licensed contractors to "display their certificate of competency or license numbers."[1] I didn't find a rule like that on the Indian River or Brevard licensing pages, but if you work in other counties, check theirs.
What doesn't need it
The statute says the term advertisement "does not include business stationery or any promotional novelties such as balloons, pencils, trinkets, or articles of clothing."[1] So company shirts, hats and pens are out, and plain letterhead and envelopes very likely are too.
Business cards are a different story. The statute excludes "business stationery" without defining it, but the board's rule lists "business cards" as advertising.[4] Print the number on your cards.
Electricians and alarm contractors: different rules
Electrical and alarm system contractors are under Part II of chapter 489. The advertising provision there is section 489.521(7)(b): the number "shall be stated in each offer of services, business proposal, or advertisement, regardless of medium, used by that contractor."[2] Three differences from Part I:
- No vehicle paragraph. Part II has nothing like the truck rule above. My advice is the same anyway: if your van has your name on it, put the number on it.
- The words "bid" and "contract" aren't listed. The list is offers of services, proposals and advertisements. My reading: a bid is still an offer of services, so I'd put the number on every estimate and contract.
- Alarm contractors get a website exception. The number requirement doesn't apply to a newspaper, magazine, flyer, billboard, phone book, Internet or broadcast ad for alarm system contracting "as long as the contractor maintains an Internet website that contains the contractor's registration or certification number and the advertisement directs consumers to the contractor's Internet website."[2] It covers alarm work only, and only if the number is on your site.
The penalty wording is different too. For electrical and alarm contractors, the statute says the board "shall assess a fine of not less than $100 or issue a citation" when the number is left off an advertisement.[2]
That paragraph doesn't mention a warning. But the electrical board's own rule lists "failing to include the license number in each offer of services, business proposal or advertisement" as a minor violation, for initial violations only.[15] For a minor violation, DBPR "may" send a notice of noncompliance instead of starting discipline.[19] "May" isn't a promise, so fix it before anyone has to tell you.
What happens if your number is missing
For Part I contractors, section 489.119(5)(e) sets the order: "The board shall issue a notice of noncompliance for the first offense, and may assess a fine or issue a citation for failure to correct the offense within 30 days or for any subsequent offense."[1]
In plain terms: the first time, you get a notice and 30 days to fix it. Ignore it or do it again, and the board can fine you or cite you.
The statute doesn't put a dollar amount on that fine. The general ceiling is in section 489.129(1): the board can "impose an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000 per violation" for, among other things, "Failing in any material respect to comply with the provisions of this part."[3]
That's the most the board can fine for any violation of Part I, not a set price for a missing number. The board's own figures for this offense are much lower.
Its citation rule, 61G4-19.001, sets a $100 citation for "Failure to include license number when submitting an advertisement for publication, broadcast, or printing."[16] The board's penalty guidelines, rule 61G4-17.001, set the fine ranges; check flrules.org for the current version.
The much bigger risk: advertising without a license
Leaving your number off can cost you a fine. Advertising contracting work without a license is a crime. Section 489.127(1)(f) bars advertising "himself or herself or a business organization as available to engage in the business" of contracting without being registered or certified.[6]
Those criminal penalties are written for unlicensed people, not for a licensed contractor who forgot a number. A first violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree. A repeat violation after being found guilty before, or any violation during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, is a felony of the third degree.[6]
After a hurricane, while a declared emergency is in effect, that's the rule unlicensed storm chasers face.
County licenses in Indian River and Brevard
Around here, a lot of trades carry a county license instead of, or alongside, a state one. Indian River County issues a "certificate of competency (local contractors license)." State-certified contractors have to show their state certificate to the county Building Official before contracting in the county.[9] The county's license list includes trades like painting and decorating, carpentry, drywall and fencing.[10]
Brevard County "registers State Certified Contractors, and issues County licenses to contractors,"[11] for trades including drywall, fencing, storm shutters, and windows and doors.[12]
Section 489.119(5)(b) is about your state registration or certification number. If your county license is in a trade the state also regulates, like roofing, plumbing, air conditioning or general contracting, state law says you must be registered with the state unless you're certified.[14] That state number has to appear. Look yourself up on MyFloridaLicense.com to see it.
