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Flagler County moves to align local contractor licensing with state standards in first reading
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Summary
At first reading commissioners approved an ordinance to align Flagler County contractor license definitions with state types, defer testing to the state, allow renewal for existing local licensees and raise reciprocity standards (75 passing score and business & law exam). Staff will notify affected local license holders.
The Flagler County Board held the first reading of an ordinance to update local contractor licensing definitions and procedures so they match state license types, shift testing to state exams, and create a path for renewal and reciprocity while preserving local standards for currently licensed contractors.
Assistant County Attorney Sarah Spector explained the change responds to state legislation that preempts certain local licensing and also to a practical inability to verify equivalency of private local testing to the state’s test. Under the proposed ordinance, existing local license holders would remain eligible to renew locally if they keep licenses current; new entrants would rely on state testing. The county would require a higher passing score for reciprocity (75 vs. the state’s 70) and would require the business and law exam rather than a previously allowed class.
Building Services Manager Jennifer Bennett told commissioners there are 255 contractor licenses on record: 139 are state‑registered and 116 are local (these local licensees would be grandfathered provided they renew on time). Spector and staff said the county will run a notification campaign (website updates, letters and phone calls) to ensure local license holders know renewal requirements and avoid inadvertent lapses.
The ordinance is at first reading and will return for a subsequent hearing; staff said it had unanimous support from the contractor review board. Commissioners asked for outreach to tier‑2 local licensees to ensure they are aware of renewal windows and potential consequences of lapse.
Next steps: staff will finalize the ordinance language, carry out outreach to affected licensees, and return the ordinance for a second reading and adoption.
