Real Estate Licensing in Fort White, Florida

Who Needs a License

Florida law requires licensing for individuals who, for compensation, perform services as a real estate broker, sales associate, or property manager. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, a "broker" is defined as any person who sells, buys, exchanges, rents, or leases real property, or who negotiates, offers, attempts, or agrees to negotiate the purchase, sale, exchange, rental, or leasing of real property. A "sales associate" is any person who performs these acts on behalf of a broker.

Individuals engaged in real estate transactions in Fort White must obtain state licensure before conducting business.

How to Get Licensed

Licensing is administered by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), not a local town authority.

Steps:
1. Complete a 63-hour prelicensing course from a DBPR-approved provider
2. Pass the Florida real estate sales associate exam
3. Apply to DBPR with exam results and application fee
4. Secure a sponsoring broker (you cannot hold a license without broker affiliation)
5. Once approved by DBPR, your license is valid statewide, including in Fort White

Contact DBPR's Division of Real Estate for exam dates, approved course providers, and application procedures. This is a state-level process regardless of town location.

Local Requirements

Fort White operates under the Fort White Municipal Code. While Fort White does not issue separate local real estate licenses, real estate professionals operating in Fort White must comply with town zoning, land use, and building regulations when representing properties.

Real estate professionals should:
- Review Fort White Municipal Code for local land use and zoning restrictions that may affect transactions
- Contact the Fort White Building Department for questions regarding property compliance with local codes

No additional town-level licensing or permits are required beyond state DBPR licensure for real estate professionals.

Exemptions

Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, exemptions from licensing include:

• Owners of property who sell, lease, or exchange their own property (without a broker)
• Attorneys licensed to practice law in Florida, when performing real estate services incidental to their legal practice
• Employees of property owners managing properties they own
• Persons acting in a fiduciary capacity (executors, trustees, guardians) without compensation beyond fiduciary fees

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

• Fla. Stat. § 489.105 — Definitions
• Fort White Municipal Code

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