DWC-250 form (Florida): the workers' comp owner exemption
Notice of Election to Be Exempt. Who can file it, where to get it, how to file, the fee, when it takes effect, and how often it renews — from Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation.
DWC-250 filing snapshot
FormDWC-250 — Notice of Election to Be Exempt
Issuing bodyFlorida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation
Filing methodOnline DWC Notice of Election to Be Exempt system.
Fee$50 (construction); $0 (non-construction)
Common mistakeExemptions are issued to individual qualifying corporate officers/LLC members, not to the business. Construction and non-construction eligibility limits differ.
When it takes effectWhen issued by the Division or 30 days after receipt, whichever occurs first, subject to the statute’s special early-policy rule.
Renewal2 years; renewal application is required. Florida sends an expiration notice at least 60 days before expiration.
Watch out forConstruction and non-construction have different eligibility and fee rules; the exemption is issued to the individual, not the business.
Get the DWC-250 from Florida Department of Financial Services
Which Florida owners can use the DWC-250
Sole proprietorNon-construction: not treated as an employee unless the owner elects coverage on DWC-251. Construction: current Division contractor guidance treats sole proprietors as employees; the current owner-exemption application is for corporate officers and LLC members.
LLC memberAn LLC member may apply to exclude themself from employee status. In construction, the member must attest to at least 10% ownership; no more than three exemptions are permitted per business or affiliated group, and the application fee is $50. In non-construction, an LLC member must attest to at least 10% ownership and no more than 10 members may elect exemption.
PartnerNon-construction: partners are not treated as employees unless they elect coverage on DWC-251. Construction: current Division contractor guidance treats partners as employees; the current owner-exemption application is for corporate officers and LLC members.
Corporate officerA qualifying corporate officer may file a Notice of Election to be Exempt. Construction officers must be listed with the Division of Corporations, attest to at least 10% ownership, and are subject to the three-exemption limit and $50 fee. Non-construction officers must be listed as officers of an active corporation; the Division's current non-construction page does not impose the construction fee or three-officer limit.
Employee threshold: Non-construction employers generally must secure workers' compensation coverage when they have four or more employees, counting non-exempt corporate officers and LLC members. Sole proprietors and partners in non-construction are not treated as employees unless they elect coverage. In construction: Construction employers with one or more employees must have coverage. Corporate officers and LLC members may qualify for an owner exemption; construction sole proprietors and partners are treated as employees under the Division's current contractor guidance and are not listed as eligible applicants in the current exemption system.
Read the full context in the Florida workers' comp exemption guide, or run the eligibility screener to check your entity type first.
DWC-250 form (Florida): frequently asked questions
- Where do I get the DWC-250 form in Florida?
- The DWC-250 (Notice of Election to Be Exempt) is issued by Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation. Online DWC Notice of Election to Be Exempt system. Use the official link on this page rather than a third-party copy, which may be out of date.
- Is there a fee to file the DWC-250 in Florida?
- $50 (construction); $0 (non-construction)
- How often does the DWC-250 exemption renew in Florida?
- 2 years; renewal application is required. Florida sends an expiration notice at least 60 days before expiration. Watch out: Construction and non-construction have different eligibility and fee rules; the exemption is issued to the individual, not the business.
Where this comes from
The DWC-250 entry is anchored to Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation — the state agency that issues and processes the form — not a generalized summary. Source-checked 2026-09-10.