Charlotte County licensing board suspends contractors over unclosed permits, forwards cases to state regulators

The Charlotte County Construction Industry Licensing Board voted to suspend local permitting privileges for multiple contractors on allegations they failed to renew and obtain final inspections for expired permits, and directed staff to forward case files to state and regional regulators.

Board action addressed several discipline cases after staff investigators presented notice and final-permit reviews documenting expired permits. The board approved staff recommendations by voice vote and ordered copies of cases and board orders forwarded to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board for potential further discipline.

The matters arose from notices of administrative proceedings prepared and mailed in accordance with Florida statute and county ordinance. Ken Garcia, contractor licensing investigator, testified in one case that his final permit review of a company doing business as Blackstone Builders Inc. found four expired permits. “It is the recommendation of the Charlotte County Licensing Division [that] Ricardo Prieto’s permitting privileges and right to work as a contractor in Charlotte County be suspended,” Garcia said. The board then closed the public…