TL;DR: In Florida, window contractors must hold a state-issued or county-issued license and carry both general liability and workers' compensation insurance. You can verify both in minutes using free public databases. Never sign a contract or pay a deposit until you have confirmed both documents are current and cover the scope of work.
What You Need
Before you start checking, gather the following from any contractor you are considering:
- Their full legal business name (not just a trade name)
- Their Florida license number or numbers
- The name of their insurance carrier and a certificate of insurance (COI)
- The counties where they plan to pull permits
Contractors who hesitate to provide any of these items before a signed contract are a red flag worth taking seriously.
Step 1: Confirm the Correct License Type
Florida regulates window and door installation under two main license categories. Understanding which one applies matters.
Certified Contractor (state license): A certified contractor holds a license issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and can work in any Florida county. License numbers for certified general contractors begin with "CGC"; certified roofing contractors begin with "CCC"; and glass and glazing specialty contractors carry a "SCC" prefix.
Registered Contractor (county or local license): A registered contractor is licensed only in the jurisdiction that issued the license. They cannot legally pull permits in counties where they are not registered.
For impact window and door replacement across South Florida counties including Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade, a state-certified license is typically the cleaner choice. It eliminates the question of whether the contractor has authority in your specific county.
Window Guys of Florida holds Florida licenses CGC1518491 and SCC131151139. The glass and glazing specialty license was issued in 2005. You can use their license numbers as a working example of what to look up when vetting any contractor.
Step 2: Look Up the License on the DBPR Database
Go to the Florida DBPR online verification tool at www.myfloridalicense.com. Enter the contractor's license number.
Check each of the following fields:
| Field | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Status | Must read "Current, Active" |
| License type | Must match the work scope (e.g., glass/glazing, general) |
| License holder name | Must match the company or individual on your contract |
| Expiration date | Must be future-dated beyond your project completion |
| Disciplinary history | Review any complaints or final orders |
A license that is "Current, Active" but lists a different business name than the one on your estimate is worth clarifying in writing before you proceed.
Step 3: Verify Insurance Certificates
A license alone does not protect you if something goes wrong on your property. Request a certificate of insurance directly from the contractor and ask that your name and address be listed as the certificate holder.
You need two separate coverages:
General Liability: Covers property damage the contractor causes during the work. For window and door replacement projects, a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence is a reasonable baseline, though project scope and lender requirements may call for more. Verify this directly; do not rely on verbal assurances.
Workers' Compensation: Covers injuries to workers on your property. Florida law requires most employers with one or more employees in construction to carry workers' compensation. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor lacks coverage, you may face liability. Check workers' comp status through the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation at www.myfloridacfo.com.
Contact the insurance carrier directly to confirm the certificate has not been cancelled. Fraudulent COIs do exist; a one-minute phone call to the carrier eliminates that risk.
Review opening-protection options before storm season. Request a free estimate
Step 4: Confirm Permit Authority in Your County
Impact window and door replacement in South Florida almost always requires a permit. The contractor, not the homeowner, should pull the permit as the licensed entity of record. Homeowners who allow a contractor to work without a permit bear the consequences when they try to sell, refinance, or make an insurance claim.
Ask the contractor directly: "Will you be pulling the permit in my county under your license?" If the answer is anything other than a clear yes, ask why and get the explanation in writing.
Also confirm that the products being installed carry a current Florida Product Approval (FPA) number valid for your county's wind speed zone. This is separate from the contractor's license but the contractor should be able to provide it. You can verify product approvals through the Florida Building Commission database at floridabuilding.org.
For more on what to review before a project starts, see 9 Details to Review Before Approving Window Shop Drawings.
Step 5: Review the Written Contract
Once license and insurance are confirmed, the written contract is the final checkpoint. It should include:
- The contractor's full legal name, license number, and address
- A clear description of the work scope, products, and quantities
- Payment schedule tied to project milestones, not arbitrary dates
- A permit responsibility clause naming the contractor as the permit holder
- Warranty terms in writing (manufacturer and installation)
If a contract is missing any of these elements, request a revised version before signing. Verbal agreements are not enforceable in the same way written contracts are.
For background on what installation warranties typically do and do not cover, the article [What a Florida Window Warranty Actually Covers and What It Leaves Out] covers that topic separately.
Common Mistakes
Accepting a license number without looking it up. Contractors occasionally provide expired or incorrect license numbers. The lookup takes two minutes and eliminates guesswork.
Assuming a COI on file is current. Insurance can be cancelled after a certificate is issued. Always call the carrier to confirm.
Letting a subcontractor pull the permit under a different license. The license on your permit should match the entity you contracted with. Mismatches can create complications at inspection and at resale.
Signing before the permit is confirmed. Some contracts require you to pay a substantial deposit before a permit is even applied for. At minimum, confirm the contractor intends to pull permits before any money changes hands.
Skipping the disciplinary history check. The DBPR database includes final orders against contractors. A pattern of complaints about incomplete work or abandoned projects is visible there before you sign.
Bottom Line
Verifying a Florida window contractor's license and insurance is a straightforward process using two free public databases and a phone call to the insurance carrier. The steps above apply whether you are replacing a single window or completing a whole-home impact window project. The time invested before signing is far less than the time required to resolve an unlicensed or uninsured installation after the fact.
If you are evaluating contractors for impact window or door replacement in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, or St. Lucie counties, request an estimate from Window Guys of Florida. License numbers are available for verification through the DBPR database.
Review opening-protection options before storm season.
The performance and responsibilities for permits, engineering, documentation, installation, and inspections depend on the exact assembly and written project scope.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a certified and registered contractor in Florida?
A certified contractor holds a state-issued license valid in all Florida counties. A registered contractor is licensed only in the specific county or municipality that issued their license. For projects spanning multiple South Florida counties, a certified contractor avoids jurisdictional gaps.
Can a homeowner pull their own permit for window replacement in Florida?
Florida law allows owner-builders to pull permits for their own primary residence in some cases, but doing so means the homeowner assumes full legal responsibility for code compliance and inspections. Most lenders and insurers prefer that a licensed contractor pull the permit, and the owner-builder exemption does not apply to investment or rental properties.
What should I do if a contractor cannot provide proof of workers' compensation?
Ask whether they qualify for a workers' compensation exemption, which is available in Florida for sole proprietors and certain officers with no employees. If they claim an exemption, verify it through the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation database. An unverified exemption claim is not sufficient protection.
How do I confirm a Florida Product Approval number is valid for my wind zone?
Search the product approval number at floridabuilding.org and check that the approval is current, covers your county's design wind speed, and matches the specific product model and configuration being installed. Your contractor should be able to provide the FPA number before installation begins.