Important Notice
This article is general information about Florida licensing rules. It is not legal advice. Check any license directly with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). If anyone in your home has symptoms you think are related to mold, talk to your doctor.
Who is allowed to clean AC ducts and remove mold in Florida?
In Florida, two different licenses apply. Duct cleaning or equipment sanitizing that requires taking the system at least partly apart falls within the scope of state-licensed air-conditioning, mechanical, and sheet metal contractors (F.S. 489.105). Mold assessment or remediation of more than 10 square feet requires a DBPR mold license (Chapter 468, Part XVI).
| Type of work | Florida rule | Who can do it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duct cleaning or equipment sanitizing that needs partial disassembly of the system | Listed in the scope of licensed contractors | Class A or B air-conditioning, mechanical, or sheet metal contractor | F.S. 489.105 |
| Testing and evaluating an AC system, including duct work | No mandatory license set for this specific service | Anyone, though AC contractors may do it | F.S. 489.105 |
| Mold assessment over 10 sq ft | License required | DBPR-licensed mold assessor | F.S. 468, Part XVI |
| Mold remediation over 10 sq ft | License required | DBPR-licensed mold remediator | F.S. 468, Part XVI |
| Mold work within a contractor's own licensed scope | Exempt from the mold license | Licensed contractor, who may not call themselves a mold assessor or remediator | F.S. 468.841, per DBPR FAQ |
What does Florida law say about air duct cleaning?
Florida law places duct cleaning that needs partial disassembly inside the work of licensed contractors. Section 489.105 of the Florida Statutes defines Class A and Class B air-conditioning contractors, and its scope includes duct cleaning and equipment sanitizing that requires at least a partial disassembling of the system.
The same statute says an air-conditioning contractor may test and evaluate a system, including duct work. For those specific test-and-evaluate services, the law states that no mandatory licensing requirement is created.
In plain terms: the more a job opens up the system, the more clearly it is licensed contractor work. How a specific job is classified is a question for DBPR or a Florida construction attorney.
What counts as partial disassembly?
The statute does not list the steps. The safest approach is to ask the company exactly what they will open or remove before the work starts.
Ask these three questions:
- Will you open the air handler cabinet or remove any panels?
- Will you remove or clean the blower or the evaporator coil?
- Will you cut access holes in the ducts?
If the answer to any of them is yes, ask for the contractor's Florida license number and check it before you sign. A company that only vacuums supply registers is doing a different, smaller job, and you should know which one you are paying for.
When do you need a licensed mold assessor or remediator?
You need a DBPR-licensed mold professional when the mold growth is larger than 10 square feet. Chapter 468, Part XVI of the Florida Statutes sets that threshold for both mold assessment and mold remediation.
Florida licenses two separate roles:
- Mold assessor: inspects, samples, and forms an opinion on where the mold is, why, and how far it has spread.
- Mold remediator: removes, cleans, treats, or tears out mold-contaminated material.
Three rules from the DBPR are worth knowing as a homeowner:
- Only people are licensed, not companies. Ask for the name of the licensed person on your job, not just the company name.
- No double-dipping within 12 months. A mold assessor may not remediate a structure the assessor or their company assessed in the last 12 months, and a remediator may not assess a structure their company remediated in that time (F.S. 468.8419).
- Insurance is required. A mold remediator must carry general liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 that includes mold-related claims. A mold assessor must carry general liability and errors and omissions coverage of at least $1,000,000.
The 12-month rule protects you. The company that tells you how big the problem is cannot also be the company that gets paid to fix it.
Can an AC contractor handle mold inside my AC system?
Sometimes, within limits. Section 468.841 exempts people who are acting within the scope of another license they hold, such as a state contractor license. They may not advertise or hold themselves out as a licensed mold assessor or remediator unless they hold that license.
So a licensed AC contractor cleaning a coil inside their own scope of work is one thing. A company advertising "mold remediation" for a large job in Florida without a DBPR mold license is another. If the job involves more than 10 square feet of growth, or mold outside the AC system in walls, ceilings, or flooring, ask for the mold license.
