How to Start a Painting Business in Florida (2026)

Q: What license do you need for a painting business in Florida?

Painting is not one of Florida's state-Certified construction trades, and recent state law (HB 735 and HB 1383) preempted most local specialty licenses — so in most areas you no longer need a painting contractor license. You still must register your business, get a local business tax receipt, and carry insurance, and if painting is part of a larger structural remodel you may need a licensed general, building, or residential contractor. Because Florida is strict overall and county rules still vary, confirm requirements with your county before you bid. Separately, disturbing paint in pre-1978 homes requires federal EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) certification.

Q: Does a painter need EPA lead certification in Florida?

Yes, if you are paid to disturb paint in Florida homes or child-occupied facilities built before 1978 — which covers most exterior and older-home repaints. The federal EPA RRP Rule requires the firm to be certified and the work to be led by a certified renovator. Minor repairs of six square feet or less inside a room, or twenty square feet outside, are exempt.

Q: How long does it take to start a painting business in Florida?

Because painting itself isn't state-licensed in Florida, the licensing hurdle is low — mostly your business setup, a local business tax receipt, and EPA certification if you touch older homes. The business setup itself takes weeks or months if you do it yourself, or about a week done for you when the formation, banking, website, phone, and marketing are run in parallel.

By Nick Martin, Founder of Trades of America · Updated July 2026

Find your guide — pick your trade and state

To start a painting business in Florida you need less licensing than most trades: painting isn't one of Florida's state-Certified construction categories, and the state preempted most local specialty licenses, so in most areas you won't need a painting contractor license. What you do need is a registered business (a Florida LLC filed on Sunbiz, a free EIN, and insurance), a local business tax receipt, and EPA Lead-Safe certification if you touch pre-1978 homes. Florida is strict overall, so here's how each step works.

Key takeaways

Painting is not a state-Certified trade in Florida, and recent law (HB 735/HB 1383) preempted most local specialty licenses — so in most areas you won't need a painting contractor license.
You still need a registered business, insurance, and a local business tax receipt — and county rules still vary, so confirm before you bid.
If painting is part of a larger structural remodel or addition, that work needs a licensed general, building, or residential contractor.
Prepping or repainting pre-1978 homes triggers the federal EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) certification — painting's most important compliance rule.

What do you need to start a painting business in Florida?

Three pieces beyond your skills: a registered business, a local business tax receipt, and insurance (plus EPA certification if you paint older homes).

Requirement	Florida specifics
FL license	No state painting license; most local specialty licenses were preempted. Larger structural remodels need a licensed general/building/residential contractor. Confirm county rules before bidding.
EPA Lead-Safe (RRP)	Required to disturb paint in homes built before 1978 — covers most exterior and older-home repaints.
FL LLC	Articles of Organization filed with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
EIN	Free from the IRS, same day.
Insurance	General liability + tool + commercial auto; workers' comp required in construction at even one employee.

How do you get a painting license in Florida?

Here Florida is actually easier than its reputation. The state's Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) licenses trades at two levels — Certified (statewide) and Registered (local competency card) — but painting is not one of those regulated categories, and Florida law (HB 735 and HB 1383) preempted the local specialty licenses that some counties once required.

	Standalone painting	Painting in a structural remodel	Older homes
Applies to	Interior/exterior repaints, cabinets, drywall finish	Painting as part of a $-scope structural build	Any repaint disturbing pre-1978 paint
Credential	No state license; local business tax receipt	Licensed general/building/residential contractor	EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) firm + certified renovator
Exam?	None	State trade + Business & Finance exam	One-day RRP renovator course
Issued by	Your county/city	Florida DBPR / CILB	Federal EPA

Useful Florida detail: because the state preempted local painting licenses, most stand-alone painting only needs a business tax receipt and insurance — no competency exam. The moment your work becomes part of a structural remodel or addition, though, that larger scope needs a licensed general, building, or residential contractor. County rules still vary, so verify before you bid.

Don't forget the EPA rule: If you're paid to disturb paint in a Florida home built before 1978 — common in nearly every exterior and older-home repaint — federal law requires your firm to be RRP-certified and the work led by a certified renovator (a one-day course; the firm certification is a separate EPA application, currently around $300 for five years). Minor repairs of 6 sq ft or less inside a room are exempt. And remember Florida separately licenses roofing — a reminder to confirm your scope isn't a regulated trade in disguise.

