How to Check a Florida Mold Company Before You Hire

Why does Florida license mold work?

Florida regulates mold assessors and mold remediators under Chapter 468, Part XVI of the Florida Statutes, administered by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The state licenses individuals, not businesses. That detail matters when you hire: a company name on a truck tells you nothing about who holds the license, so you want the name of the person who will perform or supervise your job.

The two licenses cover different work:

The insurance figures come from s. 468.8421. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing that coverage before work begins. For more on how the two visits differ, read mold inspection vs mold testing.

What is the 12-month rule?

Under s. 468.8419, a mold assessor or the assessor's company may not perform or offer remediation on a structure it assessed within the previous 12 months. A remediator or its company may not assess a structure it remediated within the previous 12 months. There is a narrow exception for Division I contractors.

In practice, the company that tests your home and the company that removes the mold will normally be different businesses, and clearance testing at the end comes from an assessor, not the remediator. That is a feature, not a hassle: the person deciding how much work you need has no stake in selling you the work. If one company offers to inspect, remediate and then clear the same house, ask how it complies with s. 468.8419.

The same statute bars an assessor from taking a job where the conclusions or the fee depend on the outcome. An assessor should charge the same whether the report finds a lot of mold or none.

How do you check a license?

1. Ask for the full name and license number of the person who will perform or supervise the work.
2. Look the person up on DBPR's online licensee search and confirm the license type matches the job, assessor for inspections and testing, remediator for removal.
3. Confirm the license status is current, and note any discipline listed.
4. Match the name on the license to the name on your contract or report.

The right wording on a proposal is something like "holds a Florida mold remediator license" or "holds a state mold assessor license" followed by a license number you can verify. Vague claims without a number are a reason to ask more questions.

What should an assessor give you?

A useful assessment explains where the moisture is coming from, which materials are affected, roughly how much area is involved, and what should be removed versus cleaned. It should also say whether lab samples were taken and why. EPA notes that when mold is visible, sampling is usually unnecessary and that there are no federal limits for mold spores, so a report built entirely around spore counts, with no moisture findings, is missing the point. See what a mold inspection in Tampa typically covers.

What should a remediation proposal include?

Get the scope in writing before work starts. A solid proposal from a remediation company should spell out:

• The areas and materials to be removed or cleaned, ideally matched to the assessor's plan.
• Containment, such as plastic barriers and negative air, to keep spores from spreading to clean rooms.
• Removal of porous material. EPA says moldy porous items like ceiling tiles and carpet may need to be thrown away, and drywall often has to be cut out.
• Drying and moisture correction, or a clear note on who fixes the leak. EPA is clear that mold returns if the water problem is not fixed.
• HVAC handling if the air handler or ducts are involved, since EPA advises not running a system you suspect is contaminated.
• What is not included, such as rebuilding drywall, painting or flooring.
• How clearance will work and who you will hire for it.

To see how those steps fit together on the job, read what happens during mold remediation, or start with mold remediation in Tampa.

What should you ask on the first call?

• Who will hold the license for my job, and what is the license number?
• Are you acting as an assessor or a remediator on this home?
• Have you or your company assessed or remediated this property in the last 12 months?
• Can you send a certificate of insurance showing the coverage the statute requires?
• How do you charge: flat fee, per square foot, or hourly? Angi lists typical Tampa labor at $75 to $120 per hour.
• Will the scope be in writing before any work starts?
• What do you need from me first, such as the leak repaired, power on, or access to the attic or air handler?

A company that answers these plainly and in writing is usually easier to work with once the walls are open.

What are the red flags?

• No license number, or a license held by someone who will never be on site.
• Offering to assess and remediate the same home, or to clear its own work.
• An assessor whose fee rises with the amount of mold found.
• Plans to paint, seal or spray over mold without removing it. EPA says not to paint or caulk over mold.
• No mention of the moisture source.
• Pressure to sign the same day, especially after a storm.
• Scare language about the color of the mold. Color does not tell you how risky a mold is.

How do you compare prices?

Compare scopes before you compare totals. A lower bid that skips containment or leaves wet drywall in place is not a better deal. For context, Angi reports (data updated October 2025) that mold remediation in Tampa typically runs $1,347 to $3,778, with most pros charging $10 to $25 per square foot and mold inspection at $300 to $1,075. HomeAdvisor reports a typical Tampa range of $1,248 to $2,550. Those are typical ranges from those sources, not quotes. Our Tampa remediation cost guide covers what moves the price.

If the mold followed a covered water loss, check with your insurer before work starts; our guide on homeowners insurance and mold in Florida explains what to ask.

What about permits and rebuilding?

Mold removal and rebuilding are often separate contracts. Drywall, electrical and structural repairs may need permits from your city or county. In Tampa, the City's Construction Services Center handles building permits inside city limits; in Pinellas, permit offices vary by city. Ask whether your remediation company or a general contractor will pull any permits for the rebuild.

Who checks the work at the end?

Because of the 12-month rule, clearance comes from an independent assessor, not the company that did the removal. That assessor looks for remaining visible growth and dry materials and may sample to confirm the area was adequately cleaned, which EPA lists as a valid use of surface sampling. See what post-remediation clearance in Tampa involves. For offices, rentals and retail spaces, the commercial mold remediation page covers scheduling and tenant concerns.

Where can you find companies near you?

This site connects callers with independent local mold assessors and remediation companies across Tampa Bay. Browse every town we serve, or jump to mold remediation in Largo or the Sarasota mold services page. Whoever you call, run the license check above before you sign.