How to Verify a Licensed Plumber in Broward County
Protect yourself from unlicensed contractors in 60 seconds. The official Florida license check, the red flags residents wish they had caught, and what to do if you already hired the wrong person.
Call: +1 (954) 278-9511Reviewed & verified by Henry Segal
Licensed Master Plumber · South Florida
All content on this page reflects real field experience serving Broward County and surrounding areas.
Every year, Broward County homeowners lose thousands to unlicensed plumbers who show up with a truck and a low price. Florida's Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) license is the difference between work that can be permitted, inspected, and insured, and work that leaves you paying for the damage yourself. Verify it in under a minute.
Verify a License in 4 Steps
Ask for the CFC license number
A licensed Florida plumber provides their Certified Plumbing Contractor number without hesitation. Write it down exactly as given.
Open myfloridalicense.com
Use the state's official Verify a License tool. Enter the contractor's name or the CFC license number you were given.
Confirm Current and Active
A valid license shows as Current, Active and the name matches the person or company you are hiring. Expired, suspended, or blank means walk away.
Verify insurance and permit intent
Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm the plumber will pull the required Broward County permit. Both should be provided before work starts.
Red Flags of an Unlicensed Plumber
- No Florida CFC license number on the truck, invoice, quote, or business card
- Pressure to pay in cash or to pay the full amount before any work begins
- Refusal to pull a permit for work that requires one (water heaters, repipes, sewer lines)
- A quote 30 to 40 percent below every other estimate you received
- No physical business address, only a cell number and a truck
- Pressure to decide immediately with a 'today only' price
- No written scope of work, only a verbal quote
- Reluctance to provide a certificate of insurance
What to Do If You Already Hired an Unlicensed Plumber
- Stop using the person and do not authorize more work.
- Photograph the failed repair and save every text and invoice.
- File a complaint with the Florida DBPR at myfloridalicense.com.
- Contact Broward County Code Enforcement about unpermitted work.
- File with the Florida Attorney General's Office for fraud and deceptive practices.
- Consider a credit card chargeback for work not properly performed.
- Call a licensed plumber for a written damage assessment for insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a plumber's license in Broward County?
Go to https://myfloridalicense.com and open Verify a License. Enter the contractor's name or their Florida CFC license number. A valid license shows as Current, Active. You can also call the Florida DBPR at (850) 487-1395. If the license is expired, suspended, or does not appear, do not let them work in your home.
What plumbing work requires a permit in Broward County?
Water heater replacements, repiping, sewer line work, gas line work, adding new fixtures, and most work that opens walls or alters the plumbing system all require a Broward County permit. Simple in-place fixture swaps generally do not. Your licensed plumber pulls the permit for you.
What happens if I hire an unlicensed plumber in Florida?
Your homeowners insurance can deny any resulting water damage claim, the work cannot be permitted or inspected, you have no legal recourse if the repair fails, and you may pay a licensed plumber to redo it. Broward County code enforcement can also fine you for unpermitted work.
Is Plumbing Kings FL a licensed plumber in Broward County?
Yes. Plumbing Kings FL holds a Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor license and carries general liability insurance. Our CFC license number is available on request, and we pull permits for every job that requires one.
How do I report an unlicensed plumber in Broward County?
File a complaint with the Florida DBPR at https://myfloridalicense.com. For unpermitted work, contact Broward County Code Enforcement. For fraud or deceptive practices, file with the Florida Attorney General's Office.
Not Sure If Your Plumber Is Licensed? Call Henry.
A 60-second license check can save you thousands. We will verify your contractor's license for free, or give you an honest second opinion.