Engineering Licensing in Lauderhill, Florida

Who Needs a License

Anyone offering or performing engineering services in Lauderhill must hold a valid Florida professional engineer (PE) license. Florida Statute § 489.105 defines "practice of engineering" as providing professional services or creative work requiring engineering knowledge and skill. This includes design, analysis, evaluation, and consultation on public or private engineering projects.

The work must involve applying principles of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering to practical problems. Routine construction work performed by unlicensed contractors does not constitute engineering practice, but design work, structural plans, and engineering calculations do.

How to Get Licensed

Florida professional engineering licenses are issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) under authority of Florida Statute § 489.107, which established the Construction Industry Licensing Board.

Steps:

1. Meet qualifications under Fla. Stat. § 489.113: Hold a degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program, pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, gain four years of responsible engineering experience under a licensed PE, and pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam.

2. Credit for military service (Fla. Stat. § 489.1131): Relevant military training and education may satisfy portion of experience requirements.

3. Apply to DBPR: Submit your application, examination scores, and documentation of education and experience directly to the state—not to Lauderhill.

4. Receive your license: Upon approval, you will receive a Florida PE license valid for practice statewide, including Lauderhill.

Local Requirements

Engineering work in Lauderhill requires compliance with the Lauderhill Municipal Code. Before beginning any engineering project or submitting design plans, consult the Lauderhill Municipal Code for local building standards, permit requirements, and design specifications that may exceed state minimums.

All design plans must be sealed by a licensed Florida PE and submitted to the Lauderhill Building Department for permit review. Contact the Lauderhill Building Department for specific local permit procedures, required submittals, and applicable fees.

Exemptions

Fla. Stat. § 489.103 exempts certain work from licensing requirements:

• Work performed by employees of the federal government, state, or local governments in their official capacity
• Employees of licensed engineers performing work solely under direct supervision
• Certain routine or incidental engineering work not constituting primary professional services
• Work by contractors within their licensed trade scope (electrical contractors performing electrical engineering-related work within their license)

However, public works projects and work requiring engineer seals always require a licensed PE regardless of exemptions.

State Licensing Board Contact

Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE)
- Phone: 850-521-0500
- Website: https://fbpe.org/

References

• Fla. Stat. § 489.103 — Exemptions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.105 — Definitions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.107 — Construction Industry Licensing Board
• Fla. Stat. § 489.113 — Qualifications for practice; restrictions
• Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 — Credit for relevant military training and education
• Lauderhill Municipal Code

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)