Real Estate Licensing in Bonifay city, Florida

Who Needs a License

In Florida, a real estate license is required for any person who, for compensation or promise of compensation, sells, exchanges, purchases, rents, or leases real property, or who negotiates or offers to negotiate the purchase, sale, exchange, rental, or lease of real property. [Fla. Stat. § 489.105(1)(a)] This includes residential and commercial transactions.

Activities that do NOT require licensing—such as selling your own property or acting as a property manager for property you own—are exempt from licensure requirements.

How to Get Licensed

Real estate licensing in Florida is administered by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), not by local municipal authorities.

To obtain a license:

  1. Complete Pre-Licensing Education: Pass an approved 63-hour real estate sales associate course or 72-hour broker course through a DBPR-approved provider.
  2. Pass the State Exam: Take and pass the Florida real estate sales associate or broker examination administered by Pearson Vue.
  3. Apply to DBPR: Submit your application, exam results, and required documentation to the DBPR.
  4. Obtain a Sponsoring Broker: Sales associates must be sponsored by an active Florida broker.

The state statute governing these requirements is [Fla. Stat. § 489.105].

Local Requirements

Bonifay city is located in Holmes County, Florida. While real estate licensing is a state matter, local property transactions may require building permits or land use approvals through the Bonifay Building Department.

Consult the Bonifay Municipal Code for any local amendments, zoning restrictions, or transaction-related requirements specific to the city. Contact the Bonifay Building Department for clarification on local permit or disclosure requirements tied to property sales or leases within city limits.

Exemptions

The following are exempt from real estate licensing requirements:
- Owners selling, leasing, or exchanging their own property [Fla. Stat. § 489.105(1)(a)]
- Licensed attorneys acting in their professional capacity
- On-site property managers employed to manage property owned by their employer
- Employees of mortgage brokers or lenders performing loan-related duties only

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)