Florida is one of the states that licenses mold work. That surprises some homeowners, and it surprises others in the opposite direction, because the license does not apply to every patch of mold in a house. Where the line sits, and what the law says about the people on each side of it, is useful to know before you let anyone open a wall.
The law: Part XVI of Chapter 468
Mold-related services in Florida are regulated under Part XVI of Chapter 468, Florida Statutes, administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The statute defines two separate professions.
- Mold assessment is a process performed by a mold assessor that includes physical sampling and detailed evaluation of data from a building history and inspection, to form an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location and extent of mold growth of greater than 10 square feet.
- Mold remediation means the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated matter of greater than 10 square feet that was not purposely grown at that location.
Both definitions are in section 468.8411 (Florida Statutes, s. 468.8411). The remediation definition carries a further limit: the work may not be work that requires a license under Chapter 489, the construction contracting chapter, unless the person performing it is licensed under that chapter or the work complies with it.
What the 10 square foot line means
Both definitions are written around mold growth of greater than 10 square feet. A small area, the kind you might find behind a bathroom vanity or on a window frame, falls below that line as the statute defines these professions.
The number lines up with federal guidance for homeowners. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 foot by 3 foot patch, in most cases you can handle the job yourself, and that if there has been a lot of water damage or mold covers more than 10 square feet, you should consult its guidance on larger remediation (EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home). EPA also says that if the damage came from sewage or other contaminated water, you should call in a professional with experience cleaning buildings damaged by contaminated water, whatever the size.
Measuring is harder than it sounds. What is visible on the face of a wall does not tell you what is on the back of the drywall or inside the cavity, which is one reason an assessment exists as a separate service.
Who can call themselves a mold remediator
Under section 468.8414, DBPR licenses applicants it certifies as qualified, which includes passing the licensing examination and documented training in water, mold and respiratory protection. Section 468.8419 then restricts the titles. A person may not use the name or title “certified mold remediator,” “registered mold remediator,” “licensed mold remediator,” “mold remediator,” “professional mold remediator,” or any combination of those, unless the person has complied with Part XVI. The same restriction applies to the parallel titles for mold assessors (Florida Statutes, s. 468.8419).
That makes the title on a business card or a website something you can check. DBPR’s online license search at myfloridalicense.com is where Florida’s professional licenses are verified. Search by the person’s name or the license number they give you, and confirm the license type and status.
The rule that separates testing from removal
The part of Part XVI that most directly protects homeowners is a conflict-of-interest rule in section 468.8419.
- A mold assessor may not perform or offer to perform mold remediation on a structure for which the assessor or the assessor’s company provided a mold assessment within the last 12 months.
- A mold remediator may not perform or offer to perform a mold assessment on a structure where the remediator or the remediator’s company provided mold remediation within the last 12 months.
- An assessor may not accept compensation, inducements or rewards from a remediator for referring business, and may not take on an assessment whose conclusions or fee depend on the outcome.
The statute carves out one exception to the 12-month rule: a certified contractor classified as a Division I contractor under section 489.105(3). For that case, the statute allows DBPR to require that the contract disclose to the homeowner the right to request competitive bids.
In practice, if the same company offers to test your house and then quote the removal, ask how it complies with section 468.8419, and whether it holds a Division I contractor certification. A clear answer is a good sign.
Questions to ask before anyone opens a wall
- What is your DBPR license number, and is it a mold assessor or a mold remediator license?
- Did your company assess this structure in the last 12 months?
- Where is the water coming from, and who is fixing that source?
- How will you contain the work area, and how will you show that the job is finished?
- Will the repairs after removal, such as drywall and cabinets, require a separately licensed contractor?
The moisture question comes first for a reason. EPA’s guidance is blunt that if you clean up mold but do not fix the water problem, the mold problem will most likely come back. In Florida homes, that source is sometimes condensation rather than a leak, which our article on telling condensation from a leak helps sort out. How quickly growth starts after a leak is covered in our mold growth timeline.
Questions homeowners ask
Do mold remediators need a license in Florida?
Yes, for work that falls within the statutory definition of mold remediation, which covers mold growth of greater than 10 square feet. Licensing is handled by DBPR under Part XVI of Chapter 468, Florida Statutes.
Can I remove a small area of mold myself?
EPA says that for areas less than about 10 square feet, in most cases you can handle the job yourself, with the exception of damage from sewage or other contaminated water, where it recommends an experienced professional.
Can the company that tested my home also remove the mold?
Section 468.8419 bars an assessor from performing remediation on a structure the assessor’s company assessed within the last 12 months, with an exception for certified Division I contractors.
How do I verify a mold license in Florida?
Use DBPR’s license search at myfloridalicense.com with the person’s name or license number, and check the license type and its status.
For more on what the remediation process involves, see our mold remediation page, and our list of questions to ask a restoration company applies to mold work as much as to water.
Mold remediation is handled separately and is not part of the water damage line. Use the request options on this site.