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Escambia County board revokes and suspends permitting privileges in three contractor cases
Summary
At its March 4 meeting the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board revoked one contractor’s county permitting privileges for five years, suspended another qualifier’s county permitting privileges for one year and found a third in violation without imposing a fine, citing permit and financial-management violations.
The Escambia County Contractor Competency Board on March 4, 2026, imposed county-level sanctions in three disciplinary cases, citing failures to obtain required permits, alleged financial mismanagement, and misconduct.
In the most serious case, the board found Saul D. Spade, doing business as LM Construction and Roofing LLC, guilty on three counts, including fraud/deceit, abandonment of a job and work performed without required permits. The board unanimously voted to revoke Spade’s Escambia County permitting privileges for five years and recommended revocation of his contractor certificate to the state Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). The board said the decision followed testimony and documentary evidence introduced at the hearing.
Melissa Shay, the complainant in that case, told the board the conduct “caused us to have to sell our home,” adding the conduct “is a really serious matter” for affected families.
In a separate disciplinary hearing, the board reviewed a plumbing permit matter involving Brett Smith of Apex Plumbing LLC. Smith told the board the permitting lapse resulted from a timing and payment issue; he then paid outstanding fees and passed the required inspection. The board found Smith in violation of Escambia County Code section 1837D15C (job finished without required permits) but exercised discretion and imposed no fine or further county action.
Finally, the board considered complaints tied to Parurch Builders and its listed qualifier, Aaron Burgess. Burgess said he was unaware his name had been used as the qualifying agent for several permits after he ceased working with the company. The board found Burgess in violation of code sections covering misconduct and financial mismanagement and suspended his Escambia County permitting privileges for one year. The board also voted to recommend the same one-year suspension to the state licensing board.
Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized the county’s limited sanctioning authority: the board can restrict permitting privileges in Escambia County and may forward recommendations to the state licensing board for action on contractor certificates. The board instructed staff to reflect findings in the record and to advise complainants on any state-level remedies.
The board’s formal orders will be memorialized in its meeting minutes and transmitted to the state board as required.
