Florida General Contractor Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Florida General Contractor facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Under Florida law, what is the maximum retainage that can be withheld on a public construction contract once the project is 50% complete? → Retainage can be reduced to 5% after 50% completion
2. What is required before beginning work on a construction project? → Building permit
3. In Florida, when must a contractor conduct a pre-task safety analysis (JSA) for high-hazard operations? → Before beginning any task identified as high-hazard
4. What is a punch list used for in construction? → Final task checklist
5. Continuing education for Florida contractors must include a portion on which topic? → Workplace safety and workers' compensation
6. Which Florida state agency licenses general contractors through the Construction Industry Licensing Board? → Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
7. What is the primary function of a 'liquidated damages' clause in a Florida construction contract? → To predetermine the daily cost of delays when actual damages are difficult to calculate
8. Under OSHA standards, at what fall height in general construction is fall protection generally required? → 6 feet
9. In Florida, what type of pipe material is typically prohibited for use as supply water piping in residential construction due to historical failure issues? → Polybutylene (PB)
10. Which delivery method places design and construction under a single contract with the owner? → Design-build
11. What is the primary purpose of a confined space entry permit on a Florida construction site? → To ensure all hazards are identified and controlled before entry
12. A qualifying agent for a Florida contracting business is primarily responsible for what? → Supervising the company's construction operations
13. A performance bond primarily guarantees what? → Completion of the contract per its terms
14. Under Florida's Construction Lien Law, within how many days must a subcontractor serve a Notice to Owner after first furnishing labor or materials? → 45 days
15. Under Florida law, a construction lien claim must generally be recorded within how many days after the last furnishing of labor or materials? → 90 days
16. The difference between a 'certified' and a 'registered' contractor in Florida is that a certified contractor can: → Work statewide
17. Under Florida's prompt payment laws, how many days after receiving a complete payment application must an owner pay a contractor on a private project? → 20 days
18. Under Florida's Construction Lien Law, how many days does a lienor typically have to record a claim of lien after the last furnishing of labor or materials? → 90 days
19. What is required before beginning work on a construction project? → Building permit
20. What is the main foundation challenge presented by loosely compacted or disturbed sandy fill soils common in Florida? → Loss of bearing capacity and settlement under structural loads
21. Which of the following contract types shifts the most financial risk to the contractor in Florida construction? → Lump-sum (fixed price) contract
22. Which Florida board licenses general contractors? → Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)
23. In a lump-sum (fixed-price) contract, who primarily bears the risk of cost overruns? → The contractor
24. Which code governs building standards in Florida? → Florida Building Code
25. Which insurance protects a contractor against claims of bodily injury or property damage to third parties? → General liability insurance
26. If a contractor's labor burden rate is 30% and base wages are $50,000, what is the total labor cost? → $65,000
27. Why are Florida building footings NOT required to be placed at a minimum frost-protection depth? → Florida's climate does not produce freezing ground temperatures
28. In a lump-sum (fixed-price) contract, who typically bears the risk of cost overruns? → The contractor
29. Under the Florida Building Code, what is required when an air handler unit is installed in an attic space to prevent water damage from condensate overflow? → A secondary drain pan with a separate drain line or overflow switch
30. Under Florida Statute Chapter 713, what is the deadline for a contractor to serve a Claim of Lien after the last day of furnishing labor or materials? → 90 days