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Local Mold Resources in Gainesville
Not every mold question needs a contractor. These are the public offices and legal aid groups in and around Gainesville that can help with licensing, health questions and rental problems.
Directory
Who to call
| Who | What they can help with | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Florida DBPR (license lookup) | Check that a mold company holds the right Florida license. Mold assessors (MRSA) and remediators (MRSR) are licensed separately. | 850-487-1395 or 1-866-532-1440. myfloridalicense.com |
| Florida Department of Health, indoor air quality | General information on indoor air and health questions. | 850-245-4288 |
| Florida Department of Health in Alachua County | Your local public health office. | 352-334-7900. alachua.floridahealth.gov |
| City of Gainesville Code Enforcement | Rental housing standards and permits inside city limits. | 352-334-5030 or codes@cityofgainesville.org |
| UF Student Legal Services | Legal help for eligible UF students. Ask whether they can help with a landlord problem. Located in the Reitz Union. | (352) 392-5297 or sls@ufsa.ufl.edu |
| Three Rivers Legal Services | Civil legal help, including housing and landlord-tenant matters, for people who qualify. Serves Alachua County. | (866) 256-8091 |
Phone numbers and eligibility rules change. Check before you rely on any of them.
Renters
If you rent
Mold in a rental raises two questions: who has to fix it, and what your lease and Florida landlord-tenant law say. We are not lawyers and cannot answer either one for you.
- Tell your landlord in writing and keep a copy, with the date.
- Take dated photos of the mold and any leak or water stain.
- Ask Gainesville Code Enforcement what applies if your home is inside city limits. The city tenant-rights guide we reviewed, dated March 2021, does not mention mold, so ask about your specific case.
- If you are a UF student or meet legal aid income rules, call Student Legal Services or Three Rivers Legal Services.
More on this: our FAQ on landlords and mold.
Housing and code
Local offices
- City of Gainesville: code enforcement and housing standards for properties inside the city
- Alachua County: code enforcement and environmental protection for unincorporated areas
- Alachua County emergency management: storm alerts, shelters and recovery information
Confirm the correct office for your address, because city and county responsibilities differ.
Licenses and complaints
State agencies
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation: mold assessor and mold remediator licenses, license lookup and complaints about licensees
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: consumer complaints
- Florida Attorney General: consumer protection and fraud
- Florida Department of Financial Services: insurance consumer help and the residential property mediation program
Legal help
Tenants, students and homeowners
- Three Rivers Legal Services: civil legal aid for eligible residents of the area
- University of Florida student legal services: help for eligible students with leases and housing
- The Florida Bar lawyer referral service: help finding a landlord-tenant, insurance or condominium attorney
Health
Where to ask health questions
Talk to your doctor first about symptoms. The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County can answer general public-health questions. The CDC and EPA publish public mold guidance. See mold symptoms and your health.
Storms and flood
Disaster and flood resources
- Alachua County emergency management for alerts
- FEMA for declared disaster assistance
- National Flood Insurance Program for flood policy information
- Your insurer and agent for claim steps
Independent professionals
Assessors, plumbers, roofers and AC techs
Use the Florida license lookup to verify a mold assessor and ask each trade for its license and insurance. PureGuard Restoration does not test for mold, so we can recommend that you use an independent assessor when you need testing or clearance. Ask for several names and compare.
Check first
Verify before you call
Office names, services and hours change. Check each office’s website or phone line before you rely on this list. If a link is broken or an office has moved, tell us and we will update the page.
Quick tips
Using the list well
- Pick the office that matches your property location and problem.
- Write down the date, the office and the person you spoke with.
- Follow up in writing when you can.
- Keep photos and documents ready.
- If one office cannot help, ask who can.
Reminder
What we can and cannot do
We are a remediation contractor. We can inspect, give a written scope and remove mold. We cannot enforce housing codes, give legal advice, adjust insurance claims or test for mold. If you need those, use the offices above.
More questions
More questions, answered
Who do I call about mold in an apartment
Start with your landlord in writing. If nothing happens, contact code enforcement or legal aid. See the renters guide.
Where can I check a mold contractor license
On the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation license search.
Is there a free mold inspection
Some public agencies give advice, but private inspections usually cost money. Ask about estimate terms when you call a contractor.
FAQ
Mold remediation in Gainesville: your questions
My landlord won’t fix mold. What can I do?
Tell the landlord in writing and keep a copy and photos. Florida has no mold-specific tenant statute, but sections 83.51 and 83.56 cover the landlord’s duty and the notice process. Apartment safety complaints can go to the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation at 850-487-1395. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a mold remediator need a license in Florida?
Florida licenses mold remediators (MRSR) and assessors (MRSA) through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and it licenses individuals, not companies. Ask for the license number and check it on the state’s lookup. Some other licensed trades are exempt when working within their own license, but they can’t call themselves mold remediators.
Does homeowners insurance cover mold in Florida?
Sometimes. One Florida insurer’s published guidance says mold from covered water damage, such as a burst pipe or covered storm, may be covered up to a limit, with $10,000 standard on its policies, while slow leaks and humidity problems typically aren’t. Your own policy decides, so read its mold section.
Sources: U.S. EPA mold guidance, Florida Statutes sections 468.8419, 83.51 and 83.56, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Florida Department of Health, and National Weather Service records.
Get a quote
Get a written quote for your Gainesville mold problem
Send a few photos and a short description, and PureGuard Restoration will come back with a written scope of work and price. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
- Call(352) 668-9909
- Text photos(352) 668-9909
- Or use the formName, phone, ZIP code, and what happened.
Ask for the license number when someone calls you back. You can check it on the state lookup.
About us: PureGuard Restoration is a mold remediation company serving Gainesville and Alachua County. We do not test for mold.
Request your written quote
What helps most in the first message
- Where the mold is and roughly how big it looks. A coin, a hand or a sheet of paper next to it helps.
- Where you think the water came from, and whether it’s fixed.
- When you first noticed it, and whether there was a leak, storm or AC problem before that.
- Whether you own, rent or manage the property, and whether you plan to involve insurance.