Before we get into explaining the legal details of House Bill 735, let’s give you what you want to know … how does this affect me as a homeowner?
How Does This Bill Affect You?
This bill goes into effect July of 2023 so, if you plan on having any work done to your home, including your garage doors, keep reading. Many construction-related occupations will now need to have a state-issued license, not a local government-issued license due to changes in licensing requirements. Contractors with a locally issued license after July 1, will essentially be seen as unlicensed contractors, as their license will no longer be valid. That means, as a homeowner, you will face the same consequences as those who hire an unlicensed contractor, which includes:
- Compromising the safety of your home
- Decreasing the resale value of your property
- Liability for personal injuries
- Homeowners insurance won’t honor any future claims
- Penalties from the city
- A Lien on your property
House Bill 735 is an important piece of legislation that was recently passed in Florida. It has far-reaching implications for trades that are not regulated at the state level as well as for homeowners. Which is why it is important to understand what the bill entails in order to make sure you are compliant. This blog post will provide a comprehensive overview of House Bill 735 and discuss how it can affect businesses and homeowners.
What is HB735?
HB735 is a bill that was passed in Florida in July of 2021, preempting the licensing of occupations, which includes, but are not limited to, construction-related occupations to the state. This means that licensing for certain occupations is now reserved for, or given by, the state which replaces or supersedes any local government licensing requirements. Local licenses are those issued by county governments. House Bill 735 prohibits Florida counties from issuing their own contractor licenses for trades that are not regulated at the state level. However, there are two exceptions:
- Any local government licenses in effect as of January 1, 2021, are allowed but will expire on July 1, 2023.
- Any local government license authorized by general law.
While local licenses can continue until mid-2023, local governments cannot modify existing licensing requirements or create new licensing requirements & are prohibited from enforcing local licensing requirements not authorized by the new bill.
While this is just a list of many, there are some of the trades that will not be regulated by local governments after the 2023 deadline. This means they will need a state license in order to legally operate. As a homeowner, it’s important to keep this in mind for any home renovation project you have planned in 2023:
- Cabinetry
- Canvas awning
- Caulking
- Decorative stone
- Driveway installation
- Flooring
- Granite
- Handyman services
- Interior remodeling
- Marble
- Ornamental iron installation
- Painting
- Plastering
- Stuccoing
- Tennis court installation
- Terrazzo
- Tile
Those specific trades listed within HB735 will now have to meet the licensing requirements in place by the state to obtain a new state license. As their local county-issued license will no longer be seen as valid by the State of Florida.
How Does House Bill 735 Affect D & D Garage Doors?
Here at D & D Garage Doors, our specialty contractors are all licensed by the state so the new bill is not a concern. Our community can continue to rely on our team of professionals to HANDLE all of their garage door needs, without having to worry about possible consequences that may be faced by unknowingly hiring a contractor with an invalid license.
Our D & D team is here to help you HANDLE ALL OF THE UPS AND DOWNS!
To recap …
– Many construction-related occupations will now need to have a state-issued license, not a local government-issued license.
– Any local government licenses in effect as of January 1, 2021, will expire on July 1, 2023.
– Local government-issued licenses will be considered INVALID as of July 1, 2023.
We hope that by being aware of the upcoming changes in licensing requirements for construction-related occupations, you can avoid the headache & safety issues that come with hiring unlicensed contractors! As a state-licensed specialty contractor, our D&D Garage Door team will continue to be here for all of your garage door needs!
