Broward County Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division accepts written complaints from individual consumers regarding alleged unfair and deceptive trade practices of businesses, including contractors you have hired, which are primarily located in Broward County.
The Division also handles complaints about abandoned or unsafe buildings, and community code compliance violations for property that is located in unincorporated Broward County and in municipalities under contract with the County.
When filing a complaint, please explain your problem simply and concisely. Be sure to enclose copies of all documents related to the complaint, including but not limited to receipts, contract(s), pictures, proof of payment, advertisements and correspondence. Remember, send only copies!
If we are unable to handle your complaint and we know of another enforcement agency which may be able to assist you, we will provide referral information to you. If you have a question about a consumer issue other than a complaint, we will provide information and share with you any available resources.
Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Complaints
If you are a consumer and you believe you have been a victim of an unfair and/or deceptive trade practice in Broward County, contact Broward County Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division at 954-765-4400 or send an e-mail to consumer@broward.org. If you prefer, you may download a complaint form from the link below, fill it out, print and sign it, and mail it to our agency at the address at the top of the form.
File a General Consumer Complaint (PDF).
Contractor and Tree Trimmer Complaints
The Broward County Contractor Licensing & Enforcement (CLE) Section issues Construction Industry and Tree Trimmer licenses; it also regulates those licensees, including residential building contractors, remodelers, roofers and specialty contractors. Our authority is limited to initiating administrative disciplinary action against the license of a Broward County contractor who has violated a law, an ordinance and/or the Florida Building Code.
The Contractor Licensing & Enforcement Section has no authority to:
• Compel a contractor to perform corrective work
• Compel a contractor to pay damages
• Impose the settlement of contract or other civil disputes
The above remedies are the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts or the arbitration process.
If your complaint involves workmanship issues, CLE cannot open a formal investigation unless:
• The contractor has been cited by a local building code enforcement official for a violation of the state building code, or
• The consumer has obtained a report from a Florida-registered engineer certifying that a construction defect constitutes a violation of the state building code
Florida law requires builders and remodelers to warrant their work for varying lengths of time; your contract may also contain a specific warranty for the work. A homeowner with a complaint about a warranty issue which a builder or remodeler has not resolved can use the Consumer Complaint Form to File a General Consumer Complaint (PDF).
To file a complaint Complaints involving a contractor/tree trimmer who is licensed by Broward County must be submitted in writing on the Contractor/Tree Trimmer Complaint Form (see link below). You may also obtain a complaint form by visiting our office or by calling 954-765-4400.
On the complaint form, provide details of the dispute and as many facts as possible. In addition, explain what you want the contractor to do to resolve your complaint. Attach copies of any documents that support your complaint, such as contracts or purchase agreements, cancelled checks, municipal inspection/correction notices or mechanic’s lien statements.
Contractors licensed by the State of Florida
Complaints involving contractors who are licensed by the State of Florida should be addressed to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Contractors/Tree Trimmers licensed by Broward County or unlicensed contractors
To file a complaint against a Broward County-licensed contractor or an unlicensed contractor, click on the appropriate link below:
• File a Complaint Against a Licensed or Unlicensed Contractor (PDF)
• Formulario Para Queja Contra Contratistas Sin o Con Licensia (PDF)
Mail your written complaint to:
Permitting Licensing and Consumer Protection Division
Contractor Investigation & Enforcement Unit
1 N University Drive Box 302
Plantation, FL 33324
Because your signature on the complaint form must be notarized, you must submit your complaint by mail or in person. Please note that our complaint investigators cannot offer legal advice.
Contractor Restitution Trust Fund
A homeowner who files a civil (legal) action against a Broward-County licensed contractor and obtains a judgment based on the contractor's failure of performance is eligible to file a claim for compensation through the Broward County Contractor Restitution Trust Fund program. The term “failure of performance” includes a breach of the contract warranty; a fraudulent, deceptive or dishonest practice; or a conversion of funds. The Contractor Restitution Trust Fund is administered by the Broward County Central Examining Boards.
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Unsafe Building Complaints
Our agency also accepts complaints about buildings located in unincorporated Broward County or a municipality under contract with the county that are abandoned and appear to be dangerous or unsafe. If our inspector determines that a building presents a hazard, the Florida Building Code provides that the appropriate Building Official may declare that it is an Unsafe Structure. The Code also has provisions for notifying the owner of record to correct the violations or demolish the building. If that is not done by the owner within a specified time, the building may be demolished and the owner will be billed for the cost.
To report an abandoned and possibly dangerous structure located in unincorporated Broward County or a municipality under contract with the county, call 954-765-4400, Option 8. For an abandoned building located elsewhere, please contact the municipality in which it is located. Broward County City Links
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Community Code Compliance Complaints
Our agency also accepts complaints about maintenance problems of properties located in unincorporated Broward County or a municipality under contract with the county. The Broward County Zoning Code provides standards for these properties and the Division enforces those standards by addressing property maintenance issues that can negatively impact a neighborhood or community, including the following:
• overgrown lots
• stagnant swimming pools
• junk vehicles
• derelict vessels
• abandoned property
To file a complaint about a property located in unincorporated Broward County or a municipality under contract with the county for these services, please call 954-765-4400, Option 8. If the property is located elsewhere, please call the appropriate municipality.[insert link to “Cities” section at Broward County City Links
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Complaints We Do Not Handle
If we are unable to handle your complaint, we will attempt to refer you to another agency which may be able to assist you. Some complaints, however, are best resolved in a court of law. Following are some of the types of complaints we do not accept:
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