Here is an unfortunate scenario that an elderly woman experienced:

The roof started leaking, the living room ceiling started to sag, the kitchen walls were wet and the smell of mold began to spread throughout the house. It was unsafe to stay, so the elderly unit owner had to be removed from her home. It was not because she had done anything wrong. She called the contractor to no avail. She contacted the Contractor Certification Division and the investigator found the contractor was not licensed and nowhere to be found. The elderly owner had paid $16,000 for a new roof done by an unlicensed contractor, no permits pulled and no inspections. She found herself in a position to pay additional fees to a licensed contractor to replace the roof and pull permits to avoid code violations.     

Far too often PZ&B hears stories like this!

When doing home construction or renovations, it matters who is hired.  Projects such as remodeling, plumbing or electrical work should only be done by a licensed contractor.   

The Contractors Certification Division regulates licensing for over 40 construction trades countywide. 

Taking the following steps is highly recommended:   

• Check and confirm that the contractor is licensed and insured on the Contractors Certification website.
• Always ask for a copy of the contractor's license and insurance documents.
• Ask for references. It's always a good idea to ask potential contractors for references from previous clients. This can give an idea of the quality of their work and their professionalism.
• Get multiple bids.  Don't settle for the first contractor. Be sure to get multiple bids from different contractors to compare pricing and services offered.
• Review the contract. Before signing a contract with a contractor, be sure to review it carefully. Make sure all details are included, such as start and end dates, payment schedule and materials used.
• Maintain records of the communication with the contractor. This includes agreement copies, e-mails, text messages, photos of workers and project progress. The latter can be used as evidence on enforcement actions.

These are some warning signs that may indicate the person/company is not certified:

• Newspaper/flyer ads which do not include the individual's or company's contractor certification number
• A large down payment requested before work begins
• Statements such as "It will be cheaper if you obtain your own permit."
• Verbal contract only
• The contractor prefers to work on weekends or after hours.
• A building permit is obtained by someone other than the person/company that was contracted.  

For any questions, please contact the Contractors Certification Division at 561-233-5525 to confirm that a contractor is certified, report an unlicensed contractor or to obtain more information, or visit ePZB Admin (pbcgov.org).