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Commission adopts ordinance aligning contractor licensing with state law, cuts local board to five members
Summary
Ordinance 25‑018 was adopted to conform Fort Pierce’s contractor licensing and Board of Examiners rules with recent state changes. The ordinance narrows the board from nine to five members, requires most licensing to be handled at the state level and retains local licensing only for select trades per staff explanation.
The Fort Pierce City Commission on June 16 adopted Ordinance 25‑018, revising the municipality’s Chapter 103 (buildings and building regulations) to align local contractor licensing with recent changes at the state level and to change composition and procedures for the Board of Examiners of Contractors.
Why it matters: Staff said the state removed the ability for most municipalities to issue local contractor licenses, leaving only a narrow class of licenses (for example, certain aluminum and fence contractors) available locally. To continue functioning and reach quorum, the city’s Board of Examiners of Contractors will shrink from nine members to five, with a quorum of three. The ordinance specifies that three of the five members be licensed contractors and two be city residents (public members), and that board appointments will be made by the commissioners consistent with other quasi‑judicial boards.
City Attorney/ordinance summary: Staff explained the changes are mostly housekeeping required to conform local code to state statute changes. The ordinance amends multiple sections of Chapter 103 (including definitions, board composition and disciplinary procedures) and corrects cross references to state statute chapter 489, which governs contractor licensing.
Commission discussion: Several commissioners asked whether retaining a local board remains useful when the state issues most licenses. Commissioners and staff discussed potential future workload and whether the board will still have disciplinary or oversight duties for the limited classes of locally licensed contractors. Staff confirmed the local board may retain authority over specific locally licensed trades and to hear some matters not preempted by the state, and that reducing membership is intended to ensure quorum and continued operation.
Next steps: The ordinance was adopted by unanimous roll call. City staff will begin updating municipal code, adjust appointment procedures for the revised board composition and bring appointment recommendations forward as vacancies arise.
Documented references in the meeting record cite Chapter 103 sections amended and state statute references to Chapter 489 per the staff presentation.
