About the Industry

     The Division of Licensing, under the Florida Division of Agriculture and Consumer Services, licenses and regulates the private investigative profession in accordance with FSS 493.  A private investigator is defined as any individual or agency who, for consideration, advertises or performs the following activities. 

*        Subcontracting with the government to determine crimes or wrongs done or threatened against the United States.

*         Determining the identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, reputation or character of any society, person, or group of persons.

*        The credibility of witnesses or other persons.

*        The whereabouts of missing persons, owners of abandoned or escheated property, or heirs to estates.

*        The location or recovery of lost or stolen property.

*        The causes or origin of fires, libels, slanders, losses, accidents, damage, or injuries to real or personal property.

*        Securing evidence to be used before investigating committee or boards of award or arbitration or trial of civil or criminal defense.