Florida Contractor License Bond

Exact requirements, real costs, and how to file the bond without paying a broker 30% to do it for you.

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Florida doesn't require a state-level contractor bond

The Short Version

What Florida Actually Requires

  • → Florida does NOT require a contractor license bond
  • → The 'Florida 660 Bond' was eliminated on April 13, 2022
  • → Financial stability is satisfied by FICO 660+ OR a 14-hour course
  • → Credit report must show no unsatisfied judgments or liens
  • → General liability insurance is still required under separate rules
What You Actually Need

Florida Doesn't Require a State Contractor Bond

Florida contractors don't need a bond. Full stop.

This is worth saying clearly because a surprising number of bond broker websites still list a "Florida 660 bond" or "Florida sub-660 contractor bond" as if it's a current requirement. It isn't. The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board eliminated the bond option entirely when Rule 61G4-15.006 was amended on April 13, 2022.

Here's what actually satisfies the state's financial stability rule today:

  • Option 1 — Credit score route: Provide a current consumer credit report showing a FICO score of 660 or higher with no unsatisfied judgments or liens. No bond, no course, nothing else.
  • Option 2 — Course route: If your credit score is below 660, complete a 14-hour Board-approved financial responsibility course. That's it. The course replaced the bond.

You still need to pass the trade exam, carry general liability insurance, and meet experience requirements. But you don't need a bond.

Authority

Florida Licensing Authority & Statute

Florida does not require a contractor license bond. Until April 13, 2022, contractors with FICO credit scores below 660 had to post a bond to meet the financial stability requirement. Rule 61G4-15.006 was amended that date to eliminate the bond option entirely. Contractors now satisfy the financial stability rule either by providing a credit score of 660+ or by completing a 14-hour Board-approved financial responsibility course.

Licensing Authority
Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida require a contractor license bond? +
No. Florida eliminated the contractor license bond requirement on April 13, 2022 when Rule 61G4-15.006 was amended. The old 'Florida 660 bond' for contractors with credit scores below 660 is no longer required. Financial stability is now satisfied by a FICO score of 660+ OR completion of a 14-hour Board-approved financial responsibility course.
What was the 'Florida 660 bond' and why did it go away? +
Before April 2022, Florida contractors with FICO credit scores below 660 had to post a surety bond of $5,000 to $20,000 (depending on division) as proof of financial stability. The Construction Industry Licensing Board amended Rule 61G4-15.006 to replace the bond option with a 14-hour financial responsibility course. The course is cheaper, faster, and easier — so the bond disappeared.
What do I actually need to get licensed as a Florida contractor? +
Pass the trade exam, carry the required general liability insurance, satisfy the experience requirement for your classification, and prove financial stability through either a 660+ FICO score or the 14-hour course. You do NOT need a surety bond.
Why do some websites still list a Florida contractor bond requirement? +
Because bond broker websites are slow to update and they make commission on bonds, not on telling you that you don't need one. The rule change is almost four years old now, but you can still find broker pages selling 'Florida 660 bonds' that the state no longer requires. The current Rule 61G4-15.006 text makes no mention of a bond.
What about the Florida Financially Responsible Officer (FRO) bond? +
That's a different bond and it still exists. When a qualifier is designated as the Financially Responsible Officer for a construction company that cannot otherwise prove financial responsibility, the FRO may be required to post a $100,000 bond. It's rare and it applies to business structure situations, not individual licensure. Most Florida contractors will never encounter it.
Do Florida cities or counties require contractor bonds? +
Rarely. Florida's state licensing is comprehensive enough that most cities defer to it. A handful of local jurisdictions may require registration or a specific-trade bond, but there is no common city-level bond requirement comparable to what you see in Texas or California municipalities.
NoBro Take

Our Editorial Insight

Florida is the clearest example in our first batch of a bond that isn't required but is still being sold.

The Construction Industry Licensing Board killed the contractor bond option in April 2022. That's almost four years ago. The current text of Rule 61G4-15.006 doesn't mention a bond — it just says you either need a 660 FICO or a 14-hour course. The state eliminated an entire category of surety bond with one rule change.

And yet if you Google "Florida contractor license bond" right now, the first page of results is still full of broker sites listing $5,000 and $20,000 "sub-660 bonds" as if they're current requirements. They're not. Some of those pages haven't been updated since 2020.

If a Florida broker tries to sell you a contractor bond, ask them to cite the current rule. They can't, because the rule doesn't require it. The honest answer for any Florida contractor in 2026 is: "You don't need a bond. Take the course or show a 660 credit score. Save your money."

The only Florida construction bond that still genuinely exists is the Financially Responsible Officer bond, and that's a structural requirement for specific business setups — not something most contractors will ever need.

Florida isn't alone in this problem. Pennsylvania contractors see the same thing — brokers still sell "HICPA bonds" that have never existed in state statute. When a state's bond requirement changes or doesn't exist at all, broker websites are the last to catch up.

Verified & Sources

The requirements on this page were last verified on 2026-04-08 against the sources below. Bond amounts and regulations can change — always confirm with the CILB before filing.

Related

Other State Requirements

TX
Texas
No state-level contractor bond
NY
New York
No state-level contractor bond
CA
California
$25,000 flat requirement
Browse All States

State Contractor Bonds by Structure

Every state sets its own rules. Here's how all the states we've researched group together — find your state or browse by the structure that matches yours.

Flat Rate States

1 state

One bond amount for every licensed contractor

CA California

Tiered States

3 states

Bond amount varies by license type or classification

WA Washington OR Oregon AZ Arizona

Variable States

1 state

Bond amount set case-by-case by the licensing board

NV Nevada

Alternative States

4 states

Bond is optional — serves as an alternative to net worth or working capital

VA Virginia GA Georgia NC North Carolina MD Maryland

No State Bond Required

6 states

No statewide contractor license bond — municipal bonds may still apply

TX Texas FL Florida NY New York PA Pennsylvania OH Ohio IN Indiana

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