Florida has its own do not call list. Here is what it blocks and what it does not
Yes. Florida keeps its own “no sales solicitation calls” list, and sellers may not make unwanted sales calls or texts to numbers on it.
TL;DR: Florida keeps its own do not call list. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services runs it. Home, cell, and pager numbers can go on it. The list also takes in Florida numbers from the national do not call list. Sellers may not make unwanted sales calls or send unwanted sales texts to numbers on it. Some calls are still allowed, such as calls you asked for. You can also tell any seller to stop calling you. You can complain to the department, and you can sue.
Florida's rules on sales calls are in the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act, Section 501.059, Florida Statutes. This article explains what Florida's list blocks and what it does not. If you live outside Florida, check your own state's rules and the national registry.
Does Florida have its own do not call list?
Yes. Some people think there is only the national list. Florida keeps its own. The official name is the “no sales solicitation calls” list. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services runs it.
Florida's list also takes in the national list. The Federal Trade Commission keeps a national do not call database. Florida's law tells the department to add the national listings that relate to Florida to Florida's list.
How do you get on Florida's do not call list?
You tell the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that you want to be on the list. The law then says the department must add you. Home phones, cell phones, and pagers can all go on it.
The department updates the list as new sign-ups and renewals come in. It also sells the list to telephone sellers.
What calls and texts does the list block?
A telephone seller may not make an unwanted sales call to a home, cell, or pager number on the state's current list. The department puts out the list every three months. Some people think texts are not covered. Under Florida's law, a sales text counts as a sales call, so unwanted sales texts are blocked too.
Does Florida's list stop all calls?
No. The list blocks unwanted sales calls and texts. Some calls do not count as unwanted under the law:
- Calls you asked for.
- Calls mainly about a debt or contract you still have.
- Calls from a business you already deal with, or dealt with before.
- Calls from a newspaper publisher.
A Florida appeals court held in 2007 that a store's recent customers fell within the exception for businesses you already deal with. The law also lets a licensed real estate agent call a person selling or renting a home, in answer to a yard sign or other ad.
Can you tell a seller to stop calling, even if you are not on the list?
Yes. This is a separate rule from the list. Under Florida's law, a seller may not call you, text you, or leave you a voicemail if you already told that seller you do not want those calls or texts. You do not need to be on the list for this rule to apply.
What happens when a seller ignores the list?
The department must look into complaints about sellers who break the law. The department, or Florida's Department of Legal Affairs, may ask a court for a fine and an order to stop.
You can also sue. A court can award your actual losses or $500, whichever is more. If the seller broke the law willfully or knowingly, the court can raise that to as much as three times that amount. For more on that, see our guide on when you can sue over robocalls in Florida. You can find all of our robocall guides in one place, including one on spoofed local numbers.
What this article does not cover
This article explains what Florida's list blocks and what it does not. It leaves some things out on purpose:
- Whether signing up is free, how long a listing lasts, or the department's sign-up website or phone number. This article does not answer these, and it does not guess.
- The national registry's own rules, sign-up, and exceptions.
- Scam calls, political calls, and charity calls.
- Fine amounts.
It also does not say whether you should sue. It describes the law.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Florida do not call list?
Yes. Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services keeps a no sales calls list. Home, cell, and pager numbers can go on it.
Does Florida's do not call list stop all calls?
No. It covers unwanted sales calls and texts. Calls you asked for are not covered. Neither are calls about a debt or contract you still have, or calls from a business you already deal with.
How do I register for the Florida do not call list?
You tell the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that you want your number on the list. The department must then add it.
Educational only. Not legal advice.
Nothing here is legal services or advice about your situation. I am not available to represent you or to review your case. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client, fiduciary, or advisory relationship. Federal telecommunications and consumer-protection statutes vary by state. Verify every rule, deadline, and remedy against the law where you live. If you have a problem like the one described above, the strongest protection is a consumer-protection attorney licensed in your state. Many consumer-protection statutes include fee-shifting and damages multipliers, which often makes representation affordable.