At a Glance
Quick Answer
Florida does not have a state prevailing wage law. Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded construction projects over $2,000.
Florida has never enacted a state prevailing wage law. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements. Some local jurisdictions may have their own wage ordinances.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in Florida
Florida has never enacted a state prevailing wage law, so there is no state agency setting rates and no state-level certified payroll obligation. For most privately and locally funded construction in Florida, contractors price labor at prevailing market rates, which simplifies estimating and can make Florida bids more competitive than those in high-regulation states. The absence of a statewide mandate means you are not adjusting labor lines to a published determination unless another rule applies.
The key exception is federal money. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to federally funded construction projects over $2,000 performed in Florida, regardless of the lack of a state law. On those projects you must pay the applicable federal prevailing wage determination for each classification, submit certified payroll to the contracting agency, and meet full Davis-Bacon recordkeeping and compliance requirements. Treat any federally assisted scope as a distinct estimating category and price its labor to the Davis-Bacon wage and fringe rates, not to your usual market rates.
Bidders should also watch local rules. Some Florida counties and cities maintain their own wage ordinances that can impose prevailing-wage-style requirements on locally funded work, so confirm whether the awarding jurisdiction has adopted one before assuming market-rate labor. The practical pitfall in Florida is misjudging the funding source: a project that appears local or private may carry federal dollars or a municipal ordinance that triggers wage obligations. Verify funding and applicable local ordinances during bid preparation, and where federal or local wage rules apply, build the higher labor cost, certified payroll, and compliance overhead into your number.
Details
Coverage Details
State Status
- Law
- No state prevailing wage law
- Agency
- N/A — No state prevailing wage program
- Certified Payroll
- Not required at state level
Federal Davis-Bacon Coverage
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in Florida. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Reference
Key Facts
No state prevailing wage law has ever been enacted in Florida
Federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to federally funded projects over $2,000
Some counties and cities may have local wage ordinances
Florida is one of the most populous states without a prevailing wage law
Enforcement
Penalties
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Resources
Related Tools & Templates
Turn wage rules into bid-ready alerts
Use ConstructionBids.ai to track matching public projects, save bid searches, and move wage-sensitive scopes into your estimating workflow.
FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
Does Florida have a prevailing wage law?
No. Florida does not have a state prevailing wage law. Florida has never enacted a state prevailing wage law. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements. Some local jurisdictions may have their own wage ordinances.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in Florida?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in Florida, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in Florida?
Florida does not have a state-level certified payroll requirement. However, certified payroll (WH-347) is still required on any federal Davis-Bacon project in the state.
What are the penalties for prevailing wage violations in Florida?
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Does Florida have a state prevailing wage law?
No. Florida has never enacted a state prevailing wage law and has no state agency setting public-works wage rates. Contractors generally price labor at market rates, except where federal Davis-Bacon applies to federally funded projects or where a local county or city wage ordinance governs the work.
When do prevailing wages apply to construction in Florida?
Prevailing wages apply in Florida primarily through the federal Davis-Bacon Act on federally funded projects exceeding $2,000, which require paying the federal determination and submitting certified payroll. Some counties and cities also adopt local wage ordinances, so contractors should verify the project's funding source and jurisdiction.
Is certified payroll required on Florida public projects?
Florida imposes no statewide certified payroll requirement because it has no prevailing wage law. However, federally funded projects subject to Davis-Bacon require certified payroll submitted to the contracting agency, and any local jurisdiction with a wage ordinance may impose its own reporting, so confirm the rules for each award.