Florida Contractor License Renewal & Continuing Education (2026)

A Florida certified contractor license renews on a biennial (two-year) cycle, and renewal requires completing the Board’s continuing-education hours and paying the renewal fee by the deadline. Because the exact renewal deadline calendar and current CE-hour count and fee are set by DBPR/CILB and change over time, verify them directly with the DBPR before your cycle closes — do not rely on a memorized date.

The biennial cycle

Florida licenses run on a two-year cycle; the application fee proration on the DBPR CILB 5-A form reflects the same biennium structure. Your license shows its expiration date — renew before it lapses to avoid late penalties or having to reinstate.

Continuing education

Renewal requires Board-approved continuing-education hours, typically spanning required topics (such as workplace safety, business practices, laws and rules, and others the Board designates). For an active renewal, the current total is 14 hours. The specific subject-by-subject hour breakdown is set by Board rule and listed on the DBPR’s CE Requirements page — confirm it there before enrolling, since it can change.

Renewal fees and deadlines

Florida certified contractor licenses renew by August 31 of even-numbered years — the next deadline is August 31, 2026. The active renewal fee is $205 ($255 if you renew with a qualified business). Renewing after the deadline moves you to the late fee of $230 ($280 with a qualified business). Letting a license go inactive carries a $55 inactive-renewal fee, and reactivating an inactive license costs $305. These figures are drawn from the DBPR CILB Certified Contractors renewal insert; confirm them on the official DBPR renewal schedule before you pay, since fees and deadlines can change at each biennium.

Common questions

How much does it cost to renew a Florida contractor license?

The active renewal fee is $205 ($255 if you renew with a qualified business). Renewing after the August 31 deadline moves you to the late fee of $230 ($280 with a qualified business). Confirm the current figures on the official DBPR renewal schedule before you pay.

How many continuing-education hours are required?

For an active renewal, the current total is 14 hours of Board-approved continuing education. The specific subject-by-subject breakdown is set by Board rule and listed on the DBPR’s CE Requirements page — confirm it there before enrolling.

What happens if I renew late?

Missing the August 31 of even-numbered years deadline (next: August 31, 2026) moves you from the $205 active fee to the $230 late fee ($280 with a qualified business) rather than an automatic lapse — but letting a license go further, into inactive status, carries its own $55 inactive-renewal fee and a $305 reactivation cost. Verify the exact cutoff and current fees with the DBPR before your cycle closes.

Related pages

Renewal sits at the end of the licensing lifecycle that begins with the Florida general contractor exam. If you are moving between states, review Florida contractor license reciprocity, and keep your Florida contractor insurance requirements current through each cycle. Once your renewal posts, you can confirm your license shows active in the state database. For the overview, return to the Florida general contractor license guide.

This page summarizes renewal procedure and is general information, not legal advice. Verify renewal deadlines, CE hours, and fees with the Florida DBPR before relying on them.

Last verified: 2026-07-11