With hurricane season now under way, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation is reminding consumers, businesses and professionals to protect themselves following a natural disaster by hiring only licensed professionals to perform necessary repairs.
Among the many risks Floridians face during hurricane season is the increased potential danger of unlicensed activity scams, which threaten the livelihood of consumers.
“Hurricane season can take a hefty toll on Florida’s consumers and businesses,” DBPR secretary Ken Lawson said, in a release. “With the right disaster preparedness plan and knowledge of what to do following a hurricane, Floridians can prevent a natural disaster from turning into a financial disaster. Protecting oneself from unlicensed activity is among the most important steps to take after a storm, and DBPR is here to help make Floridians aware of the best ways to be proactive this hurricane season.”
In conjunction with hurricane season comes an influx of unlicensed contracting activity. Unlicensed activity occurs when an individual who is not licensed by the state provides or offers to provide services that require a license in the state.
Consumers can report suspected unlicensed activity by calling (866) 532-1440, or emailing .
Unlicensed activity is illegal, and when the governor declares a state of emergency, the penalty for unlicensed activity elevates from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony offense, according to DBPR.
Consumers should stay familiar with the types of work that would require a licensed contractor. That includes roof repairs, roof installations, window installations, plumbing and electrical repairs, and rewiring.
Common storm-related services that do not require a license include trimming or removal of fallen trees, removal of debris, or even placing tarps on roofs.
For the full list of construction services licensed by DBPR, visit MyFloridaLicense.com, or call (850) 487-1395.
