Short answers here; the full reasoning for each lives on the page that owns it.
No. General handyman work in Florida does not cover electrical, plumbing, roofing or HVAC/AC -- those stay separately licensed trades regardless of job size, and we will tell you when a job needs one of them rather than attempt it ourselves. See our licensing guide for the full picture.
It depends on the job. Drywall patching, TV mounting, gutter cleaning and most caulking work typically doesn't need a permit. Deck and fence work often does, especially beyond a small repair -- the City of Longwood's own guidance is to call the Building Division and confirm before starting. We'll flag it if your job is in that category.
Check your water bill. A City of Longwood water bill means you're inside city limits and the City's Building Division has jurisdiction. A Seminole County water bill means you're in one of the unincorporated pockets carrying a Longwood mailing address (all of ZIP 32779, and areas west of I-4), and any required permit goes through the county instead.
This page is being finished before the business is sold -- the operator's real insurance and bonding status will be published here and it will not say "licensed and insured" until it is true. Florida does not require a state contractor licence for general handyman-scope work; see our licensing guide for what that does and doesn't mean.
Not necessarily. Florida doesn't require a state contractor licence for general handyman work like ours. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing always require their own licensed contractor, no matter how small the job -- we don't perform that work, and we'll tell you when your project needs one.
Electrical, plumbing, roofing, HVAC/air-conditioning and pool work each fall under their own licensing categories and are never covered by general handyman framing, regardless of how small the task feels. If a job in your house turns out to need one of those trades, it needs a separately licensed professional, not a handyman.
The City requires an annual Local Business Tax Receipt (City Code Chapter 82) for businesses operating in the city, applied for through the City's SmartGov portal.
Often, yes. The City's guidance distinguishes small-area repairs (generally no permit) from larger repairs (permit required) but does not publish a bright-line threshold -- it directs residents to contact the Building Division to confirm. A fence permit application needs the signed contract (or an owner/builder statement), HOA approval where applicable, and two copies of a property survey showing fence and gate locations.
A lot of Longwood's housing stock predates the sizing conventions big-box stores build to today. The city's median improved-residential parcel was built in 1979, and two-thirds of the city (66.5%) was built between 1970 and 1989 -- and the platted historic core goes back further still. Openings from that era were often framed to whatever the builder had on hand, not a modern standard size.
Often, yes, with the right router bit or a salvage source -- but it takes more time than swapping a modern profile, and on some older or Historic District homes an exact match may not be commercially available at all. We'll tell you honestly which case you're in before we quote the job.
Simple repair -- fixing hardware, weatherstripping, a sash cord -- generally does not. Full replacement of a door or window unit can, depending on scope; We'll flag it if your job crosses that line.
