This is a research guide to verification paths, not a filing instruction. County forms, fees, approval procedures and insurance minimums can change. Follow the linked official source and obtain direct written confirmation when a classification is unclear.
State framework first
Florida Statute 316.87 is the central statewide NEMT statute in the current project research. It recognizes a county licensing or permitting layer; it does not replace the need to identify the local category that applies to a particular operator.
If the service may involve basic or advanced life support, prehospital care or interfacility medical transportation, the operator must separately evaluate the ambulance-service boundary under Florida Statute 401.25. The label “NEMT” alone does not answer that question.
Verification date is not a guarantee.
Each row identifies the date of the source review supporting that row. Open the current official page or form immediately before filing, contracting or acquiring a vehicle.
Florida NEMT county requirements comparison
| County | Authority / category | Known current requirement | Verified fee / insurance | Current unresolved issue | Launch status | Last verified | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | Department of Transportation and Public Works; Non-Emergency Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. | County certificate, Board approval/public hearing, vehicle inspection and permits, and chauffeur registration. The official page states a 3–6 month approval process. | Current fee must be checked in the county fee schedule. | Confirm the current application sequence, hearing calendar and total filing/vehicle/driver charges. | Path identified — verify current | September 15, 2026 | Miami-Dade County |
| Broward | Consumer Protection Division; Nonemergency Medical Transportation Service (NEMTS). | Reviewed materials require company, vehicle and personnel/chauffeur documentation. | $500,000 per-occurrence combined bodily-injury/property-damage floor in the reviewed NEMTS application. | The public page now routes through the division hub; obtain the current-year application before relying on the amount or document list. | Path identified — current packet required | September 8, 2026 | Broward County |
| Orange | Orange County Paratransit (Non-Emergency) Services licensure. | Application package, employee certifications, vehicle inspections and insurance documentation. | $200 application including up to 3 vehicle inspections; $30 each additional vehicle; $1M CGL and $1M auto combined single limit in the official instructions. | Confirm that the posted instructions and linked forms are the current filing set on the submission date. | Path identified — verify before filing | September 15, 2026 | Orange County instructions |
| Hillsborough | Hillsborough County Tax Collector; Vehicle for Hire / handicab category. | Reviewed materials use “handicab” for wheelchair or stretcher transport when medical assistance is not needed or anticipated. | Current fees and insurance limits: verify directly. | Confirm the exact certificate, vehicle permit, driver credential and insurance path for the proposed service. | Category identified — verify applicability | September 8, 2026 | Hillsborough County |
| Palm Beach | Consumer Affairs; non-medical wheelchair and stretcher transportation. | County licensing, inspections, continuous commercial insurance, and driver background/driving-record review appear in reviewed materials. | Current fee unconfirmed. The historical $10,000 figure is not presented as a current 2026 fee. | Obtain the current application, fee schedule, insurance language and driver requirements directly. | Path identified — fee unconfirmed | September 8, 2026 | Palm Beach County |
| Pinellas | Safety & Emergency Services; COPCN framework for non-medical wheelchair/stretcher transportation. | County certificate framework identified; operator must obtain the current application packet. | Current fees, insurance limits and driver details: verify directly. | Confirm classification, application, inspection, vehicle and driver requirements before acquisition. | Path identified — details unconfirmed | September 8, 2026 | Pinellas County |
| Duval / Jacksonville | Jacksonville Chapter 158 addresses emergency and non-emergency medical transportation services. | The chapter cannot be treated as proof of the path for ordinary non-medical NEMT because its medical-transport definition centers service requiring or potentially requiring ALS/BLS. | Currently unconfirmed — verify directly. | Obtain direct written confirmation of the ordinary-NEMT path or exemption; do not infer it from silence or the medical-transport code. | Not cleared | September 8, 2026 | Jacksonville Code |
| Lee | Responsible county/local authority and ordinary-NEMT category require direct confirmation. | No specific current NEMT licensing conclusion is published on this page. | Currently unconfirmed — verify directly. | Authority, category, fees, insurance, vehicle, driver and inspection requirements remain unresolved. | Direct confirmation required | September 15, 2026 | Lee County and any applicable municipality. |
| Polk | Responsible county/local authority and ordinary-NEMT category require direct confirmation. | No specific current NEMT licensing conclusion is published on this page. | Currently unconfirmed — verify directly. | Authority, category, fees, insurance, vehicle, driver and inspection requirements remain unresolved. | Direct confirmation required | September 15, 2026 | Polk County and any applicable municipality. |
What this table does not prove
- The absence of a county requirement or amount in this table does not mean an operator is cleared to work.
- A county status does not replace a health-plan, transportation-vendor, facility, insurer or contract requirement.
- A named category may not fit every service level, vehicle configuration or pickup jurisdiction.
- Recheck the responsible authority’s current forms and written requirements before filing, binding coverage or buying a vehicle.
What to ask every county
- Which operating certificate or authorization covers the exact passenger and service level?
- Does the company need a separate vehicle permit, inspection or decal?
- Does each driver need a county credential, background check or chauffeur license?
- What current application fee, renewal fee, fleet minimum and approval timetable apply?
- What insurance certificate wording and limits must appear on the filing?
- Does stretcher service cross into a medical-transport or ambulance category?
- Which pickup jurisdictions or incorporated cities add separate requirements?
Primary sources used
- F.S. 316.87 - Nonemergency medical transportation services
- F.S. 401.25 - Licensure as a basic or advanced life support service
- County sources are linked in each row above. Where this page says “not reconfirmed,” “not cleared” or “direct confirmation required,” that label is intentional.
Go beyond the summary
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