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Florida Mold Remediation License: How to Check a Contractor
Florida is one of a handful of states that licenses mold professionals. That’s good news for homeowners: you can check a company before you let it into your home. Here’s what the law requires and how to verify a license.
- Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- A license is generally required for mold work on areas over 10 square feet.
- The same company can’t assess and remediate the same property within 12 months.
- Check any license in minutes at myfloridalicense.com.
What Florida law requires
Florida’s mold rules are in Part XVI of Chapter 468, Florida Statutes. The key points for homeowners:
- Mold assessment and remediation must be done by licensed professionals, unless an exemption applies.
- Work on mold areas of 10 square feet or less is generally exempt.
- Homeowners doing work on their own home are generally exempt.
- Licensees must carry general liability insurance (at least $1,000,000).
- Licensees must complete continuing education to renew.
Assessor vs. remediator
| Mold assessor | Mold remediator | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Inspects, tests and writes the remediation plan | Removes mold and cleans affected areas |
| Typical output | Report and protocol | Completed work to the protocol |
| Who hires them | Homeowner, buyer, landlord, insurer | Homeowner or property owner |
The 12-month separation rule
Under s. 468.8419, Florida Statutes, a mold assessor may not perform remediation on a property they assessed within the previous 12 months, and a remediator may not assess a property they remediated within 12 months. The same law prohibits paying or receiving referral fees between assessors and remediators.
This prevents the company diagnosing the problem from inflating it to win the removal job.
How to check a mold license in Florida
- Go to myfloridalicense.com and choose “Verify a License”.
- Search by the person’s name, the business name or the license number.
- Confirm the license type: Mold Assessor or Mold Remediator.
- Check the status is Current, Active, and look for any public complaints or discipline.
- Make sure the name on the license matches the person or company you’re hiring.
Tip: ask for a certificate of insurance too, and make sure it names the same business that holds the license.
Red flags when hiring a mold company
- They won’t give you a license number
- They offer a “free inspection” and then quote the removal themselves
- They want you to sign over insurance benefits on the spot
- No written scope or protocol
- Pressure to decide today
- Out-of-area crews going door to door after a storm
Questions to ask before you hire
- What’s your Florida license number?
- Can I see your certificate of insurance?
- Will you follow a written protocol from an independent assessor?
- How will you contain the area and filter the air?
- What’s included in your price, and what isn’t?
- Who does the clearance testing?
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to remove mold in Florida?
Yes, for mold areas over 10 square feet, with some exemptions such as homeowners working on their own property.
Can a mold remediation company test for mold in Florida?
Not on a property it remediated within the last 12 months. Testing and remediation on the same property must be done by different, independent professionals.
Where do I check a Florida mold license?
On the Florida DBPR website, myfloridalicense.com, using “Verify a License”.
Can a general contractor remove mold in Florida?
Licensed contractors have some exemptions for work within their scope, but mold remediation over 10 square feet is generally expected to be done by a licensed mold remediator. Ask for the specific license.
What insurance should a mold company carry?
Florida requires licensed mold assessors and remediators to carry general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.
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