What the permit statute lists that a pump touches
Section 553.79(1)(g) says the exemption does not apply to any electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work performed on property containing a single-family dwelling, nor to work on property partly or entirely in a flood hazard area. A pump install includes wiring and a discharge line.
DBPR's class list prints a Plumbing category, and no category named for pumps. Ask the building office what it files a pump install under, and ask the company who does the wiring.
Sump pump installation in Florida: our estimate and the wages behind it
An installed pump is modeled at $685 to $2,150 per pump, installed, from national published ranges (3 counted) scaled by Florida's construction laborer wage ratio (0.87). It's a planning estimate, not a quote. No counted Florida company price sits behind it.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $685 to $2,150 per pump, installed | Built from 3 national published ranges, adjusted by the Florida construction laborer wage ratio (0.86). One Florida foundation company publishes a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Florida company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Construction laborer pay, Florida mean | $21.42 an hour | BLS May 2025 mean hourly wage in Florida for the occupation nearest to pump-install crews; pay, not a price. |
| Construction laborer pay, US mean | $25.02 an hour | The country-wide mean published with the Florida figure, used to form the ratio. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (3 sources), adjusted by Florida's construction laborer wage ratio to the US (0.86, BLS May 2025). Not a quote. One Florida foundation company publishes a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Florida company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 24, 2026.
Pump trouble that shouldn't wait
- Water has risen to the level of outlets or the panel; keep out of the room.
- A pump runs constantly and the water level does not drop.
- A pump has stopped during a storm and water is still entering.
- A pump that cycles normally and a pit that stays dry between storms.
Before you order a pump
- Note where water collects and how high it rose in the last storm.
- Ask who will do the wiring and the discharge line.
- Ask the building office which permits the job needs.
Permits for a sump pump in Florida
Ask the building office whether a pump install at your address needs a permit and which trade permits go with it. The statute names electrical and plumbing work among what the exemption leaves out.
DBPR has no foundation repair license category, so ask which state contractor license the company holds, look the number up on myfloridalicense.com and get its certificate of insurance before you sign anything.
Questions people ask
Will I need a permit to put in a sump pump in Florida?
Ask the building office: the exemption excludes electrical and plumbing work, and a pump install has both. Ask the building office, and mention whether the lot is in a flood hazard area.
How much does sump pump installation cost in Florida?
Our model puts an installed pump at $685 to $2,150 per pump, installed, an estimate, not a quote. The number comes from national published ranges scaled by Florida's wage ratio.
- Florida Statutes s. 553.79(1)(g) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- DBPR: Construction Industry (CILB) license types Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061), Florida, mean hourly wage Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- FoundationMatch: how we estimate costs, Florida (editorial policy) Read Oct 24, 2026.