Home services in Florida
Explore home projects in Florida with practical guidance on contractor licensing, permits, insurance, and common home styles.
Florida homes at a glance
- Median home value
- $359,000
- U.S. median: $332,700
- Median home age
- 38 yrs
- Typical home built in 1988
- Extreme-weather days a year
- 88
- 86 days 90°F+ · 2 nights ≤32°F
Sources: Census ACS: values · year built · PRISM/NOAA
ACS 2020–2024 · Climate 2015–2024 · Home ages as of 2026.
About
Planning projects in Florida
Florida homeowners live in one of the country's most demanding environments for residential construction and maintenance. Heat, humidity, hurricanes, salt air, sandy soils, heavy rainfall, wetlands, and long cooling seasons all influence how homes perform over time. Conditions vary across the Panhandle, Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, central peninsula, and barrier islands, making regional awareness especially important. Learning how moisture control, ventilation, roofing, drainage, impact protection, and durable exterior materials work together can help homeowners protect their investment for years to come.
Home services across Florida
Project planning rules
Contractor licensing in Florida
The Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR) licenses general, building and residential contractors, as well as roofing, plumbing and HVAC contractors. Small, minor jobs under $2,500 are exempt.
Rules vary by city and county. Confirm with your local building department.
Verify a license: DBPR License Search
Insurance requirements
General and building contractors must carry $300,000 in liability and $50,000 in property damage coverage. Construction employers need workers' comp from the first employee. For contracts signed since July 1, 2024, the Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund pays up to $100,000 per claim against general, building and residential contractors, and up to $30,000 against trade contractors.
Rules vary by city and county. Confirm with your local building department.
Permit rules
The 8th Edition Florida Building Code applies statewide, the 9th Edition starts December 31, 2026, and local departments issue permits. Since July 1, 2026, owners can do work under $7,500 without a building permit, but not electrical, plumbing, mechanical, structural or flood-zone work.
Rules vary by city and county. Confirm with your local building department.
Sources: DBPR FAQs · §489.143 · Workers' comp · HB 803 summary
Researched October 1, 2026 from official state sources.
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Architecture
Common home styles in Florida
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Common questions about hiring a contractor
Compare storm protection, energy performance, and installation details together. Ask whether the proposed windows provide impact protection or require a separate shutter system, and have the contractor confirm the applicable requirements for your location. Also discuss how flashing and surrounding wall repairs will manage wind-driven rain. If you choose shutters, consider how you will deploy them, particularly at upper floors or when you are away from home. Include the complete protection system in each estimate.
Cooling the air and removing enough moisture are related, but they are not the same result. Equipment sizing, operating cycles, duct leakage, outdoor air entering the home, and indoor moisture sources can all affect comfort. An oversized system may cool quickly without running long enough to remove sufficient moisture. Before replacing equipment during a remodel, ask for an assessment of humidity control and cooling needs based on the planned improvements, rather than assuming a larger unit will solve the problem.
Have the contractor evaluate both moisture sources and the exhaust system before selecting new finishes. A running fan may still move too little air if its duct is restricted, poorly routed, or blocked at the outlet. Confirm that it exhausts outdoors and that its airflow is checked after installation. Include shower waterproofing and any plumbing leak repairs in the scope as well; ventilation removes moisture from the air but does not correct water escaping behind tile or beneath fixtures.