Zoning Compliance
Contractor Licensing and Registration Changes
The City of Cape Coral no longer issues local contractor licensing (Ordinance 10-23), consistent with HB 735. Those interested in obtaining a new contractor license should contact the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation regarding State license approval processes.
All contractors must be licensed by the state to apply for certain permit types. Certain trades do not require a state license to apply for a permit. Please reference the table below to determine how this change affects your trade and licensure requirements.
| Cape Coral Specialty License Classification | State License required to apply for permits |
|---|---|
| Aluminum non-structural | Specialty Structure License |
| Aluminum Structural | Specialty Structure License |
| Aluminum without concrete | Specialty Structure License |
| Asphalt Coating and Sealing | License no longer required |
| Cabinet and Millwork | License no longer required |
| Canvas Awning and Ornamental Iron Installation | License no longer required |
| Carpentry | License no longer required |
| Caulking | License no longer required |
| Concrete Non-structural (forming, placing, finishing, coating) | License no longer required |
| Decorative Stone (Tile, Marble, Granite, Terrazzo, etc.) | License no longer required |
| Demolition | Demolition Contractor License |
| Drywall | Drywall Specialty Contractor License |
| Excavation | Underground Utility/Excavation Contractor License |
| Fence Erection (non-structural, non-pool enclosure) | License no longer required |
| Flooring | License no longer required |
| Garage Doors | Specialty Structure License |
| Glass and Glazing | Glass and Glazing Specialty Contractor |
| Hurricane Shutters | Specialty Structure License |
| Insulation | License no longer required |
| Interior Remodeling | License no longer required |
| Irrigation Sprinkler | Irrigation Specialty or Plumbing License |
| Marine | Marine Specialty License |
| Masonry (non-structural) | License no longer required |
| Painting | License no longer required |
| Paver Block | License no longer required |
| Paving | License no longer required |
| Plastering and Stucco | License no longer required |
| Signs no electric | License no longer required |
| Signs with Electric | Sign Specialty Electrical Contractor License |
| Wells | Well Driller or Plumbing License |
- Contractors who already have a state license or certification for their specific trade(s) only need to verify that their state license is up to date for their registration. This may be done by logging into the CSS portal. EnerGov will verify the state license status at the time of permit application.
- Contractors whose trade no longer requires a license and are registered with the city do not need to take any action.
- Contractors who previously had a city specialty contractor license are now required to have a state license if their specific trade requires a state specialty or contractor's license. Please review the licensure crosswalk to ensure you have the appropriate license for your trade.
City Code
The following links take you to the chapters of the City Code that pertain to the guidelines, fees, and penalties for engaging in or managing any business, profession, or occupation.
Home-Based/Commercial Business
Please complete the appropriate forms and mail them to the following:
City Zoning Division
P.O. Box 150027
Cape Coral, FL 33915-0027
Applying for a Business Tax Receipt is the last phase of the process for Commercial and Home-Based Businesses. Visit the Business Tax Receipts Page for details and application forms.
Search for Businesses or Contractors
You can search for contractors through the Energov software on the City website. On the software's main page, click 'Contractors' for Contractors or 'Licenses' for businesses.
On the home page, there are various options in the pull-down menus under "Search Field" and "Operator." When you have determined what you would like to search, i.e., owner name, license type, company name, etc., you enter the search parameters in the field titled 'Search String.' For example - to search for Pool contractors, select License Type in the Search Field and enter 'pool' in the Search String area. The list of pool contractors will appear in the box below.
Click here for information on choosing a contractor
Investigations
The City ensures that all contractors and vendors doing business in the City are properly licensed under applicable City and State regulations and investigates alleged violations of local, state, and regional codes and ordinances.
Document Center
The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.