DBPR is dedicated to ensuring compliance with state laws and protecting Floridians from the harm posed by hiring unlicensed contractors. The department is charged with regulating 18 different professions with more than 410,000 licensees.

If you hire an unlicensed individual that can threaten the financial and personal safety of consumers, as well as the livelihood of state-licensed professionals. Unlicensed individuals may not carry workers’ compensation or liability insurance, and consumers may end up paying for injuries on the job. Additionally, unlicensed individuals often underbid licensed professionals, which results in law-abiding professionals losing work to those who do not meet state licensure requirements.

Florida’s DBPR’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists.

• Complaint Hotline (813) 274-3100: This hotline allows citizens to report construction being done without a permit or work that is not following building code protocol within the Tampa city limits.
   

• Unlicensed Contractor Hotline (813) 276-3657 or (813) 276-3638: These hotlines allow citizens to report unlicensed contractor activity within the Tampa city limits directly to the Criminal Intelligence Bureau of the Tampa Police Department.
  
  

• To report unlicensed activity, please visit the DBPR site listed below for more information.
  http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/reg/UnlicensedActivity.html

• To view the list of Notices Issued to Cease & Desist for Unlicensed Activity, please click here.