Key Takeaways
- Run a free DBPR license lookup at myfloridalicense.com before any contract is signed.
- Ask for a Certificate of Insurance showing general liability and workers’ compensation — not just one.
- A workers’ comp exemption is legal in Florida but shifts injury liability risk toward you as the homeowner.
- In Miami-Dade and Broward (HVHZ), unlicensed work can void your homeowner’s insurance claim.
- Verify the COI directly with the insurer — don’t rely solely on a PDF the contractor emails you.
Why This Matters
The Real Risk of Skipping the Insurance Check
One uninsured worker. One fall. Suddenly it’s your homeowner’s policy — or your personal assets — on the line.
Most homeowners in South Florida ask one question before hiring a contractor: How much? The second question — Are you properly insured? — gets skipped far too often, and the consequences can be severe. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor carries no workers’ compensation coverage, Florida law in many scenarios can expose you to a civil lawsuit. If subcontractors cause property damage and the contractor has no general liability, you may be left holding the repair bill.
This guide walks you through exactly how to check contractor insurance in Florida, what documents to request, and what the fine print actually means — before a single nail is driven.
South Florida Context
Why Insurance Verification Is Even More Critical in Miami-Dade and Broward
Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) — which covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties — has the strictest residential building code requirements in the United States. When you hire a contractor for impact window installation or roof replacement in this zone, the permit and inspection process is more rigorous than anywhere else in the country.
Two HVHZ-specific insurance risks homeowners should know:
- Miami-Dade NOA compliance: Work done without a licensed, insured contractor can be flagged during a Miami-Dade inspection as non-compliant — potentially triggering a stop-work order or requiring the work to be redone at your expense.
- Homeowner’s insurance claims: Many Florida insurers include language voiding storm-damage claims if the damage is related to work performed by an unlicensed or uninsured contractor. In a hurricane zone, that is a meaningful financial exposure.
Salt air, heat, and hurricane-season storms also mean South Florida homes require more frequent exterior work than most U.S. markets. The higher the frequency of contractor visits, the higher the importance of verifying credentials every time.
Step-by-Step Verification
How to Verify a Florida Contractor’s License and Insurance
Four concrete steps — each takes less than 10 minutes.
Step 1 — Run the DBPR License Lookup
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) maintains a free public database at myfloridalicense.com. Search by the contractor’s name or license number. You are looking for:
- License type and number (e.g., Certified General Contractor CGC######)
- Status — confirm it reads as current and active
- DBA name — the name on the license may differ from the business card name; both should match what appears in your contract
If the license does not appear, or shows as suspended or expired, do not proceed.
Step 2 — Request a Certificate of Insurance (COI)
A Certificate of Insurance is a one-page summary issued by the contractor’s insurance carrier. Ask for it before signing any contract. It should list two separate policies:
| Coverage Type | What It Protects | Minimum to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Property damage, third-party bodily injury caused by the contractor’s work | $300,000–$1,000,000 per occurrence (verify per your project scope) |
| Workers’ Compensation | Medical costs and lost wages if a worker is hurt on your property | Florida statutory limits; must cover all employees on site |
The COI will also show the policy’s effective and expiration dates. Confirm the policy is active on the date your project begins — not just when you received the certificate.
Step 3 — Call the Insurer to Verify
A COI is a snapshot document. It does not automatically update when a policy lapses. The safest move: call the insurance carrier listed on the COI and confirm the policy is currently active for the contractor named. This takes under five minutes and gives you independent confirmation rather than relying solely on a PDF the contractor emailed you.
Step 4 — Understand the Workers’ Comp Exemption
Florida law allows sole proprietors and certain officers of small construction companies to file a workers’ compensation exemption with the state. This is legal. It means the contractor is personally opting out of workers’ comp for themselves — but it does NOT mean their employees or subcontractors are exempt.
If a contractor tells you they have a workers’ comp exemption and they work alone, that may be acceptable on a small job. But if they show up with a crew and claim a blanket exemption, ask more questions. If a worker who is not covered by workers’ comp is injured on your property, you may face a civil lawsuit even though you did not employ that worker.
Insured vs. Uninsured
What You’re Really Comparing When You Compare Bids
A lower bid from an uninsured contractor is not a savings — it is a cost transfer. The risk does not disappear; it moves to you.
| Scenario | Insured Contractor | Uninsured Contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Worker injured on your property | Workers’ comp covers medical + lost wages | You may be liable for civil damages |
| Contractor damages neighbor’s fence | General liability covers repair | You or homeowner’s policy absorbs the cost |
| Work causes a subsequent leak or defect | Contractor’s liability policy responds | You pursue the contractor personally — often uncollectable |
| Insurance claim after a storm | Insurer sees licensed, insured workmanship | Insurer may deny claim citing unlicensed work |
Why License Breadth Matters
What Four Active Florida Licenses Actually Mean for Your Project
A licensed contractor — not a lead aggregator passing your job to an unknown sub.
Each of those four licenses requires Darryl to carry specific insurance coverage as a condition of licensure. The DBPR verifies it. That is not a marketing statement — it is a regulatory requirement you can confirm on the state database right now.
Beyond insurance, holding a Certified General Contractor license (CGC1531370) means structural modifications, hurricane-strap work, and code-driven structural scope can be handled under one contractor’s license — without the homeowner needing to hire and independently verify a separate GC. When a window replacement uncovers a rotted header or a roofing job exposes structural deck damage, the scope does not have to stop and wait for a different contractor to mobilize.
“I ask homeowners to look me up on the DBPR before they call me back. If a contractor tells you not to bother verifying, that is your answer.”