Registering your painting business in Florida

Choose and check your business name against the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) records.
The Articles of Organization — filed with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), online.
Your registered agent (you can be your own, or use a service).
Your federal tax ID (EIN) — free from the IRS — same day.
Get your local business tax receipt and EPA RRP certification if you'll touch pre-1978 homes — and confirm your county doesn't require anything extra.
Open a business bank account and set up bookkeeping.
Line up insurance — general liability, and workers' comp if you'll have employees.

Florida requires an annual report every year — about $138.75 — to keep your LLC active, and the construction industry must carry workers' compensation as soon as you have even one employee — far stricter than most states, where the threshold is several employees.

How much does it cost to start a painting business in Florida?

Cost	Range (FL, 2026)
FL LLC (Articles of Organization, Sunbiz)	State filing fee
FL annual report	~$138.75/yr
EIN	Free
Local business tax receipt	Varies by city/county
EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) renovator course + firm certification	Course + ~$300 EPA firm fee (5 yrs)
General liability insurance	$500–$1,800/yr
Sprayer, ladders, vehicle, paint, marketing, working capital	The bulk of your budget — see the full painting guide
Lean realistic total	~$5,000–$12,000

The formation and registration pieces are small; the real budget is your vehicle, sprayer and ladders, insurance, paint and materials capital, and working capital. For the full itemized receipt, see How to Start a Painting Business.

Getting your first painting customers in Florida

Florida's booming population growth, heavy rental market, and sun-and-salt exteriors that need frequent repainting all work in your favor. The fastest early revenue is a Google Business Profile for your metro — South Florida (Miami–Fort Lauderdale), Tampa Bay, Orlando, or Jacksonville — with reviews, so you show up when homeowners search "house painter near me" or "cabinet painter near me." Alongside that, build relationships with real-estate agents and property managers for recurring turnover and rental repaints, and with general contractors and home builders for new-construction and remodel painting. Interior designers and house flippers are a strong source of premium repaint work, and the counter staff at your local Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore send referrals to painters they trust.

Before you file: Florida licensing rules and fees can change, EPA rules apply on top of state rules, and county business-tax and permit requirements vary by location. Even though painting isn't a state-Certified trade, always confirm current requirements directly with the Florida DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board (myfloridalicense.com), the EPA, and your county before filing.

Want it all handled — in Florida?

You bring the painting skill. Trades of America gets your entire Florida business running — business setup, banking, bookkeeping, website, phone, and marketing — so you can start booking jobs in about a week and own 100% of it.

See Done-For-You Painting Setup →

Frequently asked questions

What license do you need for a painting business in Florida?

Painting isn't one of Florida's state-Certified construction trades, and recent law (HB 735 and HB 1383) preempted most local specialty licenses — so in most areas you no longer need a painting contractor license. You still register your business, get a local business tax receipt, and carry insurance; larger structural remodels need a licensed general/building/residential contractor. County rules vary, so confirm before you bid. Disturbing paint in pre-1978 homes also requires EPA Lead-Safe (RRP) certification.

What's involved in registering a business in Florida?

The Articles of Organization go to the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), a registered agent is named (that can be you), and the IRS issues the EIN free. You remain the applicant on every filing. Florida requires an annual report each year (about $138.75), and construction businesses must carry workers' comp at even one employee.

Does a painter need EPA lead certification in Florida?

Yes, if you're paid to disturb paint in Florida homes or child-occupied facilities built before 1978 — which covers most exterior and older-home repaints. The federal EPA RRP Rule requires the firm to be certified and the work led by a certified renovator. Minor repairs of six square feet or less inside a room (or twenty outside) are exempt.

How long does it take to start a painting business in Florida?

Because painting itself isn't state-licensed, the licensing hurdle is low — mostly your business setup, a local business tax receipt, and EPA certification for older homes. Doing the business setup yourself takes weeks or months, or about a week done for you when everything is run in parallel.

Written by Nick Martin, founder of Trades of America, based in the Upstate of South Carolina. Last updated July 2026. Licensing rules and fees are current-2026 estimates — always verify with the Florida DBPR / Construction Industry Licensing Board, the EPA, and your county before filing.