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Florida Kitchen & Bath Contractor License Guide

Kitchen and bath work sits right on Florida’s licensing line: some of it needs a state license, some of it explicitly doesn’t. This guide explains where the line is — grounded in DBPR’s own published materials — and how to verify a license in two minutes.

The surprising part: painting and cabinets need no state license

Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation publishes a “What Services Require a DBPR License” page, and it is refreshingly blunt. Under “Does not need a DBPR License” it lists: “Paint; install cabinets, wood or tile flooring, and insulation regardless of compensation.” That means cabinet refinishing, cabinet painting, cabinet installation, and refacing are not state-licensed trades in Florida — there is no exam, no state credential, nothing to verify on the DBPR site for a pure cabinet refinisher.

What this means for you: for refinishing and cabinet installation, vet the company on insurance, references, portfolio, and process — not a license number that doesn’t exist for their trade. And be skeptical of any refinisher who claims to be “licensed” for painting — ask what license they mean. A local business tax receipt is real and common; a state painting license is not a thing.

Where the license line is: structure, electrical, plumbing

The same DBPR page lists under “Needs a DBPR License”: “Remodel a home that requires alteration or replacement of a load-bearing wall for compensation.” The rule of thumb: the moment a kitchen or bath project touches structure, electrical, or plumbing, Florida requires licensed contractors — typically a Certified General (CGC), Certified Building (CBC), or Certified Residential (CRC) contractor running the job, with licensed specialty trades (electrical, plumbing) doing their portions.

CGC vs. CBC vs. CRC — what the letters mean

These are the three main contractor licenses under Florida Statute 489.105, issued through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB):

Certified General Contractor (CGC)

Unlimited scope — “services are unlimited as to the type of work.” Can contract any construction activity requiring licensure. The gold standard; required for large or complex projects.

Certified Building Contractor (CBC)

Commercial buildings and single- or multiple-dwelling residential buildings up to three stories — plus remodeling, repair, or improvement of any size building as long as the work doesn’t affect structural members. Fully authorized for most Tampa kitchen and bath remodels.

Certified Residential Contractor (CRC)

One-, two-, and three-family residences up to two habitable stories (plus one uninhabitable). The typical license for residential remodelers — covers the vast majority of Tampa single-family kitchen projects.

All three appear in the same DBPR license lookup. Also note the “Registered” versions (RG, RB, RR) — those are county-limited, so confirm a registered contractor is authorized inyour county, not just somewhere in Florida.

How to verify a license (2 minutes)

Go to the DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com → “Verify a License.”
Search by the contractor’s name or license number. Ask for the license number directly — hesitation is a red flag.
Confirm: status is Current/Active, the license type matches the work (CGC/CBC/CRC for a remodel; CFC for plumbing; EC for electrical), and the business name matches who you’re talking to.
Check the complaint/discipline history on the record. One old resolved complaint isn’t damning; a pattern is.
Confirm the license number appears on the written contract and proposal — Florida requires it in contractor advertising.

The gray zone: handyman work. Florida’s “handyman exemption” covers minor, inconsequential work under a dollar threshold that doesn’t require a permit — but the moment work needs a permit (electrical, plumbing, structural), the exemption doesn’t apply regardless of price. When in doubt, ask the contractor which license covers the work and verify it. “We don’t need a license for this” is sometimes true (painting, cabinets) and sometimes a lie (moving your plumbing) — the DBPR page above is how you tell.

What we couldn't fully verify

Local business tax receipts: cities and counties can still require business registration even where no trade license is needed. We did not verify Tampa/Hillsborough/Pinellas specifics — check with your local government.
Condo/HOA rules: many Tampa condos and HOAs impose their own contractor requirements (insurance minimums, work hours, approved-vendor lists) beyond state law. Check yours before hiring.
Lead paint (pre-1978 homes): federal EPA RRP rules apply to disturbing paint in older homes. We did not verify current EPA enforcement details — ask your refinisher how they handle it.

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License FAQs

Does a cabinet refinisher need a license in Florida?

No. Florida DBPR's own 'What Services Require a DBPR License' page explicitly lists 'paint' and 'install cabinets' as work that does not need a DBPR license, regardless of compensation. Refinishing and cabinet installation are unlicensed trades at the state level — vet them on reputation, insurance, and portfolio instead.

When does a kitchen or bath project require a licensed contractor?

When it touches structure, electrical, or plumbing: removing or altering load-bearing walls, adding or moving electrical circuits, relocating plumbing or gas lines. DBPR lists 'remodel a home that requires alteration or replacement of a load-bearing wall' as work that needs a license. Those jobs require a Certified General (CGC), Certified Building (CBC), or Certified Residential (CRC) contractor, or the relevant specialty trade licenses.

What's the difference between CGC, CBC, and CRC?

Per Florida Statute 489.105: a Certified General Contractor's services are unlimited as to type of work; a Certified Building Contractor is limited to commercial buildings and residential buildings up to three stories (plus non-structural remodeling of any size building); a Certified Residential Contractor is limited to one-, two-, and three-family residences up to two habitable stories. For most Tampa kitchen remodels, any of the three is authorized.

A 'cabinet company' offered to move my plumbing. Is that okay?

No — not unless they hold the right license. Plumbing work requires a plumbing contractor's license in Florida, electrical work requires an electrical contractor's license. A cabinet company doing that work 'under the table' is unlicensed activity, and you lose permit and insurance protections. Either hire the trades separately or hire a licensed GC who subs them properly.

Licensing rules summarized here are general information as of 2026, not legal advice. License definitions per Florida Statute 489.105; the paint/cabinet exemption per DBPR’s “What Services Require a DBPR License” page. Verify current requirements with the Florida DBPR.