Engineering Licensing in Plantation, Florida

Who Needs a License

Engineering work in Florida—including design, construction, and inspection of buildings, structures, and infrastructure—requires a professional engineer (PE) license under state law. [Fla. Stat. § 489.113] specifies that any person offering engineering services to the public must hold an active, valid license issued by the state.

The scope of regulated work is defined in [Fla. Stat. § 489.105], which establishes that "engineering" includes consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, and design of public or private utilities, structures, machines, processes, equipment, and works. If your work falls within these categories and affects public safety or welfare, licensure is required.

How to Get Licensed

State-Level Requirements:

1. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which administers engineering licenses under the Construction Industry Licensing Board authority per [Fla. Stat. § 489.107].

2. Meet qualifications per [Fla. Stat. § 489.113]:

3. Hold a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
4. Complete the required years of responsible charge experience (typically 4 years under a licensed PE)
5. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

6. Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam for your discipline

7. Military credit: If you have relevant military training or education, [Fla. Stat. § 489.1131] allows you to petition for credit toward experience requirements. Submit military documentation to DBPR with your application.

8. Submit your application directly to DBPR with exam transcripts, experience verification, and applicable fees.

Local Requirements

Plantation is located in Broward County. After obtaining your state PE license, you must comply with local permit and project requirements:

• Pull permits through the Plantation Building Department for any engineering projects within city limits
• Consult the Plantation Municipal Code for local amendments, design standards, and conditions that may apply beyond state law
• Contact the Plantation Building Department to confirm whether your specific project requires a local engineer of record or additional local certifications

Exemptions

[Fla. Stat. § 489.103] exempts certain work from licensure requirements, including:

• Routine maintenance and repair of existing structures
• Work performed by employees of the structure's owner (if not offered to the public)
• Design of certain minor structures or systems below defined thresholds
• Work by licensed contractors within their trade scope

Review the statute directly to confirm whether your specific work qualifies for exemption.

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
• Plantation Municipal Code

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