The verdicts
Cleaning only / water treatment / chemical service (no equipment disassembly)
No license required
No license required for routine cleaning.
§489.105(3)(j)–(l) explicitly state that pool cleaning that does not affect the structural integrity of the pool or its associated equipment does not require licensure. Water treatment alone is also unlicensed.
Statutory citation:§489.105(3)(j)–(l) — closing clauses each exempt non-structural cleaning and chemical-only water treatment.
General information about this type of work — not legal advice, and possibly not current or specific to your locality. Confirm with the Florida DBPR and your local building department (or a licensed Florida attorney) before acting; provided as-is, at your own risk.
Servicing — repair/replace existing equipment, no construction
Licensed contractor required
Swimming Pool/Spa Servicing Contractor required.
Repair or replacement of existing pool/spa equipment, partial draining for renovation, refinishing the interior — all fall under §489.105(3)(l). Direct connections to sanitary sewer or potable water lines are excluded (separate plumbing trade).
Statutory citation:§489.105(3)(l) — Swimming Pool/Spa Servicing Contractor.
General information about this type of work; your specific situation may differ. Confirm with DBPR or a Florida attorney before acting.
New construction / interior refinishing / major equipment install — RESIDENTIAL
Licensed contractor required
Residential Pool/Spa Contractor required.
New residential pool construction, full equipment install, perimeter and filter piping, interior finishes — §489.105(3)(k).
Statutory citation:§489.105(3)(k) — Residential Pool/Spa Contractor.
General information about this type of work; your specific situation may differ. Confirm with DBPR or a Florida attorney before acting.
New construction or major work — COMMERCIAL pool/spa
Licensed contractor required
Commercial Pool/Spa Contractor required.
Public, commercial, or unlimited-use pool/spa construction — §489.105(3)(j).
Statutory citation:§489.105(3)(j) — Commercial Pool/Spa Contractor.
General information about this type of work; your specific situation may differ. Confirm with DBPR or a Florida attorney before acting.
Law last reviewed: June 14, 2026, against the 2025 Florida Statutes. This is general legal information, not legal advice.
Some versions of this are ours — some aren't.
Part of this work can be license-exempt (handyman / painting / flooring) — exactly what 1st Integrity does. The parts that touch a licensed trade are outside what we do; for those you'd engage a Florida-licensed contractor directly and verify their license. We'll always tell you which side a job falls on.
Doing the work yourself? Operating lawfully in this scope
- Registered Florida entity (LLC, corp, or fictitious name via sunbiz.org).
- Local business tax receipt — a tax registration, not a license.
- General liability insurance appropriate to the scope.
- Workers' compensation if you have employees (or a §440.05 exemption).
- Never advertise a state contractor license you don't hold — §489.127 makes that independently actionable.
With those in place and only preempted-scope work, you're operating lawfully without a state contractor license — insured and operating under statutory preemption, not "licensed." Advertise accordingly.
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Common questions
What is Florida HB 735?
HB 735 (2021) began preempting local occupational licensing for many job scopes. It's codified mainly at §163.211 and §489.117(4)(a). Follow-up laws extended it, and the changes fully took effect in July 2025.
How do I check if a Florida contractor is licensed?
Search the name or license number at myfloridalicense.com, confirm it's active and in the right category, and request insurance certificates directly from the carrier.
Is a business tax receipt the same as a contractor license?
No. A business tax receipt is a local tax registration. It is not a contractor's license and does not authorize licensed-trade work (§489.127).