Real Estate Licensing in Keystone Heights city, Florida

Who Needs a License

In Florida, a real estate license is required for any person who, for compensation, sells, exchanges, purchases, rents, or leases real property, or offers or attempts to do so on behalf of another. This includes acting as a broker or sales associate. Per Fla. Stat. § 489.105, the term "real estate" encompasses improved and unimproved land within the state and the improvements, buildings, and structures on the land.

If you engage in real estate transactions for compensation in Keystone Heights, you must be licensed by the state, regardless of town size or local considerations.

How to Get Licensed

Florida real estate licensing is administered by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Real Estate.

Steps:
1. Complete a 63-hour prelicense education course from a DBPR-approved provider
2. Pass the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate or Broker exam
3. Apply to DBPR with proof of course completion and exam passage
4. Submit fingerprints for a background check
5. Pay applicable fees

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and a Florida resident or registered agent. There is no experience requirement for sales associates; brokers must have been an active sales associate for at least 24 months of the prior 5 years.

The DBPR handles all state licensing. Apply through the DBPR website or contact them directly—licensing does not occur through the local town.

Local Requirements

Keystone Heights operates under the Keystone Heights Municipal Code (available at https://library.municode.com/fl/keystone_heights). Review the municipal code for any local business tax registration requirements, zoning restrictions, or office location rules that may affect where you operate within the city.

Real estate licensees may also need to register with the Clay County property appraiser or comply with county-level regulations. Contact the Keystone Heights Building Department for local permitting or registration requirements specific to operating a real estate business within city limits.

Exemptions

Per Fla. Stat. § 489.105, the following are exempt from licensing:
- Owners selling or leasing their own property
- Employees of a property owner managing only that owner's property
- Attorneys licensed in Florida conducting real estate transactions as part of legal services
- Persons acting under court order or legal authority
- Certain employees of financial institutions handling foreclosures

State Licensing Board Contact

Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- Phone: 850-487-1395
- Website: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/real-estate-commission/

References

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