FL Statute 468 Part XVI • MRSA Licensed • Independent Mold Assessment
Florida law prohibits the same company from inspecting and remediating your mold. Here is what an independent MRSA-licensed mold inspection covers, and why it matters before any remediation work begins.
The legal rule: Inspection and remediation must be done by separate licensed companies.
Florida Statute 468 Part XVI requires a Mold Remediation Services Assessor (MRSA) license to assess mold and a separate Mold Remediation Services Remediator (MRSR) license to remediate it. One company cannot hold both roles on the same property. Any company offering to test and remediate your mold in a single contract is operating illegally in Florida.
A licensed mold assessment (conducted by an MRSA-licensed inspector, separate from any remediation company) typically includes: visual inspection of all accessible surfaces; air sampling using calibrated spore traps at a minimum of one indoor sample per affected area and one outdoor control sample; surface sampling (tape lift or bulk) from visible mold colonies; moisture meter readings throughout the affected area; and a written assessment report with findings and a remediation protocol.
Miami’s year-round humidity of 75–85% means mold can grow on surfaces with no visible water damage — condensation on cold surfaces, inadequate HVAC dehumidification, and poor air circulation are sufficient. A Miami mold inspection should always include thermal imaging to identify cold spots (condensation zones) that are not visible to the naked eye.
Only a licensed Mold Remediation Services Assessor (MRSA) may perform mold assessments in Florida, including air sampling and written remediation protocols. The MRSA license is issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Verify your inspector’s license at myfloridalicense.com before work begins.
The most common mold genera found during Miami mold inspections include Cladosporium (the most prevalent outdoor mold in South Florida, often elevated indoors), Aspergillus/Penicillium (common on building materials), and Stachybotrys chartarum (the infamous “black mold,” which grows on cellulose materials with sustained moisture). Chaetomium is common in Miami buildings with roof leaks due to its preference for wet paper and drywall.
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Call (645) 465-6305Florida Statute 468, Part XVI (§468.8411–468.8426)
Florida requires any person performing mold assessment to hold a Mold Assessor (MRSA) license issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Any person performing mold remediation must hold a Mold Remediator (MRSR) license. Under §468.8413, a mold assessor and their company cannot also perform remediation on the same project — and a mold remediator cannot perform the assessment on their own job. The law exists specifically to prevent conflicts of interest: a remediator who does their own assessment has financial incentive to overstate the problem.
This means: if a contractor in Miami says they can test for mold AND remove it on the same job, they are either operating outside the law, using separate licensed sub-contractors you may not know about, or misrepresenting their service. Ask to see both licenses separately.
What to watch for: Several Miami water damage companies advertise “mold testing and removal” as a single service. This does not automatically mean they are violating the law — they may be coordinating with a separately licensed assessor — but you should always ask: “Who is performing the assessment? Are they licensed MRSA? Are they a separate company from your remediation crew?”
MRSA
Inspects the property, takes air and surface samples, sends to a lab, interprets results, and writes the Mold Remediation Protocol (MRP). The MRP is the legal document that defines what the remediator must do.
To verify: Search the Florida DBPR license database at myfloridalicense.com for license type “Mold Assessor.”
MRSR
Carries out the remediation work defined in the MRP: containment, HEPA filtration, physical removal of contaminated materials, treatment, and documentation. Cannot deviate from the protocol without assessor approval.
After work is done, a separate assessor performs Post-Remediation Verification (PRV) clearance testing.
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IICRC S520 certified. We execute to your assessor’s protocol and document everything for clearance. Serving all of Miami-Dade.
⚡ 24/7 Emergency Response
Mold starts in 12 hours in Miami. Our IICRC team arrives in 45–60 min across Miami-Dade.
Free Assessment · IICRC Certified · Citizens Accepted
A professional MRSA-licensed mold inspection in Miami typically costs $300–$600 for a standard residential property, depending on size and the number of air samples required. Larger homes or multi-unit properties cost more. Be cautious of inspections priced under $200 — at that price point, the inspector is often trying to generate remediation referral fees rather than provide an independent assessment.
You can, but it is not advisable and in some cases not legal. Without a licensed assessment and written remediation protocol, your remediation contractor has no defined scope of work, your insurance carrier has no documentation of the contamination, and you have no clearance criteria to verify the work was completed successfully. For insurance claims, a pre-remediation mold assessment is typically required.
Florida law prohibits us from performing the mold assessment on properties we remediate. We can refer you to an independent MRSA-licensed inspector. After the inspection and written protocol are complete, DRY MASTERS executes the remediation to the MRSA’s specifications, and the MRSA conducts the post-clearance inspection to verify completion.
No. Florida Statute 468 Part XVI requires separate licenses for mold assessment (MRSA) and mold remediation (MRSR). The same company cannot legally perform both on the same property. This law exists to prevent conflicts of interest.
In Miami, yes — strongly recommended. Miami’s humidity means mold colonization can begin within 12 hours of water damage. If your restoration took more than 24 hours to begin, or if you can see or smell anything suspicious, commission a licensed MRSA assessment before assuming the area is clean.
Visit myfloridalicense.com (Florida DBPR license search). Enter the contractor’s name or license number. Look for license type “Mold Assessor (MRSA)” or “Mold Remediator (MRSR).” Both must show “Active” status. Never allow unlicensed mold work — it voids your homeowners insurance claim and leaves you with no recourse.
PRV is clearance testing performed by a licensed assessor after mold remediation is complete. The assessor takes new air and surface samples and compares results to pre-remediation baseline and outdoor control samples. A PRV clearance certificate confirms the remediation was successful and is required before reconstruction can begin.
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mold remediation in Miamimold removalwater damage restoration process