Neither county's licensing page says anything about putting a county number in ads. My advice: show every number you hold, labeled, so a customer checking on you never has to guess which one to look up. And a business tax receipt is not a contractor license; I explain the difference in my post on the Indian River County business tax receipt.
Why it helps you: customers are told to look for it
The law is one reason. The other is that DBPR tells homeowners to check. Its "Before You Hire" page says, "If you can't find it, verify it—or walk away."[5] A DBPR tip sheet for consumers puts it more bluntly: "By law, contractors licensed by DBPR must include their license number in all advertising."[7]
Checking takes a homeowner a minute. On MyFloridaLicense.com, they choose "Verify a License" and search by name or license number.[8]
For a company, DBPR says to search the business name, then search again with the contractor's own name. "Each construction business must be qualified by a properly licensed individual contractor."[8] If the number on your site matches what DBPR shows, you've answered their first question before they call.
Where I put it on a contractor's website and Google profile
This is my own checklist, not something the law spells out. The goal is that a customer can find your number from any page, in a few seconds.
The site footer
One line in the footer puts it on every page at once: your license type and number, written exactly as DBPR shows it. If you hold more than one, list each with a short label.
The contact page, estimate form and about page
These are the pages people read right before they call. I put the number near the phone number and next to the owner's or qualifier's name.
Every estimate, proposal and contract
Put it in the template header once, so every PDF or e-signature document carries it. Add it to your email signature and to any quote you text, too. For Part I contractors, the statute names bids and contracts outright.[1]
Your Google Business Profile
I add it to the business description and to posts that show your lettered trucks. Keep the name on your profile the same as your license and your sign. My Google profile checklist covers the rest of the profile.
Ads, social bios and lead sites
I add it to Facebook and Instagram bios, Nextdoor, Angi, Thumbtack and any paid ad that has room for it. Most lead sites have a license field. Use it, and type the number exactly as DBPR shows it. For a social post that offers your services or a price, I put the number in the caption or the image.
Questions contractors ask about their license number
Does my license number have to be on my website?
How do I look up a Florida contractor license number?
On MyFloridaLicense.com, choose "Verify a License" and search by the contractor's name or license number. For a company, search the business name, then search the qualifier's own name to confirm they qualify that business.[8]
Do I have to put my license number on my truck?
For construction trades under Part I, only if the truck is lettered. Florida doesn't require vehicle signs, but if your truck carries your business name or contracting text or artwork, the number must be "conspicuously and legibly displayed" with it.[1] The electrical and alarm section of the law has no vehicle paragraph; I'd still put the number on a lettered van.
Does my license number have to be on my business cards and invoices?
Does Google Business Profile count as advertising?
The statute, the board's rule and the DBPR pages I read don't name Google Business Profile. The rule does cover "any electronic media including Internet sites."[4] My reading is that a public profile offering your services fits that, so I treat it as an ad and put the number in the description.
Does Google check my license for Local Services Ads?
It can. Google's Local Services Ads help page lists "Business license on state level" and "Owner license on state level" for general contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC and roofing. It marks them for select users and "where applicable by local law."[17] Use the same business name and number DBPR shows. My post on Google Local Services Ads covers the rest.
What's the fine for leaving it off?
For Part I contractors, the first offense gets a notice of noncompliance and 30 days to correct it. After that, or on a repeat, the board can fine you or issue a citation.[1] The board's citation for a missing number is $100, well under the $10,000 cap.[16]
For electrical and alarm contractors, the statute says a fine of "not less than $100" or a citation.[2] The electrical board's rule treats a first miss as a minor violation, which DBPR "may" handle with a notice of noncompliance instead.[15][19]
I only have a county license. Does this apply to me?
Section 489.119(5)(b) is about state registration and certification numbers. If your county license is in a trade the state also regulates (roofing, plumbing, air conditioning, general contracting and the like), you should also hold a state registration number, and that one has to appear.[14] Look yourself up on MyFloridaLicense.com.
For county-only trades like fencing, whether the county number has to appear in your ads depends on local rules. I didn't find one on the Indian River or Brevard licensing pages. Ask your county's contractor licensing office, and in the meantime, show the number you have.
What I charge if your site needs work
On a site I build, the license number goes in the footer, so it's on every page. I can't promise rankings or a number of calls. If your site can't be fixed easily, or you don't have one, here's what I charge.
