50-State Real Estate Broker Licensing Compliance Guide
An overhead view of a woman signing forms

Florida Real Estate License

A real estate agent giving a tour of a modern house

Licensing requirements for Florida brokerage firms.

A business entity offering real estate brokerage services to the public typically must register with the real estate commission before conducting business activity. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Company Licenses

Florida Real Estate Company Licenses

Florida Branch Office Registration

Agency:Florida Division of Real Estate
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Ownership Requirements:
  • The “Doing Business As” (D/B/A) name must be provided as it is registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, if the company uses a fictitious name to conduct business.
  • If the real estate company is not a sole proprietorship, enter the real estate company name and real estate company license number (the CQ number) as it is listed on the real estate company license.
Notes:
  • This application can be used to open a branch office or close a branch office. 
  • You may open more than one branch office with this application; however, if you wish to also close a branch office, you must submit another Form DBPR RE 8 and select “Close Branch Office” as the transaction type
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Branch Office Registration Application 

Filing Method:

Mail or online

Agency Fee:

$69 

Florida Real Estate Company License

Agency:Florida Division of Real Estate
Eligible Entity Types:
  • Corporations
  • General Partnerships 
  • Professional Associations 
  • Limited Liability Companies
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:
  •  Each partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or corporation which acts as a broker shall register with the commission and shall renew the licenses or registrations of its members, officers, and directors for each license period.
  • If the partnership is a limited partnership, only the general partners must be licensed brokers or brokerage corporations registered pursuant to this part.
  • If the license or registration of at least one active broker member is not in force, the registration of a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or partnership is canceled automatically during that period of time.
  • The commission shall adopt rules that allow a brokerage to register a broker on a temporary, emergency basis if a sole broker of a brokerage dies or is unexpectedly unable to remain a broker.
Notes:
  • State law requires you to keep your information current.
    • All professional licensees are required to self-report to the Department, within 30 days of being convicted, or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere (no contest) or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction.
    • To report, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail it to the Department at the address provided on the form. To obtain a copy of the form, go to www.MyFloridaLicense.com.
    • If you have a compliance order with a past due payment your license will not be renewed until it has been made current.
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  •  In order to be registered as a real estate company, the company must have at least one active broker (the "qualifying broker"). This person should complete and sign the application.
  • If your qualifying broker requires a Multiple Broker license, the application will have to be completed using the printable application  and mailed with the DBPR RE-13 form requesting a multiple license and appropriate fees.
  • A broker’s license needs to be activated with a real estate company in order for a broker to qualify that company and be able to run its daily operations. A broker can “become active” with a real estate company by properly completing the application form

Initial Registration

Form:

Initial Application for Real Estate Company License (Corporation, LLC or PA), Initial Applicatin for Real EState Company License (Partnership or LLP) DBPR RE 13 Broker Transactions Form, Designated Qualifying Broker Form 

Instructions:
  • Applicants must provide the Federal Employer Identification Number (FEID) for the business to be qualified.
  • The “Doing Business As” (D/B/A) name must be provided as it is registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, if the real estate company uses a fictitious name to conduct business.
  • List all brokers with the company. All “Active” brokers must be listed as an officer, director, partner, member or manager of the business with the Florida Division of Corporations website www.sunbiz.org.
  • If the qualifying broker that is to qualify this new real estate company is currently qualifying another real estate company and intends to continue that relationship, he/she must request a multiple license. See form DBPR RE 13 for more information on multiple licenses.
  • All non-licensed officers are to be listed as “Inactive”.
  • Non-broker owners holding 10% or more of the company must provide personal information, including social security numbers
Filing Method:

Mail or online

Agency Fee:

$77 per license. 

Notes:
  • All brokers must be registered with the Division of Corporations as an officer/director, member or manager of your company.
  • Sales associates/broker associates cannot be officer/directors of companies or members of a member managed LLC.
  • A sales associate may not be an officer, director, member, manager or partner of a licensed Florida real estate company.
  • A sales associate may be a shareholder.
  • A broker can only qualify one real estate company at a time with a single license. However, brokers can apply for multiples licenses. Brokers will need to apply for a “multiple license” for each additional business they wish to qualify.
  • Note to Multiple Broker Licensees requesting inactive status: Ending the relationship of one of your multiple licenses by becoming inactive will result in that license being canceled/voided.
  • Note to applicants wishing to qualify a real estate company: Applicants wishing to qualify a real estate company as a broker must be registered as an officer (Inc/Corp), member or manager (LLC/LLP) of the real estate company prior to applying to become a qualifying broker of a real estate company
  • The broker must sign and date the Affirmation by Written Declaration (Section V of the Designated Qualifying Broker Form)

Registration Renewal

Form:

Online

Agency Fee:

$72

Due:

Biennially by date of issuance. 

Penalties:
  • Real Estate Companies are required to pay renewal fee on or before the expiration date on the license.  Failure to comply will result in the company’s license going into an Involuntarily Inactive license status, and any related licenses going into an Inactive secondary license status.
  • A late fee will be assessed for payments made after the license expiration date.



 
 

Individual Licenses

Florida Individual Real Estate Licenses

Florida Real Estate Broker License

Agency:Florida Division of Real Estate

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Broker License

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$91.75

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$72

Due:

Biennially

Florida Real Estate Sales Associate License

Agency:Florida Division of Real Estate

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Sales Associate License

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$83.75

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$64

Due:

Biennially

Learn about real estate licensing in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Associate Broker - Associate brokers are qualified to work independently as a broker, but choose to work under the authority of a designated broker.

On-Site Manager - A broker or salesperson who oversees the operations of a branch office under the authority of the designated broker.

Qualifying Broker/Designated Broker - An experienced and licensed real estate broker responsible for management and operation of a real estate firm.

Real Estate - Land, buildings, and their permanent improvements and fixtures. Also called "real property" in contrast to personal property.

Real Estate Agent - This term refers generally to any licensed real estate professional.

Reciprocity - Reciprocity makes it easier for out-of-state real estate firms to gain approval to operate in a foreign state by streamlining some licensing requirements.

Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)
Offers a license verification database accross 43 jurisdictions.

NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Agencies
Aid education, research, and advocacy efforts in the real estate industry.

National Association of Realtors
Real estate trade organization that provides information and resources for development of the real estate industry.

Urban Land Institute
Research and education association concerned with responsible land use and creating sustainable communities.

Revised April 27, 2022. Complete data last reviewed April 10, 2022.
Are You Compliant?
Answer just a few questions and our software searches public databases to detect your status and gaps.
Sign Up for Emails
Better Business Bureau logo
Trustwave logo

© 2012 - 2024 Harbor Compliance. All rights reserved.

Harbor Compliance does not provide tax, financial, or legal advice. Use of our services does not create an attorney-client relationship. Harbor Compliance is not acting as your attorney and does not review information you provide to us for legal accuracy or sufficiency. Access to our website is subject to our Terms of Use and Service Agreement.

Terms of Service Privacy Policy Secure Shopping