Aging-in-Place Remodeling in Fort Lauderdale, FL: Costs, Licenses

Broward County had 379,323 residents 65 and over on July 1, 2024, 18.6% of the county (Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2024), the third-largest senior population in Florida. The median home was built in 1980 (Census American Community Survey), and Fort Lauderdale sits in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the typical job is a 1970s or 1980s block house with tile or terrazzo floors where any door or window you replace needs a product with a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. Structural, plumbing and electrical work needs a Florida DBPR license, and Broward County issues its own Certificate of Competency for some trades. The projects that come up most are the curbless shower, grab bars, a step-free entry and, in the 2-story townhomes, a stair lift.

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Fort Lauderdale by the numbers

• 379,323 residents of Broward County were 65 or older in 2024, 18.6% of the county, below Florida's 21.8% but a larger count than every county except Miami-Dade and Palm Beach (Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2024).
• The county's median home was built in 1980, and 2.6% of its homes are mobile homes (Census American Community Survey, 2024 5-year).
• Florida construction workers averaged $26.71 an hour in May 2025 against $31.42 nationally, about 15% less (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The homes here

A 1980 median build year puts half of Broward's homes before 1980: concrete block on a slab, glossy tile or, in the older houses, polished terrazzo that is slick when wet. Canal neighborhoods sit at ground level in flood zones; the newer suburbs to the west have more 2-story homes.

The entry. The step at the front door is the first fix. A new, wider front door in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone must carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. The state code's exception for some 1 and 2 family homes permitted before March 1, 2002 exists on paper; ask the contractor whether it applies inside the zone. See ramps, entries and thresholds.

The bathroom. A 1970s or 1980s bathroom has a tub or a curbed shower and a slick floor. A curbless shower on a slab means cutting the slab or building up the floor for drainage. See bathroom safety remodels and non-slip flooring for the terrazzo.

The stairs. In a 2-story townhome the bedroom is up a flight of stairs. A stair lift on a straight run is far cheaper than on a curved one; the alternative is a main-floor bedroom and bath.

Flood zones. Canal-front and coastal homes in a special flood hazard area face the 50% rule: an improvement costing 50% or more of the structure's market value is a substantial improvement, and the whole home must then meet code, including elevation. A 2025 state law (SB 180) stops local governments from adding up smaller projects over a look-back period, but a full bath and kitchen remodel on an older ground-level home can hit the line on its own. Get the structure value first.

Licensing and permits in Broward County

Florida requires a DBPR license (Certified General, Building or Residential Contractor; plumbing and electrical are separate) for structural, plumbing or electrical work; check it at the DBPR license search. Broward County also issues a Certificate of Competency for some trades, verified by phone through the county building department at 954-765-4400. Some county categories are being phased out under Florida's 2021 preemption law (HB 735), and the dates for Broward's remaining categories are still moving. The contractor pulls the permit. The Florida page has the full state rule.

Who pays

Most Broward families pay directly, from savings, home equity or siblings splitting the cost: no pre-approval, your choice of contractor, work can start this week (paying out of pocket). Original Medicare pays nothing toward a remodel; some Medicare Advantage plans sold in Broward include a bathroom safety allowance (Medicare and Medicare Advantage). Florida's Medicaid agency is the Agency for Health Care Administration; ask it what home modification coverage exists and whether there is a waitlist. The Area Agency on Aging for Broward is based in Sunrise; reach it through the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 and ask whether the county's SHIP housing rehabilitation plan or Rebuilding Together Broward has an open program, both with income limits and waitlists.

Common projects in Fort Lauderdale

• Curbless shower. Bathroom safety remodels: $2,500 to $9,000 for the conversion, $6,600 to $28,000 for a full accessible bathroom.
• Stair lift. Stair lifts: $3,000 to $20,000 installed, averages of $7,000 to $8,000; the straight rail in a townhome is the cheap end.
• Step-free entry. Wheelchair ramps: $875 to $5,000, average near $1,100 for a short ramp, plus a Notice of Acceptance door if the opening is widened.
• Grab bars. Grab bars and railings: cheap hardware, and an installer who can anchor into block and terrazzo.

National estimates, 2022 to 2026 secondary sources. Florida labor runs about 15% below the national average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025), but South Florida costs more than the rest of the state, so get 3 written local quotes.

Ready to talk to a certified aging-in-place remodeler? Request a match and talk to a licensed remodeler serving Fort Lauderdale.