Received a DBPR Complaint?

Your contractor license may be at risk

Former Florida DBPR Senior Prosecutor
Handled Thousands of Contractors License Cases

7+ Years of Experience with Investigations, Probable Cause & Administrative Charges

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Trusted By Florida Contractors

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“Her experience as a prosecutor handling these cases made a big difference.
She already understood how things work and knew exactly what to do.
She made the whole process much easier on me.”

— Verified Florida Contractor Client
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If your case escalates to formal charges, your options may become more limited.

Deadlines apply.

You are not responding to a complaint. You are building the record that will be reviewed.

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What Probable Cause Actually Means for Your License

From a Senior Florida DBPR prosecutor

After a DBPR complaint is submitted, your case me be referred to probable cause review. By this stage, the matter has already progressed beyond the investigative stage.

During this review, a panel of the Construction Industry Licensing Board, evaluates whether a probable cause exists to believe a violation occurred. If probable cause if found, DBPR proceeds by filing a Formal Administrative Complaint against your license.

At this point, much of the record has already been developed, including:

  • Investigator summaries

  • Witness statements

  • Contracts and communications

  • Your prior responses (if any)

The question is whether the alleged conduct may constitute a violation of Florida’s contractor licensing laws and related regulations.

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Where Most Contractors Misread the Situation

Many contractors assume the real fight begins after an administrative complaint is filed.

In reality:

“One of the most consequential stages of the process is when the matter is reviewed by counsel for legal sufficiency and potential prosecution, before probable cause panel review.”
Zeyna Kafrouni, Founder, Kafrouni Law | Former DBPR Construction Prosecutor.

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What Actually Influences the Decision

The panel is not deciding whether a complaint exists.

They are evaluating whether the evidence, as presented, supports a potential statutory violation under Chapter 489—and whether the case should proceed as a formal Administrative Complaint. This stage is fundamentally different from the Formal or informal DBPR contractor hearing, where evidence is weighed and disputed facts are resolved.

At the probable cause stage, the evaluation often turns on:

  • How the facts are framed in the investigative record

  • What documentation is included—or missing

  • Whether the narrative is internally consistent

  • How the case aligns with enforcement priorities

Attorney Insight

“The investigative record can shape how a case is evaluated at the probable cause stage. The materials submitted, the documentation included, and the way the facts are presented can all play a meaningful role in how the case is reviewed.”

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Founder, Kafrouni Law
Former DBPR Construction Prosecutor

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Strategic Case Positioning Before Formal Charges

If your matter is approaching probable cause review, this is the stage where how the case is framed becomes critical.

At this point, a focused legal approach is not about reacting—it is about understanding how the case will be evaluated within the existing record.

That includes:

  • How the case is likely being interpreted by the panel

  • Where potential exposure exists under chapter 489

  • What trajectory the case is currently on

  • Whether the records supports —or undermines— a finding of probable cause

A this stage, small differences in how the record is presented can meaningfully affect how the case proceeds.

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The Transition Most Contractors Don’t See

Once probable cause is found:

At that stage, your options are more limited.

That is why this stage matters.

Because it is the last only point where:

The direction of the case is still being shaped. Once probable cause is found, the case is no longer about whether an administrative complaint will be filed —but what happens next to your license.

Expand your readings

Can a Case be Dismissed early?


What Should I Do If I Receive a DBPR Complaint as a Contractor in Florida?


What Are the Steps to Take If My Contractor License Is at Risk in Florida?

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IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE: This publication is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Regulatory matters are governed by Chapters 455, 489, and 120, Florida Statutes, the Florida Administrative Code, and related Construction Industry Licensing Board rules. Outcomes depend on specific facts, procedural posture, and applicable law.