Meet Scott LaCoste
More than two decades across commercial and residential construction in Northwest Florida.
Scott LaCoste is a native of Northwest Florida; his family has been in the region for generations. He grew up in a family commercial construction and electrical business, so the trade was already the family business before he ever built a house of his own.
He got his building license in 2002 and built a successful home-building business through 2010, along with real-estate investing on the side. When the 2008-2009 housing downturn hit, he went back to commercial construction for five or six years, keeping crews working while new-home demand across the region dried up.
Scott returned to residential building in 2016-2017, in partnership with a local builder, until 2022. That year he stepped back to build a couple of homes a year, on his own terms. Demand kept growing since, and he plans to keep building for years to come. He holds a Florida Certified Building Contractor license, CBC1268530, and a Florida Certified Electrical Contractor license, EC13007678, the latter a credential from the family business he grew up in. He's personally involved on every home his company builds, from the first walk of the lot to the final walkthrough. In his own words: buyers get a higher level of quality than from a tract builder, a lot of visible upgrades, and a lot of things you can't see because his crews don't take shortcuts. It lasts longer and it looks better. Scott has two sons, and he spends what free time he has on the Gulf Coast, fishing.
Scott has been a member of Woodbine Methodist Church in Pace for many years. He's a former board member of the Associated General Contractors of Northwest Florida, past president of the Electrical Contractors Association of Northwest Florida, served on its Electrical Apprenticeship Committee, and is a current member of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Florida.
- Building license
- Florida Certified Building Contractor, license CBC1268530
- Electrical license
- Florida Certified Electrical Contractor, license EC13007678
- Based in
- Pace, Santa Rosa County. Building across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
- Experience
- Building license since 2002, with commercial construction before and alongside it
The home he built for his own family
Scott lives on his own acreage in Pace, in a modern farmhouse he built for his family: white board-and-batten under a wraparound porch, a brick archway into the kitchen and beams across the great room. It is the house he had to live with afterwards.
“You get a higher level of quality than from a tract builder. A lot of visible upgrades, and a lot you can't see, because we don't take shortcuts. I'm personally involved in every phase of every house. It lasts longer, and it looks better.”
“Working with Scott LaCoste was a fantastic experience. He has a brilliant eye for design, turning blueprints into an incredibly beautiful home. Dealing with him as a contractor was seamless; he was highly communicative, stuck to our budget, and brought practical solutions to every mid-project decision. He treated our project as a priority and delivered flawless results. Highly recommended!”
“Scott LaCoste Construction delivered exceptional work on my custom home. From initial site selection through the final details, Scott demonstrated professionalism, craftsmanship, and a strong commitment to bringing my vision to life. … I am grateful for his work and highly recommend him.”
Affiliations and community
- Home Builders Association of Northwest Florida
- Member
- Associated General Contractors of Northwest Florida
- Former board member
- Electrical Contractors Association of Northwest Florida
- Past president
- Electrical Apprenticeship Committee
- Served for many years
- Woodbine Methodist Church, Pace
- Member
A Lunsford he finished in Milton
What every home he hands over has to be
Commercial roots, residential work
Scott grew up in a family commercial construction and electrical business in Northwest Florida, so the trade was the family business before he ever built a house of his own. He got his building license in 2002 and ran a successful home-building business through 2010, along with real-estate investing on the side. When the 2008-2009 housing downturn hit, he went back to commercial construction for five or six years, work that kept crews busy while new-home demand dried up. He returned to residential building in 2016-2017, in partnership with a local builder, until 2022. That's more than two decades split across commercial and residential work, not just one or the other.
Licensed, and proud of it
Scott holds a Florida Certified Building Contractor license, CBC1268530. He also holds a Florida Certified Electrical Contractor license, EC13007678, a credential from the family business he grew up in. Both numbers are on every page of this site because Florida requires it, and because he'd rather you check them than take his word for it. What the licenses mean in practice is simple: the person who signs the permit is the person who walks the job.
Personally involved on every job
Scott believes a well-built home shouldn't cost more than it has to, and he'd rather build fewer homes right than cut corners to build more. In his own words: buyers get a higher level of quality than from a tract builder, a lot of visible upgrades, and a lot of things you can't see because his crews don't take shortcuts. He's personally involved in every phase of every house; it lasts longer and it looks better. He's on the job site regularly, and if you call the office, there's a good chance you'll get Scott directly rather than a receptionist or a sales team.
Questions
How long has Scott been building homes?
He's held his building license since 2002. He built homes through 2010, spent several years back in commercial construction after the housing downturn, returned to residential building in 2016, and has run Scott LaCoste Construction since 2022.
What licenses does Scott hold?
A Florida Certified Building Contractor license, CBC1268530, and a Florida Certified Electrical Contractor license, EC13007678.
Will I actually work with Scott directly?
Yes. He's personally involved on every job, from the first lot walk to the final walkthrough.