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Florida Electrician License Guide for EV Charger Installs

Florida doesn’t let just anyone wire a 240V charger circuit — and for good reason. This guide explains which licenses cover EV charger work, why the handyman down the street can’t legally do it, and how to verify any license in about two minutes.

The legal requirement, plainly stated

Florida’s electrical work is regulated under Chapter 489, Part II of the Florida Statutes by the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Installing EV charging equipment means installing a new dedicated circuit — that’s electrical contracting, and Florida administrative rules require EV charging equipment to be installed by a certified or registered electrical contractor. A general contractor’s license alone doesn’t cover it: Florida law requires GCs to subcontract electrical work to licensed electrical contractors.

EC vs. ER: the two electrical licenses

Certified Electrical Contractor (EC)

Passed the state licensing examination. Licensed by the state — can contract electrical work anywhere in Florida. Per the DBPR’s own published guidance, the EC license covers all types of electrical and alarm work. This is the gold standard for companies working across Tampa Bay’s many cities and counties.

Registered Electrical Contractor (ER)

Holds a state registration tied to a local county or municipal competency card. Can only work in the counties or municipalities where registered with the DBPR. Perfectly legitimate — but confirm they’re authorized in your jurisdiction (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, etc.), not just somewhere in Florida.

There are also electrical specialty licenses (such as residential electrical specialty) with narrower scopes. For a charger install, confirm the license’s scope covers the work — when in doubt, EC is the safe bet. Neither license type exempts a contractor from pulling local building permits.

How to verify a license (2 minutes)

  1. Go to the DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com → “Verify a License.”
  2. Search by the contractor’s name or license number. Ask for the license number directly — hesitation is a red flag.
  3. Confirm: status is Current/Active, the license type is Electrical (EC, ER, or applicable specialty — not General, Alarm-only, or anything else), and the business name matches who you’re talking to.
  4. Check the complaint/discipline history shown on the record. One old resolved complaint isn’t damning; a pattern is.
  5. For Registered (ER) contractors, confirm your county or city is among their registered jurisdictions.
The handyman red flag. EV charger installs are sometimes offered by unlicensed handymen at tempting prices. The problems: it’s illegal for them to contract the work, they can’t pull the required permit, your homeowner’s insurance may deny claims tied to their work, and if something goes wrong you have no DBPR complaint process. A 240V circuit installed wrong is a fire risk — this is exactly the work licensing exists for.

Beyond the license: the full vetting checklist

  • General liability + workers’ comp certificates, verified with the insurer
  • Load calculation shown to you — not just asserted
  • Permit pulled in the contractor’s name, with municipal inspection
  • Written scope: charger specs, circuit amperage, wire size, disconnect location
  • Payment tied to milestones — never 100% upfront
  • Workmanship warranty in writing, separate from the equipment manufacturer’s warranty
  • Local references from the past 12 months you can actually contact

Where to complain if it goes wrong

If a licensed electrical contractor abandons a job, does defective work, or violates the contract, you can file a complaint with the DBPR. None of these protections exist if you hired unlicensed. That’s the real value of the license: it’s your recourse.

Research note: the license-type descriptions above are drawn from the DBPR’s own published FAQs (myfloridalicense.com, Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board). This page is general information as of 2026, not legal advice — verify current requirements with the Florida DBPR.

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License FAQs

What's the difference between a Certified (EC) and Registered (ER) electrical contractor?

A Certified Electrical Contractor passed the state licensing exam and can work anywhere in Florida. A Registered Electrical Contractor registered a local county or municipal competency card with the state board and can only work in the counties or municipalities where registered. Both are legitimate — the key is that the license is current and covers your location.

Can my general contractor install my EV charger?

Not with a general contractor license alone. Florida law requires general contractors to subcontract electrical work to licensed electrical contractors. If your GC is doing the charger install personally, they must also hold an electrical contractor license — verify both.

Can a handyman legally install an EV charger in Florida?

No. Installing a dedicated 240V circuit and EV charging equipment is electrical contracting work, which Florida reserves for licensed electrical contractors. An unlicensed install means no state complaint recourse, permits that can't be properly pulled, and potential insurance problems — plus it's illegal for them to contract the work.

How do I verify a Florida electrician's license?

Go to myfloridalicense.com → 'Verify a License', search by name or license number, and confirm the status is Current/Active, the license type is Electrical (EC, ER, or an electrical specialty), and the business name matches who you're hiring. The full walkthrough is on this page.