RegistrationThe certificate holder must read verbatim City of Lighthouse Point; first-time registrations send all four documents together by fax (954-784-3447), email (LHPBuilding@lighthousepoint.com) or in person - Contractor Registration Information PDF
Name matchA company with a DBA must use the same name on all four documents, and the name on permit applications must match the registration exactly
Past permitsThe Building Department Public Portal (SmartGov) lets the public view applications, statuses and inspection results after registering an account - ci-lighthousepoint-fl.smartgovcommunity.com. The old Permit Status page now forwards to Building & Zoning
Insurance in the codeSec. 18-1 requires repair and installation services, among other listed businesses, to carry liability insurance and file the certificate when applying for the local business licence; the business tax itself is in Code Ch. 78, Art. II
Also postedA 'Hiring Unlicensed Contractors Can Be Disastrous' notice on the Building & Zoning page
County licenceBroward's Building Code Division handles contractor licensing and enforcement under County Code Ch. 9 through the Central Examining Board of Construction Trades. County-licensed contractors, suspensions and revocations are checked by phone on 954-765-4400; complaints go to CLE-Complaint@broward.org
Marine cards are voluntaryBroward lists its marine specialty, marine seawall, bulkhead, dock and pile-driving certificates under Division I (Voluntary), so a county card is not mandatory for marine work - Broward Contractor packet
State licenceSearch the company and the qualifier on DBPR's Verify a Licensee (myfloridalicense.com). A licence number starting with C is a state certification valid anywhere in Florida; one starting with R is a registration, good only where the holder met local competency rules - F.S. 489.105(8),(10) and the DBPR licensing page
Who may build a seawall or dockA certified general contractor's scope is unlimited (489.105(3)(a)). The state also certifies five marine specialties: marine specialty, marine seawall work, marine bulkhead work, marine dock work and marine pile driving - Rule 61G4-15.100(1)(b)-(f)
Workers' compIn construction a single employee makes coverage mandatory (440.02(20)(b)2). Up to three officers or LLC members owning at least 10% may file exemptions (440.02(18)(b)2), and the exemption certificate itself says it is not a DBPR licence (440.05(4)). Check it on the DWC data portal's Coverage and Exemptions search (dwcdataportal.fldfs.com)
Recovery fundFor contracts signed on or after 1 July 2024 the Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund pays at most $100,000 per claim against a Division I contractor (general, building, residential) and $30,000 against a Division II contractor, which includes the marine specialties; the lifetime caps are $2 million and $600,000 per licensee - 489.143(3),(6). Nothing is paid if the contractor was unlicensed when you signed - 489.141(2)(d) - and residential contracts over $2,500 must print the fund notice - 489.1425
DepositsA contractor who takes more than 10% up front on residential work must apply for permits within 30 days and start within 90 days of the permits issuing, unless you agreed to longer in writing - 489.126(2)(a)
Three-day cancelIf the deal was a home solicitation sale over $25 - signed away from the seller's place of business and not the result of your own request for specific goods or services - you can cancel in writing until midnight of the third business day; Sundays and federal holidays don't count - 501.021, 501.025
Business tax is not a licenceA contractor pays business tax where its permanent office is, and no other city or county may levy a business tax or an equivalent registration fee for temporary work there - 205.065