EPA notes that wet or moldy duct insulation and fiberglass duct material cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced. That kind of replacement is contractor work, not a cleaning service.
How do you check a license in Florida?
It takes a few minutes and is free.
- Ask for the license holder's full name and license number in writing.
- Look the license up on the DBPR website, using the Verify a License tool under Online Services.
- Check that the license type matches the work: an air-conditioning, mechanical, or sheet metal license for duct work that opens the system; a mold assessor or mold remediator license for mold over 10 square feet.
- Check that the status is current and active.
- Ask for the certificate of insurance, with the licensed person named on it.
- Get the scope and total price in writing before work begins.
To report someone working without a license, DBPR runs a toll-free unlicensed activity line at 1-866-532-1440.
Why does this matter more in Hollywood, FL?
Hollywood homes run air conditioning most of the year in a hot, humid climate, so AC systems, coils, and ducts stay wet for long stretches. That is the condition mold needs. EPA says moisture control is the most effective way to prevent biological growth in ducts.
Hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. After a storm, water damage and power outages can leave AC systems and ducts wet for days. Storms also bring out-of-area crews offering fast mold and duct work, so check licenses with extra care after a storm.
Condos and associations. Many Hollywood homes are in condo buildings, where the association may set rules on who can work on AC equipment. Check with the association before anyone starts.
Two Hollywoods. If you search for local service, make sure the company means Hollywood, FL in Broward County, not Hollywood, SC near Charleston. The licensing rules in this article apply to Florida only, and South Carolina handles mold work differently.
What are the red flags?
Most problems show up before any work starts.
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| No license number, or a company name with no licensed person named | Florida licenses individuals for mold work, and contractors by license number |
| The same company offers to test for mold and then fix it within the same year | F.S. 468.8419 bars that within 12 months |
| "Mold remediation" advertised with no DBPR mold license shown | Remediation over 10 sq ft needs that license |
| A mold finding with no photos, measurements, or lab results | You cannot tell whether the 10 sq ft line is crossed |
| A very low price that grows once the crew is inside | A common duct cleaning complaint pattern; get the total in writing |
| Pressure to sign the same day after a storm | Storm periods attract unlicensed operators |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licensed contractor to clean my AC ducts in Florida?
If the job requires taking the system at least partly apart, that work is within the scope of licensed air-conditioning, mechanical, and sheet metal contractors under F.S. 489.105. Ask the company what they will open or remove, and check the license on the DBPR website before the work starts.
What is the difference between a mold assessor and a mold remediator in Florida?
A mold assessor inspects and samples to find where the mold is and how far it has spread. A mold remediator removes or treats it. Florida licenses them separately, and the same company cannot do both on the same home within 12 months.
Does a small patch of mold need a licensed company in Florida?
Florida's mold licensing law applies to mold growth larger than 10 square feet. Smaller areas fall outside that law. A small patch can still point to a bigger moisture problem, so find and fix the source of the water.
Can the company that tests my home for mold also remove it?
Not within 12 months in Florida. F.S. 468.8419 bars a mold assessor or their company from remediating a home they assessed in the last 12 months, and the reverse for remediators.
How do I check a Florida contractor or mold license?
Use the Verify a License tool on the DBPR website. Search by the person's name or license number, and confirm the license type matches the work and the status is active.
Who do I report unlicensed mold or duct work to in Florida?
Contact the DBPR unlicensed activity line at 1-866-532-1440 or file a complaint online on the DBPR website. For a complaint about a licensed person, use the DBPR Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395.
Final Thoughts
Before anyone opens your AC system or starts mold work in Hollywood, FL, ask for the license holder's name and number and check it on the DBPR website. It takes a few minutes, and it is the simplest protection a homeowner has.
Sources and Authoritative References
- Florida Statutes, Section 489.105, Definitions (2026).
- Florida DBPR, Mold-Related Services FAQs.
- Florida DBPR, Mold-Related Services Statutes and Rules (Chapter 468, Part XVI).
- Florida DBPR, Online Services (Verify a License).
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?.
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Atlantic hurricane season climatology.