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Florida moving permits and licenses: Everything you need to know

Do you need a license to move your stuff in Florida? Here's what you need to know about moving regulations related to Florida residency.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
·Contributing writer
·6 min read
An aerial shot shows Dayton Beach in Daytona, Florida from above during a dramatic sunrise.
A panoramic aerial view of Daytona Beach in Daytona, FL (Paola Giannoni via Getty Images) (Paola Giannoni via Getty Images)

More than 444,000 people moved to the Sunshine State between 2021 and 2022, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. Business is booming for Florida's professional moving companies — and for some sketchier operations. Fortunately, Florida regulates its moving industry and requires companies to obtain a license to operate within the state.

Companies must follow a set of rules to maintain their licenses. But what are they and what consumer protections do they offer? Here's a look at everything you need to know about moving permits in Florida.

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Any business that offers household moving services in Florida must obtain a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). The requirements are governed by Florida statute chapter 507, which outlines registration, required insurance coverages, violations, and more. If you're moving your own home, you don't require a license to do so.

Every registered company that provides household moving services in Florida must display its mover registration number on all advertisements and the driver's side door of its moving vehicles. Additionally, every contract from a moving company must state that it is registered in Florida as a mover or moving broker and include its registration number. Finally, the company's primary place of business must display a certificate that shows proof of registration.

If you're browsing companies online, they typically include mover registration numbers on their websites. If you're ever in doubt, you can easily find a company's registration by searching for it on the FDACS website, where you'll find a company's current registration status, phone number, address and more.

Companies must renew their registration every other year on or before the expiration date. The cost of registration is $300 per mover or moving broker.

Moving companies in Florida must provide coverage for the loss or damage of items they're moving at a rate of $0.60 per pound per item. Companies are also required to disclose this rate to clients in writing when providing an estimate or signing a contract. You should receive this from your mover before moving or packing services begin.

Companies may offer premium coverage above the minimum, and that option must be disclosed to customers when they're informed of the minimum coverage amount. Companies have to be clear about the cost of premium coverage and its valuation rate and give customers an opportunity to reject it.

Beyond coverage for the household goods they carry, moving companies must maintain liability insurance and motor vehicle insurance at specific rates determined by several factors. These include the number of moving vehicles the company operates and how much they weigh.

Florida law dictates that moving companies have to provide you with a written estimate that is signed and dated before they can provide any services as part of a home move. The estimate must contain contact information, the date it was created, a proposed date for the move, and an itemized breakdown of the associated costs. Additionally, an estimate must disclose where your belongings will be picked up and shipped, along with a clear description of acceptable forms of payment.

Yes, but only under specific circumstances. Companies will typically ask for payment after a job is complete, but items they are storing for you may be held if you haven't fully paid your bill. If a company holds your items until they receive payment, they must inform you of the amount due and where your stuff is stored within five days of receiving a written request.

Some important exceptions to these rules exist. Companies cannot legally refuse to turn over any prescription medications stored with your belongings. They are also prohibited from withholding items used by children, such as children's clothing, toys, and furniture.

There are many things a moving company can do to violate Florida's moving company regulations, including making false representations about the cost or nature of its services. Other violations include providing household moving services without a license, making false statements in registration documents, or knowingly making false statements during investigations by the FDACS. Companies violate Florida law if they refuse delivery of your belongings after you've paid for services or insert contract provisions that say they waive rights provided by Florida statutes.

Violations are punishable by penalties or orders brought by the FDACS. Companies could also face civil or criminal penalties depending on the circumstances.

You can reach out to the FDACS to file complaints about moving service providers. The department provides online forms to file complaints. You must make an account to track the status of your complaint.

The FADCS regulations cover most of what you should know, but there may be additional regulations and licensing required by your local county or city government. Miami-Dade County, for example, requires moving companies to be registered if they provide local moves between it, Broward, or Palm Beach counties. Local provisions don't differ much from state regulations, but they require a separate fee and sometimes put a limit on how much a final charge can exceed the initial estimate.

While you don't require a license to move yourself in Florida, you may need to get a permit or pay a rental fee if you need to block a parking space while you move your belongings to and from your home. This is most common in busy downtown areas, where parking is at a premium or limited to certain times. You can typically find information about permits and their costs on your local city or county website.

For cost, you'll generally want to budget between $10 to $30 per space, per day depending on where you're located. For example, Orlando rents metered spaces for $15 daily, while Miami charges $30 a day. Tampa, on the other hand, charges 10 times the hourly rate of the meter per day, with a minimum daily charge of $15.

Advance notice required varies by city as well. Miami requires you to submit your application for meter rentals at least 48 hours in advance, for example, while Orlando requires at least 72 hours notice. There may be additional administrative fees for processing your application; Miami charges $50 per order.

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