Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • June 2016 | Page 17
DON’T PAY THOSE Pesky
FEES TO REGISTER YOUR
CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE
For years, local governments
have been collecting
fees from state certified
contractors associated
with providing proof of
licensure as a contractor or
filing evidence of workers’
compensation insurance
coverage. These additional
fees typically range from $50
to $100. State law authorizes
local governments to provide
a schedule of consistent
reasonable fees to be
used solely for carrying
out the local government’s
responsibilities in enforcing
the Building Code. The
basis for the fee structure
must relate to the level of
service provided by the local
government. Specifically,
s. 166.222, F.S., provides
that local governments
may provide a schedule of
reasonable inspection fees
in order to defer the costs of
inspections and enforcement
of the provisions of its
building code . . . not tracking
of contractors’ licenses.
Additionally, section
553.80(7), F.S., authorizes
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DITCHMEN • JUNE 2016
local governments to provide
a schedule of consistent
reasonable fees to be
used solely for carrying
out the local government’s
responsibilities in enforcing
the Code. The basis for the
fee structure must relate to
the level of service provided
by the local government. .
. tracking of a contractors’
licenses has nothing to do
with enforcing the building
code.
State lawmakers put a halt
to this practice during the
2016 Legislative Session.
Tucked away in the
building code bill (HB 535)
is a provision amending s.
553.80 F.S. prohibiting local
governments from requiring
payment of any additional
fees, charges or expenses
associated with providing
proof of licensure as a state
certified contractor, recording
a contractor’s license or
providing, recording or
filing evidence of workers’
compensation coverage by
a contractor. The new law
takes effect on July 1, 2016.
NUCA OF FLORIDA
by R. Bruce Kershner,
NUCA of Florida Director
of Government Affairs
Local governments
can still collect fees for
JUNE 2016 • DITCHMEN
17