Can I Do Some of the Work Myself If I Hire a Contractor in Florida?
Yes, within limits: Florida's owner-builder exemption lets you pull the permit and act as your own contractor on a home you own and will live in, supervising the work yourself and hiring licensed trades, but the permit and the liability are then in your name. If a licensed contractor pulls the permit instead, they become the responsible party for the permitted work, so the work you can take on without touching their permit is the kind St. Petersburg exempts from permits, such as painting, tiling, carpeting and cabinets.
The Owner-Builder Exemption
Florida law allows an owner to act as their own contractor when improving a one- or two-family home for their own use, as long as they meet the owner-builder requirements and directly supervise work that isn't performed by licensed contractors.
OWN THE HOME
You must own the property.
LIVE THERE
The home must be for your own use, not built for sale or lease.
SUPERVISE THE WORK
You must provide direct, onsite supervision of work not performed by licensed contractors.
SIGN THE PERMIT
St. Petersburg requires the owner-builder to appear in person to sign the permit application and disclosure statement.
What You Agree to as an Owner-Builder
You become the responsible party for the work covered by your permit.
Licensed Trades Still Need Licenses
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other regulated work may still require a properly licensed contractor.
Direct Supervision Matters
You cannot simply hire an unlicensed person to act as the contractor or supervise the project for you.
You Take on Additional Responsibility
As the owner-builder, you are responsible for making sure the work complies with applicable building requirements.
Insurance May not Cover Workers
Your homeowner's insurance may not cover injuries to workers on your project.
Can You Split the Work With a Contractor?
Yes, but define the split before the permit is pulled. Once a licensed contractor pulls the permit, the plumbing, electrical, structural and other permitted work falls under their responsibility. You can generally handle work that St. Petersburg lists as exempt when it doesn't affect a load-bearing or fire-rated wall.
Cabinetry
Countertops
Painting
Papering
Tiling
Carpeting
These exemptions generally apply when the work doesn't affect a load-bearing or fire-rated wall.
What About Hiring a Handyman?
​Florida's exemption for unlicensed work covers only casual, minor jobs under $2,500 total for labor, materials and everything else. It doesn't apply when the job is part of a larger project or is split into smaller contracts to stay under the limit. A handyman can't legally take a slice of a larger remodel, even a small one.
Before Hiring Someone
Use Pinellas County's contractor search to check whether they hold the license required for the work.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you qualify for the owner-builder exemption and meet its requirements. Licensed trades must still be properly licensed for the work they perform.
Not immediately. Selling or leasing the property within one year can create a presumption that the property was not built for your own use.
Florida law provides a process that may allow the owner to complete the remaining permit requirements after a contractor has substantially completed the work, subject to approval by the local permitting agency.
Not necessarily. Your homeowner's policy may not cover injuries to workers on your project.
Not Sure Which Work You Can Handle Yourself?
Tell us what you want to keep and what you want your contractor to handle.
We'll help you understand how the work can be divided before the permit is pulled.