Engineering Licensing in Marathon, Florida

Who Needs a License

Engineering work in Marathon is regulated under Florida law. Per Fla. Stat. § 489.105, "engineering" means professional services or creative work requiring engineering education, training, and experience.

If you offer engineering services in Marathon—including design, analysis, planning, or consultation on construction projects, infrastructure, or systems—you must hold a professional engineer (PE) license issued by the State of Florida. This applies regardless of whether you're working on residential, commercial, or municipal projects within the city.

How to Get Licensed

1. Apply with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The Construction Industry Licensing Board, established under Fla. Stat. § 489.107, oversees engineer licensing in Florida.

2. Meet qualifications per Fla. Stat. § 489.113:

3. Hold a degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program (or equivalent).
4. Complete the required years of work experience under a licensed engineer (typically 4 years).
5. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

6. Pass the Professional Engineering (PE) exam in your discipline.

7. Military service credit: If you have relevant military training and education, Fla. Stat. § 489.1131 allows you to request credit toward experience requirements. Submit documentation with your application.

8. Contact DBPR directly for current exam schedules, application forms, and fee information. Applications are submitted to the state, not the local city.

Local Requirements

Engineering work in Marathon requires a local building permit from the Monroe County Building Department (Monroe County has jurisdiction over construction permitting for Marathon). Check the Marathon Municipal Code for any local amendments or additional requirements beyond state licensing.

Before beginning any engineering work, coordinate with the Monroe County Building Department to ensure your project meets local codes and zoning regulations.

Exemptions

Per Fla. Stat. § 489.103, exemptions from engineering licensure include:

• Employees of the federal government performing engineering work for the U.S. government.
• Certain routine or minor work not requiring professional design judgment.
• Work performed by registered architects within their scope of practice.

However, if you represent yourself as a "professional engineer" or use the PE title in Marathon, you must be licensed—exemptions do not permit unlicensed practice under the PE designation.

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
• Marathon Municipal Code

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