Privacy Law Library

Florida Telemarketing Act

Florida Telemarketing Act

Marketing

Licenses commercial telemarketers and sets conduct rules. Since 2021 it limits solicitation calls to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the called person's time zone, caps them at three calls in 24 hours on the same subject, and bars blocking or spoofing caller ID. Those call-conduct rules apply even to sellers otherwise exempt from the Act.

Where
Florida
Citation
Fla. Stat. 501.601-501.626
Status
In force
Last amended
2021-07-01
Enforced by
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; state attorneys (criminal); private plaintiffs
People can sue
Yes
Penalties
Class III civil penalties per violation under s. 570.971 (501.619); licensing violations can be third-degree felonies (501.623); injured persons may sue for actual and punitive damages plus fees (501.625). Caller-ID spoofing to conceal identity is a second-degree misdemeanor (501.616(7)(b)).
Applies to
  • Commercial telephone sellers and salespersons soliciting purchasers in Florida, from in or out of state (501.603, 501.605(1))
  • Many exempt categories (501.604), but the calling-hours, call-frequency, and caller-ID rules in s. 501.616(6)-(7) apply even to exempt sellers

Rights it gives people

  • A person injured by a violation may sue for actual and punitive damages, costs, and attorney's fees.Fla. Stat. 501.625

Practices it requires

  • Do not make commercial solicitation calls before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. in the called person's time zone.Fla. Stat. 501.616(6)(a) · From 2021-07-01
  • Do not make more than three solicitation calls to a person in 24 hours on the same subject, regardless of the number used.Fla. Stat. 501.616(6)(b) · From 2021-07-01
  • Do not block transmission of the solicitor's name or number, or display a different caller ID number to conceal identity.Fla. Stat. 501.616(7)

Registration

  • Obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services before soliciting Florida purchasers by phone, and license salespersons.Fla. Stat. 501.605(1); 501.607; 501.616(2)-(4) · Only if: Unless exempt under s. 501.604

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: Original enactment (ch. 91-237) not confirmed from the session law, so effective_date is null.

Research reference, not legal advice.