A nationally coordinated licensing enforcement effort by the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA) across 10 states and the District of Columbia netted 683 non-compliant parties. The effort, which spanned three weeks in June, focused on unlicensed activity in Arizona, California, Washington, D.C., Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Utah, according to a news release.
The goal of the enforcement effort was to promote consumer and public protection through the licensing and registration of contractors, according to the NASCLA. The initiative provided state members the opportunity to protect consumers, deter illegal construction activity, and level the playing field for legitimate contractors in the construction industry. State agencies issued administrative citations and criminal notices to contractors in violation and, where necessary, initiated additional investigations.
The NASCLA provided statistical breakdowns on a state-by-state basis:
- The Arizona Registrar of Contractor’s effort made contract with 30 unlicensed entities and documented 13 violations of contracting without a license.
- The California Contractors State License Board’s effort included 169 legal actions, 31 unlicensed contractors, and fines totaling $70,500.
- The District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs filed three complaints and are conducting further investigations on 10 cases.
- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation initiated 55 cases as a result of its sweep and enforcement operations.
- The Mississippi State Board of Contractors filed 19 complaints and earmarked 65 cases for further investigation.
- The Nevada State Contractors Board’s effort resulted in six criminal cases and identified 27 statutory violations.
- The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department found 34 unlicensed contractors.
- The Oregon Construction Contractor Board discovered 12 possible contracting violations.
- The Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board discovered 30 violations.
- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filed 47 enforcement cases.
- The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing issued 96 administrative citations for unlicensed activity, which included fines totaling $543,000.