Engineering Licensing in Richmond West CDP, Florida

Who Needs a License

In Florida, any person who offers to perform or performs engineering services must hold a license issued by the state. Under Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineering" is defined as professional services involving the application of engineering principles. The specific scope of regulated work depends on the engineering discipline (civil, electrical, mechanical, structural, etc.).

If you are offering engineering design, consultation, or construction administration services in Richmond West CDP, you must be licensed by the State of Florida. However, certain work is exempt from licensure requirements.

How to Get Licensed

Florida issues engineering licenses through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (Fla. Stat. § 489.107). The Board does not operate locally; licensing is administered at the state level.

Steps to obtain licensure:

1. Meet qualifications under Fla. Stat. § 489.113, which requires:
2. A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, or equivalent education
3. Relevant work experience (typically 4+ years under a licensed engineer, depending on your education level)
4. Passage of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

5. Passage of the Professional Engineer (PE) exam in your discipline

6. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) at the state level—not through Richmond West CDP or Miami-Dade County.

7. Submit official transcripts, work experience documentation, and exam results.

8. Pay applicable state fees.

If you have relevant military training or education, you may receive credit toward experience requirements under Fla. Stat. § 489.1131.

Local Requirements

Permit applications for engineered projects in Richmond West CDP are typically processed through the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources or the relevant County building authority, not a town-specific department.

Consult the Richmond West Municipal Code at https://library.municode.com/fl/richmond-west-cdp-florida to verify any local amendments, design standards, or submittal requirements that may apply beyond state law.

Before beginning any engineering work, verify current permit requirements with the appropriate Miami-Dade County building department.

Exemptions

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

• Work performed by employees of a licensed engineer under direct supervision
• Certain routine maintenance or minor modifications on existing structures
• Work that does not constitute the practice of engineering as defined in § 489.105

Review § 489.103 carefully, as exemptions are narrowly defined and context-dependent.

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
• Richmond West Municipal Code

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