Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation requires and issues licenses for entities and individuals to qualify to construct improvements to real property in Florida. There are licenses for Certified General Contractors, electricians, plumbers, roofers and many other trades. Often, an out-of-state contractor is willing to come to Florida to construct a project that requires a Florida license. Generally speaking, an out-of-state contractor that does not hold a valid Florida contractor's license cannot perform construction services in Florida unless they acquire a license pursuant to Section 489, Florida Statutes, find a duly-licensed qualifying agent in Florida to "qualify" their out-of state entity, or enter into a duly-prepared and recognized Joint Venture Agreement with a Florida-licensed entity.

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