Home › Guides › Handyman vs. Licensed Contractor

Handyman vs. Licensed Contractor for Bathroom Safety Work in Florida

The most useful legal fact in this whole guide: under Florida law, grab bars and small ramp jobs don't require a licensed contractor — but a tub-to-shower conversion does. Knowing which tier your job falls into saves you from overpaying for the small work and under-qualifying the big work.

The Florida handyman exemption, plainly stated

Florida Statute 489.103 exempts contracting work of a "casual, minor, or inconsequential nature" from licensure when all three conditions hold:

The total contract price is under $2,500 (per the 2021 SB 338 legislative analysis; older analyses cited $1,000 — the current practical threshold is $2,500).
No permit is required for the work.
The work involves no licensed trade — no plumbing, electrical, or structural work.

Sources: flsenate.gov bill analyses and leg.state.fl.us statute text, reviewed Oct 2026. This is general information, not legal advice — when in doubt, confirm with the local building department.

Which tier is your job?

Job	Tier	Why
Grab bar installation	Handyman-exempt	A few hundred dollars, no permit, no trade work. The classic exempt job.
Threshold ramps	Handyman-exempt	Small, no permit, no structural work.
Modular aluminum ramp (permanent)	Often licensed / permitted	Fixed installations usually need a permit; permitted work exits the exemption.
Tub-to-shower conversion	Licensed contractor	Plumbing moves, waterproofing, tile, permits — licensed CGC/CRC or trade licenses required.
Full bathroom remodel for accessibility	Licensed contractor	Same as above, larger scope.

What this means for your wallet

Don't hire a licensed remodeler to install grab bars unless you want the full safety assessment that comes with a specialist visit. A competent handyman with proper anchors does this job legally and well — and the work is among the highest-frequency safety jobs in the county.
Don't hire a handyman for a conversion. If the job moves a drain, touches plumbing, or needs a permit, the $2,500 exemption doesn't apply. An unlicensed contractor doing licensed work voids your leverage if something goes wrong.
Specialists sit between the tiers. Grab-bar-only companies (Same Day Grab Bars, Treasure Coast Grab Bars) sell the assessment + install as a package — legitimate, and often the best option when you don't know what the house needs yet.

Five questions to ask before anyone drills a hole

For grab bars: "Do you mount into studs, and what anchors do you use in tile?" (Tests competence.)
For conversions: "What is your license number, and who pulls the permit?" (Tests legitimacy. Example: Bath Fitter's local entity lists FL license CFC1426391.)
For ramps: "Does this installation need a permit here?" (If yes, it's not handyman work.)
For everyone: "Are you insured, and is the scope in writing?" (Non-negotiable at any tier.)
For everyone: "What does your warranty cover?" (Same Day Grab Bars advertises a lifetime warranty on installs — know what yours includes.)