The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has taken measures against unlicensed contractors in Lee and Monroe counties. The operations, conducted with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Building Department, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office, aimed to prevent scams targeting homeowners.
“Florida is a law-and-order stronghold under Governor DeSantis and, under his leadership, DBPR continues to work with state and local law enforcement partners to hold bad actors accountable,” stated DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “These targeted efforts protect Floridians and business owners alike from the dangers and negative, long-term impacts of unlicensed activity, and we look forward to keeping the momentum going.”
In Lee County, an undercover operation on January 28-29 resulted in charges against nine individuals for unlicensed contracting and felony State of Emergency violations following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
A similar operation took place in Monroe County on February 6-7. This effort led to eight citations for unlicensed contracting and electrical work.
All cases have been forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement agencies for further action.
Unlicensed contractors often lack necessary training, experience, and insurance, which can lead to poor workmanship and financial loss. Floridians are advised to verify professional licenses at MyFloridaLicense.com. Suspicious activities should be reported through the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at (866) 532-1440 or by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com.
Industry partners can support DBPR’s mission by using the Unlicensed Activity Toolkit available for download.