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, section 489.119(5)(b) through (e). The license number in offers, bids, contracts and advertisements; the vehicle paragraph; the stationery and novelty exclusion; the notice of noncompliance and 30 days to correct. Read November 1, 2026. leg.state.fl.us, s. 489.119
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, section 489.521(7)(b) and (c). Electrical and alarm contractors: the license number in offers, proposals and advertisements, the alarm website exception, and the fine of not less than $100 or a citation. Read November 1, 2026. leg.state.fl.us, s. 489.521
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, section 489.129(1) and (1)(f). The board's administrative fine of up to $10,000 per violation, failing to comply with Part I as a ground for discipline, and contracting under a name not on the license. Read November 1, 2026. leg.state.fl.us, s. 489.129
- Florida Administrative Code rule 61G4-12.011(3), Definitions (Construction Industry Licensing Board), latest effective May 16, 2023. Rule page checked November 1, 2026 on flrules.org, which offers the official text as a download; the quoted wording was read from the Legal Information Institute's copy of the rule. flrules.org, rule 61G4-12.011 and law.cornell.edu copy
- Florida DBPR, Division of Regulation, Unlicensed Activity. Before You Hire. License numbers on advertisements, websites, business materials and contracts. Read November 1, 2026. ula.myfloridalicense.com/Before-You-Hire
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, section 489.127(1)(f) and (2). Advertising as available to contract without a license; misdemeanor and felony penalties for unlicensed persons, including during a declared state of emergency. Read November 1, 2026. leg.state.fl.us, s. 489.127
- Florida DBPR. Contractor Tips handout, as posted by the City of Port St. Lucie. Read November 1, 2026. cityofpsl.com (PDF)
- Florida DBPR. How to Verify a License and Construction Industry: Business Information. Searching by name or license number, verifying a business and its qualifier. Read November 1, 2026. myfloridalicense.com, verify a license and construction business information
- Indian River County Building Division. Contractor Licensing. Certificate of competency and registration of state-certified contractors. Read November 1, 2026. indianriver.gov, contractor licensing
- Indian River County Building Division. Trades that require a license. Read November 1, 2026. indianriver.gov, licensed trades
- Brevard County Contractor Licensing. About Contractor Licensing. Read November 1, 2026. brevardfl.gov, about contractor licensing
- Brevard County Contractor Licensing. Licensed Trades. Read November 1, 2026. brevardfl.gov, licensed trades
- Top Three Web Design. Services and prices and Websites for contractors. Checked November 1, 2026. topthreewebdesign.com/services and topthreewebdesign.com/web-design-for-contractors
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, section 489.117(1)(a), (1)(b) and (4)(a). State registration for contractors in the Part I categories unless certified, the local areas a registration covers, and the limits on local licensing. Read November 1, 2026. leg.state.fl.us, s. 489.117
- Florida Administrative Code rule 61G6-10.005(1)(d) and (2), Minor Violations and Non-Compliance (Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board), latest effective May 8, 2017. Rule page checked November 1, 2026; the quoted wording was read from Justia's copy of the rule. flrules.org, rule 61G6-10.005 and Justia copy
- Florida Administrative Code rules 61G4-17.001, Normal Penalty Ranges, and 61G4-19.001, Citations (Construction Industry Licensing Board). Rule pages checked November 1, 2026; the $100 citation figure was read from the Legal Information Institute's copy of 61G4-19.001, which carries the same effective date flrules.org lists (April 24, 2001). flrules.org, rule 61G4-17.001 and rule 61G4-19.001; law.cornell.edu copy of 61G4-17.001 and of 61G4-19.001
- Google. Business screening and verification requirements, United States. Local Services Help. Read November 1, 2026. support.google.com/localservices
- Florida DBPR. Construction Industry. Certified and registered occupation codes by license type. Read November 1, 2026. myfloridalicense.com, construction industry
- The 2026 Florida Statutes, section 455.225(3). A notice of noncompliance for an initial minor violation, as an alternative to discipline. Read November 1, 2026. leg.state.fl.us, s. 455.225
Is your number where it needs to be? I'll check for free.
Text me your website address and business name. I'll look at your site and your Google profile and tell you where your license number is missing. It's a website check, not legal advice. No obligation.
