Engineering Licensing in Chaires CDP, Florida

Who Needs a License

Florida law regulates professional engineering services through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineering" means professional services or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience.

If you perform engineering work in Chaires CDP, you must hold an active Florida engineering license. This applies to designing structures, systems, and infrastructure; performing engineering calculations and analyses; and offering engineering services to the public. Exemptions exist for certain limited activities (see below), but most professional engineering work requires licensure.

How to Get Licensed

The Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board issues professional engineering licenses. To qualify under Fla. Stat. § 489.113, you must:

1. Meet education and experience requirements: Typically, this means holding a degree from an accredited engineering program and completing required years of documented engineering experience under a licensed engineer's supervision.

2. Pass the Professional Engineer (PE) exam: You must pass the Florida PE examination administered by the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying).

3. Apply to the Construction Industry Licensing Board: Submit your application, exam results, experience documentation, and fees to the Board.

Veterans may qualify for credit toward experience requirements under Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 for relevant military training and education—verify eligibility with the Board.

Contact the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board directly for current application procedures, exam dates, and fee schedules, as these details are not specified in municipal code.

Local Requirements

Chaires CDP is located in Leon County, Florida. Building permits and engineering work authorizations are administered through Leon County's building department rather than a municipal department (Chaires is an unincorporated community development area).

Consult the Chaires Municipal Code for any local amendments, permit requirements, or additional standards that may apply to engineering projects within the CDP boundaries. County code may impose additional review or approval steps.

Contact the Leon County Building Department to determine permit requirements and review procedures for your specific engineering project.

Exemptions

Under Fla. Stat. § 489.103, certain work is exempt from licensure:

• Employees of licensed engineers performing work under direct supervision
• Engineers employed by the federal, state, or local government performing official duties
• Work on single-family residential structures under certain conditions
• Specific minor or routine work not requiring professional engineering judgment

Review the statute carefully to confirm whether your work qualifies for an 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
• Chaires Municipal Code

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