Demolition looks simple from the street: a machine, a few trucks and a lot of noise. Legally, it's treated much like construction. The person who tears down a building is responsible for utilities, asbestos rules, the safety of the neighbors and the permit. That's why Florida requires a license, and why a cheap price from an unlicensed crew can end up costing the owner far more.
The state law
What chapter 489 says about demolition
Demolition is contracting
Section 489.105 defines a contractor as someone who, for pay, undertakes to construct, repair, alter, remodel, add to, demolish, subtract from or improve a building or structure. Demolition is right there in the definition.
What counts as demolition under the law
For this law, demolition covers all buildings and residences, plus steel tanks, towers and other structures more than 50 feet tall. Smaller structures, like a fence or a slab, may fall outside the state definition, but local rules and permits still apply.
Permits follow the license
A demolition permit is issued to a licensed contractor or, in limited cases, to an owner acting as their own builder. A company without the right license can't legally pull the permit for your job.
State licenses
Which state-certified contractors can demolish what
| Item | License | What it covers | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contractor (CGC) | Any work that requires a contractor license | No size limit | |
| Building contractor (CBC) | Commercial and residential buildings | New construction up to three stories; demolition is generally treated the same way | |
| Residential contractor (CRC) | One-, two- and three-family homes | Up to two habitable stories above one uninhabitable story |
Limits summarized from section 489.105 of the Florida Statutes. Some local building departments set their own rules on which license can pull a demolition permit for a given building, so confirm with the city.
County licenses
County demolition licenses in South and Southwest Florida
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade issues a Demolition Contractor certificate of competency. It requires an exam and three years of experience, and covers demolishing, wrecking or taking apart buildings and other structures, including removing the debris safely.
Broward County
Broward lists Building Demolition as a specialty building contractor classification, with four years of practical construction experience required to qualify.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County certifies Demolition Contractors to demolish and remove structures such as homes, commercial buildings and foundations.
Lee County
Lee County issues a Demolition Contractor certificate of competency that requires four years of experience and exams. Its scope is limited to structures of three stories or less, up to 35 feet.
Martin, St. Lucie and Collier
These counties license contractors locally too, but we couldn't confirm a current demolition category in each one. Port St. Lucie, for example, phased out its local demolition registration in 2023. Call the county's contractor licensing office before relying on a local license.
One county at a time
A county license generally lets a contractor work in that county. A company licensed only in Palm Beach, for example, should not assume it can pull permits in Miami-Dade. A state-certified license works statewide. Florida also had a state Building Demolition Specialty certification from 2013 until it was repealed in May 2024.
Owner-builders
Can the owner pull the demolition permit instead?
What the law allows
Section 489.103(7) of the Florida Statutes lets owners act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home for their own use, as long as it isn't built or improved for sale or lease. The law is written around building and improving, and it doesn't single out demolition.
Some cities don't allow it at all
The City of Miami is the clearest example. Its demolition permit page says only a qualified licensed contractor may apply, and a homeowner can't apply directly. If your property is in the City of Miami, an owner-builder demolition isn't an option.
Some departments allow it
Lee County and Martin County, for example, accept demolition permits from owner-builders who sign the owner-builder disclosure statement in person at the building department.
Some limit it to your homestead
The Town of Miami Lakes allows owner-builder permits when the property is your homestead, and Miramar limits owner-builder permits to residential properties with a homestead exemption. A rental, an investment property or a lot you're about to sell usually won't qualify.
Commercial buildings need a contractor
For commercial demolition, expect the building department to require a licensed contractor.
Call before you plan
Ask the building department one question: will they issue an owner-builder demolition permit for this property? If the answer is no, you'll need a licensed contractor.
Before you hire
How to check a demolition contractor's license
Ask for the license number
Florida law requires contractors to put their license number on their advertising, including websites. If you can't find it, ask. A real contractor gives it without hesitation.
Look it up yourself
State licenses are on the DBPR site at myfloridalicense.com. County licenses are on the county's contractor licensing search. Make sure the license is active, not just issued.
Match the name
The license should belong to the company on your contract, or to the person who qualifies that company. A license that belongs to someone else is a red flag.
Check insurance
Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance that cover demolition, with your name or the property listed as the certificate holder.
Watch for rented licenses
Some crews pay a licensed contractor to pull permits for jobs they don't actually run. The permit looks legal, but the license holder isn't supervising the work, and that's illegal in Florida.
Don't take their word for it
"Fully licensed" on a website proves nothing
Anyone can type it
"Licensed and insured" or "fully licensed" on a website, a truck or a business card is just a claim. Some companies that say it don't hold a license at all.
A permit can be misleading too
A company working under a rented license can still get permits pulled for your job, so to the untrained eye it looks like a licensed contractor is doing the work. The permit is in someone else's name, and that person isn't the one running your demolition.
Always check it yourself
Look up the license number on myfloridalicense.com or the county's licensing search, and make sure the name on the license matches the company on your contract and on the permit. If the company can't give you a number, or the names don't match, keep looking.
Related
Keep reading
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a license to demolish a house in Florida?
Yes, if you're doing it for someone else. Florida law defines demolishing a building as contracting work, so it takes a state contractor license or a county demolition license, plus a permit. Owners can sometimes demolish their own home under the owner-builder rules, but not every building department allows it, and the City of Miami doesn't.
Is there a state demolition license in Florida?
Not anymore. Florida had a state Building Demolition Specialty certification from 2013 until it was repealed in May 2024. Today, demolition of buildings at the state level falls under the general, building and residential contractor licenses, each with its own size limits. Several counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Lee, issue their own demolition contractor licenses for work in their county.
Can a general contractor do demolition in Florida?
Yes. A state-certified general contractor can do any work that requires a contractor license under chapter 489, including demolishing a building of any size.
How do I check a demolition contractor's license in Florida?
Get the license number, then look it up on myfloridalicense.com for a state license or on the county's contractor licensing search for a county license. Confirm it's active and that the name matches the company on your contract.
Can a homeowner pull a demolition permit in Florida?
It depends on the city. The City of Miami doesn't allow it: only a qualified licensed contractor can apply for a demolition permit there. The owner-builder exemption covers one- or two-family homes for the owner's own use, and some building departments, like Lee and Martin counties, accept owner-builder demolition permits. Others, like Miami Lakes and Miramar, limit owner-builder permits to your homestead, and commercial demolition generally needs a licensed contractor. Ask your building department first.
What happens if I hire an unlicensed demolition contractor?
The contractor is breaking the law, and you take on the risk. Permits can be refused or revoked, insurance may not cover damage or injuries, and you may have little recourse if the job goes wrong.
Does a handyman need a license to tear down a shed?
It depends on the size of the structure and the city. Small structures may fall outside the state definition of demolition, but many cities still require a permit, and the permit rules decide who can do the work. Check with the building department first.
This article is general information, not legal advice. It summarizes sections 489.103 and 489.105 of the Florida Statutes and county and city licensing and permit rules we could confirm as of October 2026. Licensing rules change, so confirm with DBPR or your county's contractor licensing office.