President, Bigfoot Windows & Roofing
What a Verified Contractor Looks Like in Practice
Documents to Request Before Any Contract Is Signed
When you call Bigfoot Windows & Roofing or any reputable South Florida contractor, you should be able to receive all of the following without friction:
- DBPR license number — you can verify it yourself at myfloridalicense.com
- Certificate of Insurance — showing general liability and workers’ compensation, with your name listed as an additional insured for the duration of the project
- Proof of workers’ comp exemption — if applicable, ask to see the actual state-issued exemption certificate, not just a verbal claim
- Permit pull confirmation — in Miami-Dade and Broward, most window and roofing projects require a permit; a contractor who refuses to pull one is a red flag
If you are evaluating bids for impact window replacement in Miami-Dade, confirming the contractor holds a Florida Product Approval and can pull the required NOA-compliant permit is part of the same verification process as checking insurance. One does not substitute for the other.
Financing a project? Bigfoot offers PACE financing options — paid through your property tax bill — that do not require a credit check. Understanding your full project cost, including proper insurance coverage by your contractor, is part of making a sound financial decision.
Quick Reference
Florida Contractor Insurance Verification Checklist
| Verification Step | Where / How | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| DBPR license lookup | myfloridalicense.com — search by name or license number | ~3 minutes |
| Request COI | Ask contractor directly before signing; insist on both GL and WC | ~1 minute |
| Call insurer to confirm active policy | Phone number on the COI; ask if policy is current for named contractor | ~5 minutes |
| Workers’ comp exemption check | Florida DFS (Division of Financial Services) online portal | ~5 minutes |
| Confirm permit will be pulled | Ask contractor in writing; Miami-Dade and Broward require it for most jobs | ~1 minute |
Want to verify Bigfoot’s licenses before you call?
Look up CGC1531370 on myfloridalicense.com right now. Then call us.
Related Articles
Written by Darryl Henry Rosenbaum, Founder of Bigfoot Windows & Roofing.
Darryl Henry Rosenbaum, doing business as Bigfoot Windows and Roofing, holds four active Florida licenses recognized by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): Certified General Contractor (CGC1531370), Certified Residential Contractor (CRC1331693), Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1333168), and Certified Specialty Contractor with a Glass & Glazing Specialty (SCC131153098).
Who We’re Not the Right Fit For
- Homeowners who need the absolute lowest bid regardless of documentation. Bigfoot will always provide license numbers, a COI, and pull permits. If a project budget requires skipping those steps, we are not the right contractor.
- Projects outside Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. We work in South Florida. If your property is in Central Florida or the Panhandle, you need a local contractor familiar with your county’s building department.
- Homeowners who prefer to manage multiple subcontractors themselves. Our structure is a single licensed contractor managing the full scope. If you prefer to hire a glazier, roofer, and GC separately, that model works — it just is not ours.
- Projects requiring electrical, plumbing, or HVAC trade work. Our four licenses cover general contracting, residential contracting, roofing, and glass and glazing. We do not hold electrical or mechanical licenses and will not perform that scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a contractor’s insurance in Florida?
Start with the DBPR license lookup at myfloridalicense.com — an active license requires the contractor to carry insurance as a condition of licensure. Then ask for a Certificate of Insurance directly from the contractor and call the carrier listed on that certificate to confirm the policy is currently active. Do not rely solely on a PDF the contractor emails you.
What insurance should a Florida contractor have?
At minimum: general liability insurance (covering property damage and third-party bodily injury) and workers’ compensation insurance (covering employees injured on the job). General liability typically starts at $300,000 per occurrence for residential work. Workers’ comp is required for most Florida construction contractors with one or more employees.
What is a Certificate of Insurance and how do I read it?
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a one-page summary issued by the contractor’s insurer. It lists the insured’s name, the types of coverage, policy limits, and effective/expiration dates. Check that the dates cover your project period, the coverage types include both general liability and workers’ comp, and the name matches the contractor in your contract.
How do I verify a DBPR license in Florida?
Go to myfloridalicense.com and use the Licensee Search tool. Enter the contractor’s name or license number. Confirm the license type is appropriate for your project (roofing, general contracting, etc.), the status is current, and the DBA name matches what appears on your contract. This search is free and takes under three minutes.
What is a workers’ comp exemption and does it protect me as a homeowner?
A workers’ comp exemption is a legal election in Florida allowing sole proprietors or certain company officers to opt out of workers’ compensation coverage for themselves. It does not exempt their employees or subcontractors. If a worker without coverage is injured on your property, you may still face civil liability. Always ask to see the actual state-issued exemption certificate — not just a verbal claim.
Am I liable if an uninsured worker is hurt on my property in Florida?
Potentially yes. Florida law does not automatically shield homeowners from civil liability when an uninsured contractor’s worker is injured on the property. The injured worker may sue the property owner if the contractor had no workers’ compensation and no liability coverage. This is one of the most serious financial risks of hiring an uninsured contractor.
Can I use PACE financing and still require my contractor to be insured?
Yes — PACE financing is a separate financial product from contractor credentials. Requiring proper insurance is always your right regardless of how you pay. If you use PACE financing through Bigfoot for impact windows or roofing, the contractor you are financing must still provide a COI and have an active DBPR license. The two requirements are independent of each other.
Sources
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — myfloridalicense.com Licensee Search
- Florida Division of Financial Services — Workers’ Compensation Exemption Registry
- Florida Statutes Chapter 440 — Workers’ Compensation Law
- Florida Building Code (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone provisions) — Miami-Dade and Broward County Building Departments
Ready to work with a contractor whose licenses you can verify right now?
Look up CGC1531370, CRC1331693, CCC1333168, or SCC131153098 on the DBPR database — then request a free estimate or call 786-886-2088.