(1) Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 455.224, the Commission sets forth violations for which there is no substantial threat to the public health, safety, and welfare; or, if there is a violation for which there is no substantial threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, such potential for harm has been removed prior to the issuance of the citation. Next to each violation is the fine or other conditions to be imposed. For purposes of this rule, the descriptions of the violations listed below are abbreviated and the statute or rule that is listed should be consulted for a complete description of the prohibited conduct.

Terms Used In Florida Regulations 61J2-24.002

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
    (2) The following violations with accompanying fine or other conditions may be disposed of by citation:
VIOLATION
FINE
(a) Section 475.180(2)(a), F.S. – a resident licensee failed to notify the Commission of becoming a nonresident as prescribed
$600.00
(b) Sections 475.17(2)(a), 475.17(3)(a), 475.17(4)(a), F.S., Rules 61J2-3.008 and 61J2-3.009, F.A.C. – failed to provide the required number of classroom hours for an approved or prescribed course
$1,000.00
(c) Florida Statutes § 475.175(2) and Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-3.015 – failed to provide a course completion certificate to a student after previously receiving a Notice of Noncompliance
$250.00
(d) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-3.015 – school failed to retain copy of course completion certificate for retention period required by rule after previously receiving a Notice of Noncompliance.
$250.00
(e) Florida Statutes § 475.22(1) and Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.022 – failed to maintain the required office as prescribed
$1,000.00
(f) Florida Statutes § 475.22(1) – failed to maintain the required office entrance sign
$250.00
(g) Florida Statutes § 475.22(2) – failed to register an out of state Florida broker’s office
$1,000.00
(h) Florida Statutes § 475.24, and Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.023 – failed to register a location as a branch office
$400.00
(i) Section 475.25(1)(k), F.S. and subsection 61J2-14.010(1), F.A.C. – failed to immediately deposit trust funds provided the deposit is not more than 3 days late
$400.00
(j) Section 475.25(1)(q), F.S. – failed to give the appropriate disclosure or notice at the appropriate time under the provisions of Section 475.2755 or 475.278, F.S. (A citation may only be given for a first time violation.)
$600.00
(k) Section 475.25(1)(r), F.S. – failed to include the required information in a listing agreement; failed to give a copy to a principal within 24 hours; contains a self renewal clause
$400.00
(l) Section 475.42(1)(b), F.S. – sales associate operating as a sales associate without a registered employer due to failure to renew or properly register
$1,000.00
(m) Section 475.42(1)(i), F.S. – having a lis pendens placed by an attorney (Citation may be issued only if no other violation is present)
$1,000.00
(n) Section 475.42(1)(j), F.S. and Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.034 – operated as a broker under a tradename without causing the trade name to be noted in the records of the Commission
$1,000.00
(o) Florida Statutes § 475.451(3) – failed to obtain a multiple permit
$1,000.00
(p) Florida Statutes § 475.4511(2) – advertised false, inaccurate, misleading, or exaggerated information
$1,000.00
(q) Paragraph 61J2-3.009(4)(d), F.A.C. – failed to have a distance education course instructor available per published schedule
$600.00
(r) Subsection 61J2-3.008(5)(a), F.A.C. – failed to inform students of course standards and requirements
$250.00
(s) Subsection 61J2-3.015(2), F.A.C. – failed to provide a course completion report to a student; if a licensee, as the result of an audit/inspection, failed to provide a course completion report to the DBPR
$400.00
(t) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-5.016 – sales associate or broker associate serving as an officer or director of a registered brokerage corporation
$400.00
(u) Subsection 61J2-5.019(1), F.A.C. – failed to ensure that the corporation or partnership is properly registered; failed to ensure each officer, director and sales associate is properly licensed
$1,000.00
(v) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.025 – advertised in a manner in which a reasonable person would not know one is dealing with a real estate licensee or brokerage; failed to include the registered name of the brokerage firm in the advertisement; failed to use the licensee’s last name as registered with the Commission in an advertisement
