The rules we check your estimate against

Florida

• License number on the estimate

  Florida requires a registered or certified contractor's license number to appear on every offer of services, proposal, bid and contract the contractor uses.

  Fla. Stat. § 489.119(5)(b). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.119. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Licensed work and unlicensed contracts

  A contract made by a contractor who lacks a license Florida requires for the work cannot be enforced by that contractor. A general contractor's services are unlimited as to the type of work, except that a contractor must subcontract electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, sheet metal, swimming pool and air-conditioning work unless it holds a state certificate or registration in that trade.

  Fla. Stat. §§ 489.105(3)(a), 489.113(3), 489.128. Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.105 · Florida Statutes s. 489.113 · Florida Statutes s. 489.128. Checked 2026-09-17.

• First payments over 10%

  When a contractor receives more than 10% of the contract price as the first payment for work on a home, Florida requires it to apply for the necessary permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after they are issued, unless it has just cause or the homeowner agreed in writing to longer periods.

  Fla. Stat. § 489.126(2). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.126. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Construction lien law notice

  A Florida contract over $2,500 to improve a home of up to four units must include the state's construction lien law notice, in capitalized bold type of at least 12 points, on the front page or on a separate page the owner signs and dates. It warns that unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can look to the home for payment even after the contractor is paid in full, and advises requiring a written release of lien before each payment.

  Fla. Stat. § 713.015. Sources: Florida Statutes s. 713.015 · Florida Statutes s. 713.02. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Notice of commencement

  For a job over $2,500, the owner records a notice of commencement and posts a copy at the job site before work starts. When the contract is over $5,000, a copy must be filed with the permit office before the first inspection, except for a contract to repair or replace an existing heating or air-conditioning system for less than $15,000.

  Fla. Stat. §§ 713.13, 713.135(1). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 713.13 · Florida Statutes s. 713.135. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Final payment affidavit

  When the final payment comes due, the contractor must give the owner a final payment affidavit stating that every company that served a notice to owner has been paid in full, or listing each one that has not and the amount due.

  Fla. Stat. § 713.06(3)(d). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 713.06. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Building permit and whose name is on it

  Florida makes it unlawful to build, alter, modify, repair or demolish a building without first getting a permit from the local building department. An owner may pull a permit as an owner-builder only when personally supervising the work, and the state's owner-builder disclosure warns that unlicensed persons often have owners obtain owner-builder permits, leaving the owner liable for injuries to workers.

  Fla. Stat. §§ 553.79(1), 489.103(7). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 553.79 · Florida Statutes s. 489.103. Checked 2026-09-17.

• What a Florida re-roof must include

  Florida's building rules require a roof replacement on a site-built single-family home to include a secondary water barrier and strengthened or corrected roof-deck attachments and fasteners; the law does not limit the secondary water barrier to one method or material. In the wind-borne debris region, a home insured or valued at $300,000 or more also needs roof-to-wall connections when they can be done at the gable ends or all corners for 15% of the cost of the roof replacement.

  Fla. Stat. § 553.844(2)(b), (3). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 553.844. Checked 2026-09-17.

• The 25% roof rule and its exception

  If an existing roof was built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition, only the repaired, replaced or recovered portion has to meet the code in effect, even when that portion is 25% or more of the roof.

  Fla. Stat. § 553.844(5). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 553.844. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Notices a Florida roof contract must carry

  A Florida contract to repair or replace a home's roof must include a notice that the contractor may not offer a rebate, gift, cash, deductible waiver or anything of value for a roof inspection or an insurance claim; without it, the owner may void the contract within 10 days after signing. It must also carry, in bold type of at least 14 points on the signature page, advice to contact the insurance company about coverage before signing.

  Fla. Stat. § 489.147(2)(b), (5), (7). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.147. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Cancelling a roof contract after a declared emergency

  A roof repair or replacement contract signed within 180 days of events covered by a Governor's state of emergency declaration, for a home in the declared area, can be cancelled without penalty within 10 days after signing or by the official start date, whichever comes first. The start date is set by installing materials for the final roof, a permit being issued, or a code-compliant temporary repair. The contract must carry this notice in bold type of at least 14 points.

  Fla. Stat. § 489.147(6). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.147. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Contractors and insurance claims

  A Florida contractor may not interpret your policy, advise you on coverage or adjust your claim unless licensed as a public adjuster, and must give an itemized, detailed good-faith estimate with any agreement authorizing repairs under an insurance claim. For a residential policy issued on or after January 1, 2023, an assignment of post-loss insurance benefits is void.

  Fla. Stat. §§ 489.147(2)(d)-(e), 627.7152(13). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.147 · Florida Statutes s. 627.7152. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Opening protection on large permitted jobs

  In the wind-borne debris region, permitted work (other than roof covering work) estimated at $50,000 or more on a site-built single-family home insured or valued at $750,000 or more must include opening protection as the Florida Building Code requires for new construction.

  Fla. Stat. § 553.844(3)(c). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 553.844. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Handyman work under $2,500

  Florida exempts work of a casual, minor or inconsequential nature from contractor licensing when the total price for labor, materials and everything else is under $2,500, but not work that is part of a larger job, a job split into smaller contracts, or work by someone who advertises as a contractor. The state's licensing agency lists replacing a water heater, installing central air conditioning, building a roof and work connecting to drinking water among jobs that need a license.

  Fla. Stat. § 489.103(9). Sources: Florida Statutes s. 489.103 · Florida DBPR: What requires a license. Checked 2026-09-17.

• Florida product approval

  Florida approves panel walls, exterior doors, roofing products, skylights, windows, shutters, structural components and impact protective systems either statewide, through the Florida Building Commission, or locally. For statewide approvals, the state's records show whether each product is approved for use inside and outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, whether it is impact resistant, and its design pressure.

  Fla. Stat. § 553.842; Fla. Admin. Code R. 61G20-3.001. Sources: Florida Statutes s. 553.842 · Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G20-3.001 · Florida Building Commission: product approval search. Checked 2026-09-17.

• High-Velocity Hurricane Zone

  Only in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

  Miami-Dade and Broward counties make up Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which has its own product approval requirements. Florida's approval records state separately whether a product is approved for use in that zone, and the building department reviewing the permit decides what it accepts.

  Florida Building Commission product approval (HVHZ use). Sources: Florida Building Commission: product approval search. Checked 2026-09-17.

Federal, for AC and heat pump quotes

• Minimum AC efficiency (Southeast)

  A split-system central air conditioner installed in the federal Southeast region on or after January 1, 2023 must be rated at least 14.3 SEER2 if its certified cooling capacity is under 45,000 Btu/hr (3.75 tons), and at least 13.8 SEER2 at 45,000 Btu/hr or more; an outdoor unit with a certified combination below that level cannot be installed in the region. A split-system heat pump made on or after that date needs at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.

  10 CFR 430.32(c)(5)-(6). Sources: 10 CFR 430.32 - Energy and water conservation standards (eCFR). Checked 2026-09-17.