Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Printer Friendly Version

What is the purpose of the department?

The mission of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.

What are the department's responsibilities?

The department is charged with licensing and regulating Florida businesses and professionals, including cosmetologists, veterinarians, real estate agents, and pari-mutuel wagering facilities.

How does the department perform its mission?

The department's regulatory activities are divided among 10 divisions and two commissions. Duties for each are described below.

Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco issues licenses and permits that are required for any person or business to manufacture, import, export, store, distribute, or sell alcoholic beverages or tobacco.
Division of Certified Public Accounting regulates Certified Public Accountants and accounting firms.
Division of Drug, Devices and Cosmetics safeguards the citizens of the state of Florida from injury due to the use of adulterated, contaminated, or misbranded drugs, drug ingredients, and cosmetics by administering the provisions of the Florida Drug and Cosmetic Act.
Division of Condominiums, Time Shares, and Mobile Homes helps protect Floridians by regulating condominiums, cooperatives, timeshares, and mobile home parks. The division also licenses and regulates yacht and shipbrokers.
Division of Hotels and Restaurants protects the health and safety of the public by inspecting and regulating public lodging and food service establishments. The division also licenses and regulates elevators, escalators, and other vertical conveyance devices.
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering ensures compliance with state laws for such activities as horse and greyhound racing, jai alai games, card-room poker games, and slot machines while also collecting and safeguarding revenues due the state from these activities.
Division of Professions licenses over 460,000 diverse professionals, such as architects, auctioneers, barbers, electrical contractors, interior designers, and veterinarians.
Division of Real Estate conducts examinations, licensing, and regulatory activities to the more than 400,000 real estate professionals, corporations, schools, and instructors operating in the state.
Division of Regulation monitors professionals and related businesses licensed by the department to help ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and licensing standards.
Division of Service Operations manages the Central Intake and Licensure unit, which is the one-stop shop for the intake of applications and payments. The division also oversees the Customer Contact Center, which handles all initial interaction conducted via telephone, e-mail, and the internet.
Florida Building Commission develops, maintains, and interprets the Florida Building Code through a consensus-building process within the 25-member technical body.
Florida State Boxing Commission regulates professional boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts and approves amateur sanctioning organizations that supervise these activities at the amateur level.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2020-21

	Fund	Dollars	Positions
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF
PROGRAM: ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO
	COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT	17,844,722	186.75
	STANDARDS AND LICENSURE	4,505,985	59.50
	TAX COLLECTION	6,752,983	82.00
PROGRAM: FLORIDA CONDOMINIUMS, TIMESHARES AND MOBILE HOMES
	COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT	7,206,367	102.00
PROGRAM: HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS
	COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT	25,963,851	353.00
PROGRAM: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY AND ADMINISTRATION
	EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES	16,165,610	169.50
	INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	10,774,609	57.00
PROGRAM: PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
	PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING	9,604,269	65.00
	SLOT MACHINE REGULATION	4,960,915	50.00
PROGRAM: PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
	COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT	32,972,984	236.50
	DRUGS, DEVICES, AND COSMETICS	3,468,481	25.50
	FARM AND CHILD LABOR REGULATION	2,048,250	30.00
	FLORIDA BOXING COMMISSION	1,090,403	4.00
	TESTING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION	3,253,848	38.00
PROGRAM: SERVICE OPERATION
	CENTRAL INTAKE	8,388,086	108.50
	CUSTOMER CONTACT CENTER	5,720,635	92.00
TOTAL		160,721,998	1,659.25

Source: www.transparencyflorida.gov

Updates

Reduced regulation. The 2020 Legislature enacted Ch. 2020-160, Laws of Florida, which deregulated some professions, such as hair braiders and wrappers, nail polishers, and makeup artists; reduced training and other requirements to obtain selected professional licenses; made it easier for some out of state professionals and veterans to obtain licensure; reduced the number of members on the Florida Building Commission; and, preempted the regulation of food trucks to the state.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website.
Websites of Interest
Department of Business and Professional Regulation, How Do I File a Complaint?
U.S. Government, Small Businesses
U.S. Government, Regulations.gov
Performance Information
Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Section 20.165, Florida Statutes, establishes the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Florida statutes governing regulatory activities for the ten divisions and two commission are listed below.

Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco, Chs. 210, 386, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 567, 568, and 569, and ss. 322.212, 559.791, 768.125, and 877.18, Florida Statutes.
Division of Certified Public Accounting, Chs. 455 and 473, Florida Statutes.
Division of Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics, Ch. 499, Florida Statutes.
Division of Condominiums, Time Shares, and Mobile Homes, Chs. 326, 718, 719, 720, 721, and 723, Florida Statutes.
Division of Hotels and Restaurants, Chs. 83, 386, 399, 509, and 559, and s. 865.09, Florida Statutes.
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Chs. 550, 551, and 849, and s. 285.710, Florida Statutes.
Divisions of Professions and Regulation, Chs. 310, 447, 450, 455, 468, 469, 474, 476, 477, 481, 489, 492, and 548, Florida Statutes.
Division of Real Estate, Chs. 455 and 475, Florida Statutes.
Division of Service Operations, Chs. 20, 23, 116, 120, and 455, Florida Statutes.
Florida Building Commission, ss. 553.76 and 553.77, Florida Statutes.
Florida State Boxing Commission, Ch. 548, Florida Statutes.

Whom do I contact for help?

Department of Business and Professional Regulation Customer Contact Center, 850-487-1395
Website