Dear Friends,

This week, Tropical Storm Isaac passed over much of Florida, leaving many residents working to clean up after the storm and make repairs to their homes or businesses. Various counties from across the state have reported flooding and other storm damage, and we understand that residents want to start repairing their homes and businesses as quickly as possible. As these repairs begin, I ask that consumers remember that it is crucial to hire only licensed professionals to perform the work.

Hiring licensed professionals is important as they are held to professional standards outlined in Florida law, whereas unlicensed individuals are not. Unlicensed activity occurs when an individual offers to perform or performs services that require a state license and the individual does not hold the required license. Moreover, since the damage from Tropical Storm Isaac was severe in areas across the state, Governor Scott has declared a state of emergency across the entire state, making unlicensed activity a felony.

Here at the Department, we want to help ensure that our residents who are scrambling to clean-up are avoiding the possible dangers of dealing with unlicensed professionals. If you suspect someone is performing unlicensed activity in your area, please report it to our Department by emailing ULA@dbpr.state.fl.us or by calling the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 1-866-532-1440. You may also upload pictures to the Department’s Facebook or Twitter page, enabling inspectors to gather information from areas that may have limited accessibility. I hope your clean-up efforts go as smoothly as possible so you may be able to return to your normal daily routine. Thank you for allowing us to continue serving you, and stay safe!

Sincerely,

Ken Lawson
Secretary

Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Customer Contact Center:
850.487.1395
www.MyFloridaLicense.com