North Fort Myers Mobile Home Leveling The Florida mobile home installer licence, in plain terms
Florida law says that anyone who installs a mobile home must hold a mobile home installer licence from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), renewed every year. Before anyone sets, blocks or anchors your home in North Fort Myers, ask whoever is doing the work for that licence number and check it. This page sets out what the statute and the state’s own FAQ say, word for word where it matters, so you know what you are asking for.
What the statute says
Section 320.8249 of the Florida Statutes is the rule. Its first line reads: “Any person who installs a mobile home shall obtain a mobile home installers license from the Bureau of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pursuant to this section.” The same subsection says the licence “shall be renewed annually”.
To get the licence, the statute says an applicant must:
| Requirement | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 18 |
| Bond | A valid performance bond in an amount set by department rule, not to exceed $5,000 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance in an amount set by department rule, not to exceed $100,000 |
| Training | A training course of at least 8 hours approved by the department |
| Exam | A department-approved examination |
| Renewal | Every year |
Installing without a licence is a misdemeanor of the first degree under the same section.
What the state’s FAQ adds
FLHSMV publishes an FAQ for installers. Two lines in it are worth knowing as an owner:
- “Only mobile home dealers that pull permits and/or set up homes are required to have an installer license.”
- “Set-up permits are required and can be applied for at a local county building department.”
We quote those as written. We are not going to tell you how they apply to a particular repair, because the FAQ does not say. If the question matters for your job, ask FLHSMV, or ask Lee County when you ask about the permit.
Where Lee County comes in
Lee County requires a Manufactured/Mobile Home/RV permit for new installs, replacements and tie downs. When an owner applies for a tie-down permit, the county asks for a Mobile Home Owner Affidavit that names the dealer or installer who will do the work. So for tie-down jobs, the county itself wants a name on paper. Our mobile home setup and replacement and tie-downs and anchors pages walk through that permit.
What to ask before work starts
- The licence number. Ask for it in writing and check it with FLHSMV.
- The name on the licence. It should match the person or business you are hiring.
- The permit. Ask whether your job needs a Lee County permit and who is applying for it. The county lists new installs, replacements and tie downs.
- The paperwork you keep. A written quote that lists the piers, anchors and straps being worked on, and a copy of any permit.
Why we put this on our site
About half of all homes in North Fort Myers are mobile homes by the Census Bureau’s count, and Lee County is HUD Wind Zone III, with a 110 mph design wind. The piers and anchors under a home are work you rarely see once the skirting goes back on, so the paperwork is how you know who did it. Asking for a licence number takes a minute, and you should ask it whether you call us about a relevel, a pre-purchase foundation check or anything else. Typical ranges are on our pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues the mobile home installer licence in Florida?
The Bureau of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction, part of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Section 320.8249 of the Florida Statutes says the licence must be renewed every year.
What does someone have to do to get the licence?
Under F.S. 320.8249 an applicant must be at least 18, hold a performance bond in an amount set by department rule of up to $5,000, carry liability insurance in an amount set by department rule of up to $100,000, complete a training course of at least 8 hours approved by the department, and pass a department-approved exam.
Does a relevel alone need an installer licence?
The statute's words are "any person who installs a mobile home", and the FLHSMV installer FAQ does not mention repair work. We are not going to read more into it than that. If it matters for your job, ask FLHSMV or Lee County directly, and in any case ask whoever works under your home for their licence number.
What happens if someone installs a home without a licence?
F.S. 320.8249 makes it a misdemeanor of the first degree.