Search the business and qualifier
Your contract check: Match the contracting business to its qualifier, confirm project-appropriate insurance and compare the written scope. Keep the checks with the signed agreement.
DBPR advises checking both the construction business and its qualifying individual. Match the legal names on the contract to the official records, and confirm the license covers the proposed work.
Record the license number and check date. A logo, an advertising badge or someone else’s license is not a substitute for the business record.
Ask for insurance appropriate to the actual work
City marine guidance requires proof of Longshore Insurance for work on or above navigable waters. Ask the contractor and insurer to confirm the coverage relevant to the crew, vessel use and project.
- Who is the named insured?
- What are the policy dates and relevant exclusions?
- Which subcontractors will be used?
- Who supplies design and professional services?
Make the contract describe this property
Specify wall length, material, design, cap, anchors, drainage, removal, staging and restoration. Identify who obtains each approval and provides the closeout records.
Write payment milestones and change-order approval clearly. Ask who pays if access assumptions prove wrong. Keep allowances visible instead of treating them as fixed prices.
Check the entity that will sign your contract
- Start with the exact name. Ask for the contracting business name, individual qualifier and license number. Compare them with the names on the proposal.
- Open the actual license record. DBPR provides searches by license number, individual name and business name. Check the associated business, then verify the individual qualifier as directed by DBPR.
- Resolve mismatches. Ask the licensing authority about an unexplained name, status or scope issue. A logo, registration or screenshot supplied in a sales message is not a substitute for checking the record.
- Save the result and date. Keep your verification with the contract and review it again if the contracting entity changes.
Read the proposal as a set of commitments
| Item to review | A useful written answer |
|---|---|
Scope | The wall length and components, retained structure, drainage, access and restoration included in the price. |
Changes | Who may authorize extra work, how it is priced, and how you receive the revised scope before proceeding. |
Payments | The payment stages and the work or documentation expected at each one. Ask about allowances and exclusions. |
Completion | The inspection/permit records, installed-work details, warranty terms and maintenance instructions to be handed over. |
Florida’s Attorney General advises verifying the contractor’s license for the work and checking insurance with the insurer. Ask who will perform specialist work and obtain written answers before accepting a proposal. For contract or payment-rights questions, use a qualified legal adviser.
Ask for relevant experience without accepting shortcuts
Ask for references from similar shoreline and access conditions, with permission to contact them. Review how the contractor handled unexpected conditions, communication and closeout.
Use the scope checklist to compare proposals. The permit guide helps check whether the stated approval route fits the parcel.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Construction business license verificationSource reviewed 2026-10-25 · official indexed text
- Seawall permit checklistSource reviewed 2026-11-05
- How to Protect Yourself: ContractorsSource reviewed 2026-10-26 · official indexed text