$1,000.00
(w) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.026 – failed to follow the requirements for team or group advertising; a citation shall only be issued for a second violation of the rule committed after July 1, 2019
$1,000.00
(x) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.027 – used the name or identification of an association or organization when the licensee was not in good standing or otherwise not entitled to use same
$600.00
(y) Subsection 61J2-10.032(1), F.A.C. – broker failed to notify the Commission within the prescribed 15 business days but does so within 25 business days; or, if a Notice of Noncompliance has been issued pursuant to Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-24.003, and not timely complied with, failed to notify the Commission within 45 days but does so within 55 days
$250.00
(z) Subsection 61J2-10.032(1) and (2), F.A.C. – broker failed to institute a settlement procedure within the prescribed 30 business days but does so within 40 business days; or, if a Notice of Noncompliance has been issued pursuant to Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-24.003, and not timely complied with, failed to institute a settlement procedure within 60 days but does so within 70 days
$250.00
(aa) Subsection 61J2-10.032(2), F.A.C. – broker failed to notify the Commission that the dispute settled or went to court, or of the final accounting and disbursement within the prescribed 10 business days but broker does so within 20 business days; or, if a Notice of Noncompliance has been issued pursuant to Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-24.003, and not timely complied with, failed to notify the Commission that the dispute settled or went to court, or of the final accounting and disbursement within 40 days but does so within 50 days
$250.00
(bb) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.038 – failed to timely notify the DBPR of the current mailing address or any change in the current mailing address
$1,000.00
(cc) Paragraph 61J2-14.008(2)(b), F.A.C. – Second offense failure to indicate the name, address and telephone number of the title company or attorney on the contract
$250.00
(dd) Paragraph 61J2-14.008(2)(b), F.A.C. – Second offense failure to provide Seller’s broker, or Seller if not represented by a broker, within ten (10) business days of the date the Licensee’s broker made the written request for verification of the deposit with either a copy of the written verification, or if no verification is received by Licensee’s broker, written notice that Licensee’s broker did not receive verification of the deposit
$500.00
(ee) Subsection 61J2-14.012(2), F.A.C. – failed to properly reconcile an escrow account when the account balances
$500.00
(ff) Subsection 61J2-14.014(1), F.A.C. – failed to secure the written permission of all interested parties prior to placing trust funds in an interest bearing escrow account
$600.00
(gg) Subsection 61J2-14.014(2), F.A.C. – failed to stop interest from accruing prior to disbursement
$100.00
(hh) Subsection 61J2-17.013(1), F.A.C. – guaranteed that a pupil would pass an examination
$500.00
(ii) Failure to register a school location
$500.00
(jj) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-17.014 – improper use of a guest lecturer
$250.00
(kk) Fl. Admin. Code R. 61J2-17.015 – failed to post the required language regarding recruitment for employment; recruiting for employment opportunities during class time
$600.00
    (3) Citations may be issued to real estate licensees, permit holders, and registrants by the Division of Real Estate.
    (4) Citations are to be served upon the subject either by personal service or certified mail, restricted delivery, to the subject’s last known address.
    (5) The subject has 30 days from the date the citation becomes a final order to pay the fine. All fines are to be made payable to the “”Department of Business and Professional Regulation – R. E. Citations”” and sent to the Division of Real Estate in Orlando. A copy of the citation shall accompany the payment of the fine.
Rulemaking Authority 475.05, 475.2801, 475.2801 FS. Law Implemented 455.224, 475.25(1) FS. History-New 12-29-91, Amended 4-16-92, 1-20-93, 6-28-93, Formerly 21V-24.002, Amended 8-23-93, 4-7-94, 4-12-95, 7-5-95, 2-13-96, 6-5-96, 7-23-96, 1-22-97, 3-30-97, 11-10-97, 3-24-98, 7-1-98, 10-25-98, 1-19-99, 1-18-00, 10-15-00, 2-21-02, 2-5-04, 1-30-06, 7-20-09, 11-15-12, 10-16-16, 2-11-19, 9-23-20, 5-10-22, 3-2-23.