§ 10-58. Procedure for obtaining certificate of competency.

A contractor's certificate of competency shall be obtained in the following manner:

(1)

Any person or firm required or desiring to be qualified as a contractor shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the appropriate examining board. The examining board shall retain the application and all supporting documents.

(2)

Only completed applications shall be accepted by the planning and development services director for review. The application shall include the following information:

a.

The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.

b.

The nature of the applicant's proposed contracting business.

c.

The type of certificate for which the applicant is applying.

d.

A list of all businesses owned and operated or managed by the applicant or in which the applicant has had an interest during the past five years and the addresses of those businesses.

e.

Three letters of recommendation; two of the letters shall be from reputable business or professional persons not related by blood or marriage to the applicant. At least one of the three letters of recommendation shall be from a contractor certified or registered by the state or the state in which the applicant most recently resided before becoming a resident of the state and shall have the contractor's license number included in the letter. A letter from a local contractor who holds a certificate of competency is accepted in place of the state contractors as long as the certificate of competency is of the same trade that is being verified. If the contractor who is verifying the experience is related by blood or marriage, the contractor must show proof of being active as a contractor registered or certified by the state or the state in which the contractor most recently resided or had a local certificate of competency at the time of verification and must be of the same trade that is being verified. All three letters of recommendation shall address the applicant's knowledge, experience, and ability as a contractor. All three letters must be notarized.

f.

A sworn statement that the applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, a felony during the past five years, or a finding of violation by the state department of business and professional regulation, the state construction industry licensing board, and/or the state electrical contractors' licensing board, and that he is not presently charged with committing a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony. If the applicant has been so convicted or charged, he shall specify the details of the convictions or charges.

g.

Proof of having obtained a score of 70 percent or higher on the required contractor competency examination or the required general specialty examination certificate of competency as a type of contractor which is not required to register with the state who has taken the required competency examination at least twice within the two years preceding the submittal of the application and failed to obtain a passing score as set forth in this section shall submit the following information to the director:

1.

Written documentation from the firm or agency conducting the examinations indicating the type of examinations taken, the dates of the examinations and the applicant's scores on the examinations.

2.

Proof that the applicant holds a valid and current contractor license in another jurisdiction in the appropriate area of contracting.

h.

Proof of compliance with the insurance requirements set forth in this division.

i.

Proof of compliance with Florida Fictitious Name Statute, F.S. § 865.09, if applicable.

j.

A non-United States citizen shall provide proof of authorization from the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization to work in the United States.

k.

A statement authorizing the examining board to obtain from any source which deals with the applicant additional information concerning the applicant's financial condition and credit status.

l.

Proof of having paid the prescribed application fee.

m.

No document submitted with an application shall be older than six months at the time of submittal.

(3)

In addition to the information described above, an applicant for a certificate of competency shall submit the following additional information, as appropriate:

a.

Sole proprietor.

1.

Sworn financial statement of applicant; and

2.

Personal credit report which shall include a public records check.

b.

Individuals doing business under a fictitious name.

1.

Fictitious name;

2.

Names of officers and their interest in the business;

3.

Statement signed by an authorized representative of the business stating that the qualifying agent is qualified to act for the business in all matters connected with the contracting business and that such qualifying agent has the authority and responsibility to supervise construction and employees on a construction site;

4.

Sworn financial statements of individuals; and

5.

Credit report on the business, which shall include a public records check.

c.

Corporation.

1.

Copy of the certificate of incorporation.

2.

Names, addresses and titles of officers and directors.

3.

Copy of corporate minutes of meetings at which officers and directors were elected.

4.

Names and addresses of qualifying agents.

5.

Statement signed by an authorized representative of the corporation stating that the qualifying agent is qualified to act for the corporation in all matters connected with the contracting business and that such qualifying agent has the authority and responsibility to supervise construction and employees on a construction site.

6.

Corporate financial statement.

7.

Corporate credit report which shall include a public records check.

(4)

All complete applications shall be presented to the appropriate examining board for review. No application shall be presented to an examining board until the director determines that the application is complete and in order.

(5)

Any person who holds a current and active county certificate of competency on the effective date of the ordinance from which this division is derived shall not be required to file an application for certificate of competency in accordance with the provisions of this division.

(Code 1982, § 2-5-9; Ord. No. 92-04, pt. B, 4-7-1992; Ord. No. 96-013, pt. A, 5-28-1996; Ord. No. 13-022 , pt. II, 7-16-2013)