File a complaint.

Most contractor projects in Florida go fine. But when they don't — when a contractor abandons a job, performs substandard work, refuses to make corrections, or operates without proper licensing — Florida has a formal complaint process. Filing a complaint is free, it's straightforward, and it sometimes (not always) leads to meaningful consequences.

This guide walks through what kinds of complaints are appropriate, where to file them, what to expect from the process, and what your other options are when a complaint isn't enough.

Before you file: try direct resolution first

In a lot of cases, what looks like a serious contractor problem turns out to be a communication breakdown that can be resolved with a clear written conversation. Before escalating to a formal complaint:

1. Document the specific issue in writing. Take photos. Keep records of dates, names, and exact problems.
2. Send the contractor a written request to resolve the issue. Email is fine. Be specific about what you want fixed and by when.
3. Give them a reasonable window to respond and correct the work — usually 10 to 14 business days for non-urgent issues.
4. Keep all correspondence.

If the contractor responds and fixes the problem, you're done. If they don't, you now have documentation that you tried — which strengthens any complaint or legal claim that follows.

That said, in cases of fraud, complete abandonment of a job, or unlicensed contracting, skip the direct resolution step and go straight to the complaint process. Some situations don't deserve a second chance.

Where to file: DBPR

For most contractor complaints, the right place to file is the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. DBPR has authority to investigate licensed contractors, issue fines, suspend licenses, and revoke them entirely. DBPR also has jurisdiction over unlicensed contracting.

What DBPR investigates

DBPR has jurisdiction over a specific set of contractor issues. They investigate:

• Unlicensed contracting (doing work that requires a license without one)
• Contracting outside the scope of license (e.g., a roofer doing electrical work)
• Abandonment of a project (leaving without completing the work)
• Failure to honor a written warranty within the warranty period
• Misappropriation of funds (taking deposits and not performing work)
• Gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct
• Operating with an expired or suspended license
• Fraud in obtaining or using a license

What DBPR does not investigate

DBPR is a licensing regulator, not a small claims court. They do not handle:

• Disagreements about the quality of work (unless it rises to gross negligence)
• Disputes about the price or value of work performed
• Recovery of money paid to a contractor (DBPR has a recovery fund — see below — but it's separate)
• Breach of contract disputes (those are civil court matters)

For those issues, your options are civil court, small claims court (for amounts under $8,000 in Florida), or — for many homeowners — the Florida Construction Industries Recovery Fund.

The Florida Construction Industries Recovery Fund

Florida operates a specific fund that compensates homeowners for losses caused by licensed contractors who have been disciplined by DBPR. If a contractor takes your money and doesn't complete the work — and DBPR investigates and finds the contractor at fault — you may be able to recover up to $25,000 per project (and up to $50,000 in aggregate from any single contractor) from the recovery fund.

The catch is that the fund only applies to losses from licensed contractors who have been disciplined. If the contractor was unlicensed, the recovery fund doesn't cover you. (This is one of many reasons to verify the license before signing.)

To apply for recovery fund compensation:

1. File the DBPR complaint and wait for the investigation to complete
2. If DBPR finds the contractor at fault and imposes discipline, you receive notice
3. You file a separate claim with the recovery fund within one year of DBPR's final order

The recovery process takes time — often a year or more — but it can result in real money recovered.

When to involve a lawyer

If your losses exceed what the recovery fund can cover, or if the contractor was unlicensed (which excludes recovery fund eligibility), or if the issue involves a complex contract dispute, you may need a Florida construction attorney.

Florida has a strong construction litigation bar. Initial consultations are often free, and many construction attorneys work on contingency for clear-cut cases of contractor fraud. Look for an attorney with specific construction law experience, not a general practice.

Issues that often warrant attorney involvement:

• Losses over $10,000 with no recovery fund eligibility
• Mechanics' liens filed against your property by unpaid subcontractors
• Construction defects that emerge after the work is "complete"
• Contracts with arbitration clauses requiring formal proceedings

Reporting unlicensed contractors

Unlicensed contracting is a third-degree felony in Florida when the work involved is over $5,000 (Section 489.127 of the Florida Statutes). DBPR investigates and refers serious cases to local prosecutors.

You can report an unlicensed contractor to DBPR using the same complaint form — there's a specific section for unlicensed activity. You can also report locally to your county sheriff's office, which often has economic crime units that handle these cases.

Many Florida counties also run "sting" operations specifically targeting unlicensed contractors. Reporting a suspected unlicensed contractor — especially one who has solicited you door-to-door or after a storm — directly contributes to those enforcement efforts.

After-storm scams

Florida sees a predictable surge in unlicensed contractors and outright scammers after every major storm. Door-to-door solicitations offering immediate roof repair, debris cleanup, or storm damage assessments are red flags — legitimate contractors don't usually canvass neighborhoods this way.

If you've been approached by a contractor after a storm and they pressured you to sign on the spot, paid a deposit and they vanished, or had work done that doesn't match what was promised, report it to DBPR, your county sheriff, and the Florida Attorney General's office. These cases often involve criminal fraud and can result in real consequences for the contractor.

A final note

Most contractor problems can be prevented at the verification stage — checking the license, getting proof of insurance, requiring a written contract. The complaint process exists for when those preventive measures weren't taken or weren't enough. Don't skip the prevention. But if you find yourself needing the complaint process, use it. Florida takes contractor regulation seriously, and the system works better than many people expect.