Florida handyman licensing: what we can and can't do in Mount Dora

Florida does not issue a state "handyman license," and doesn't require one for general repair work like ours — but electrical, plumbing, roofing and HVAC work are never exempt, no matter how small the job. Here is exactly what that means for work in Mount Dora.

Flat illustration of a wrench, screwdriver and tape measure crossed over a wood board

The general handyman exemption

Florida doesn't require a state contractor license for small, casual, general home repair work — the kind of punch-list, drywall, trim, and fixture work we do. That exemption does not apply to anyone who advertises or represents themselves as a contractor, and it does not cover the specialty trades below at any price.

What is never covered by that exemption, regardless of price

Electrical, plumbing, roofing and HVAC work always require their own licensed contractor for compensation, no matter how small the job — there is no minor-repair carve-out for these trades.

Electrical work — always needs a licensed electrical contractor, even for simple tasks.
Plumbing work — any connection to a potable water line needs a licensed plumbing contractor.
Roofing work — constructing or repairing a roof needs a licensed roofing contractor.
HVAC work — installing central air conditioning or cleaning ductwork (which requires partial disassembly) needs a licensed HVAC contractor.

We do not advertise or perform electrical, plumbing, roofing, or HVAC work of any kind. If a job you call us for turns out to need one of those trades, we'll tell you plainly and point you to a licensed tradesperson rather than take on work outside our scope.

Mount Dora's own Business Tax Receipt requirement

Separately from state contractor licensing, the City of Mount Dora requires anyone "engaged in any business, profession, occupation, trade, amusement, or industry within the City of Mount Dora" to hold a city Business Tax Receipt (BTR), obtained after county and state requirements are met. BTRs expire September 30 each year.

Source: City of Mount Dora, Business Tax Receipts mountdora.gov/275/Business-Tax

Permits for deck and fence work

The City of Mount Dora's own Fence Permit Application Checklist (BFP-062) requires a permit application and survey for fence work, with published rules: residential fences are limited to 6 feet on side and rear yards and 4 feet on front yards, and approved materials are wood, chain-link, vinyl, wrought/commercial iron, or decorative wire. The checklist does not explicitly state whether simple panel-only repair (no new posts, same footprint) needs its own permit — [NEED: confirm with the Building Division before assuming a repair is permit-free]. For decks, this project found a general (non-Mount-Dora-specific) summary suggesting small at-grade structures under roughly 120 sq ft might need only a zoning review, but could not confirm that exact figure against a primary Mount Dora document — treat it as [NEED: verify the exact deck permit threshold], not settled fact.

Source: City of Mount Dora Fence Permit Application Checklist (BFP-062) mountdora.gov/DocumentCenter/View/70 ; Building Division, 510 N. Baker Street, (352) 735-7115.

Our insurance status

[NEED: insurance status — confirm before publishing, do not assume “insured”]. We will not claim to be "licensed and insured" until that status is confirmed and true — ask us directly and we'll give you a straight answer.