Florida Statute 481.223 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

Chapter 481
ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

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F.S. 481.223

481.223 Prohibitions; penalties; injunctive relief.—

(1) A person may not knowingly:

(a) Practice architecture unless the person is an architect or a registered architect; however, a licensed architect who has been licensed by the board and who chooses to relinquish or not to renew his or her license may use the title “Architect, Retired” but may not otherwise render any architectural services.

(b) Use the name or title “architect,” “registered architect,” or “registered interior designer” when the person is not then the holder of a valid license or certificate of registration issued pursuant to this part. This paragraph does not restrict the use of the name or title “interior designer” or “interior design firm.”

(d) Give false or forged evidence to the board or a member thereof.

(e) Use or attempt to use an architect license or interior design certificate of registration that has been suspended, revoked, or placed on inactive or delinquent status.

(f) Employ unlicensed persons to practice architecture.

(g) Conceal information relative to violations of this part.

(2) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (1) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3)(a) Notwithstanding chapter 455 or any other law to the contrary, an affected person may maintain an action for injunctive relief to restrain or prevent a person from violating paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b). The prevailing party is entitled to actual costs and attorney fees.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, the term “affected person” means a person directly affected by the actions of a person suspected of violating paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) and includes, but is not limited to, the department, any person who received services from the alleged violator, or any private association composed primarily of members of the profession the alleged violator is practicing or offering to practice or holding himself or herself out as qualified to practice.

History.—ss. 14, 19, ch. 79-273; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 15, 23, 24, ch. 88-383; s. 111, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429; ss. 234, 305, ch. 94-119; s. 417, ch. 97-103; s. 4, ch. 2001-269; s. 3, ch. 2006-276; s. 51, ch. 2020-160.

F.S. 481.223 on Google Scholar

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Amendments to 481.223

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 481.223

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S481.223 1a - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - PRACTICE ARCHITECTURE WITHOUT BEING REGISTERED - M: F

S481.223 1b - FRAUD-IMPERSON - USE REG ARCHITECT INTERIOR DESIGN TITLE WO LIC - M: F

S481.223 1b - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - REMOVED - M: F

S481.223 1c - FRAUD-IMPERSON - PRESENT ARCHITECT LICENSE OF ANOTHER - M: F

S481.223 1c - FRAUD-IMPERSON - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9131 - M: F

S481.223 1d - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - EVIDENCE TO ARCHITECT LICENSE BOARD OR MEMBER - M: F

S481.223 1d - FRAUD-IMPERSON - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9132 - M: F

S481.223 1d - PASS FORGED - EVIDENCE TO ARCHITECT LICENSE BOARD OR MEMBER - M: F

S481.223 1e - PASS FORGED - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9133 - M: F

S481.223 1e - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9134 - M: F

S481.223 1e - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - USE REVOKED INACTIVE ARCHITECT/INT DESIGN LIC - M: F

S481.223 1f - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - EMPLOY UNLIC PERSON PRACT ARCHITECT/INT DESIGN - M: F

S481.223 1f - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9135 - M: F

S481.223 1g - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - CONCEAL INFO ARCHITECT/INT DESIGN VIOLATIONS - M: F

S481.223 1g - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9136 - M: F

S481.223 1h - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9137 - M: F

Cases Citing Statute 481.223

Total Results: 10

Locke v. Shore

634 F.3d 1185, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 3879, 2011 WL 692238

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Mar 1, 2011 | Docket: 2274383

Cited 30 times | Published

Stat. §§ 481.209(2), 481.213. Florida statute § 481.223(l)(b) provides that “[a] person may not knowingly

Benitez v. State

852 So. 2d 386, 2003 WL 21976094

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 20, 2003 | Docket: 1422475

Cited 7 times | Published

architecture without a license in violation of section 481.223 of the Florida Statutes and with two counts

Miller Const. Co. v. First Indus. Technology Corp.

576 So. 2d 748, 1991 WL 18263

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 19, 1991 | Docket: 1669717

Cited 4 times | Published

architect. See O'Kon, 540 So.2d at 840; see also § 481.223(1), Fla.Stats. (1987) (person may not practice

O'Kon and Co., Inc. v. Riedel

588 So. 2d 1025, 1991 WL 224984

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 1, 1991 | Docket: 1708394

Cited 2 times | Published

provided in s. 481.213. (emphasis supplied) Section 481.223 provides in pertinent part: (1) No person shall

Diaz & Russell Corp. v. Department of Business & Professional Regulation

140 So. 3d 662, 2014 WL 2199757, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 8113

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 28, 2014 | Docket: 60241569

Published

contractor faces civil and criminal liability under section 481.223, Florida Statutes (2010). However, the exemption

Eva Locke v. Joyce Shore

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Mar 1, 2011 | Docket: 2906558

Published

Stat. §§ 481.209(2), 481.213. Florida statute § 481.223(1)(b) provides that “[a] person may not knowingly

Locke v. Shore

682 F. Supp. 2d 1283, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10449, 2010 WL 430950

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Feb 4, 2010 | Docket: 65986015

Published

designer unless otherwise exempted herein.... § 481.223, Fla. Stat.1 A “registered interi- or designer”

State v. Pavon

792 So. 2d 665, 2001 WL 980808

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 29, 2001 | Docket: 1735399

Published

"interior designer or words to that effect." Section 481.223, Florida Statutes (1999), provides in relevant

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Dec 18, 1997 | Docket: 3258179

Published

prohibited from practicing in this state." Section 481.223(1), Florida Statutes, prohibits a person from

O'Kon and Co., Inc. v. Riedel

540 So. 2d 836, 1988 WL 134442

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 31, 1989 | Docket: 1688919

Published

architecture in the state of Florida, contrary to section 481.223, Florida Statutes. In his deposition, the only