Received a Stop-Work Order? Operating while it is in effect adds a $1,000 penalty for each day. Call (813) 922-3055 now

Florida Workers Comp Stop-Work Order: What To Do Right Now

Name: Elite Business Insurance, LLC
Address: 5502 N Cherokee Ave, Tampa, FL, 33604, US
Telephone: +18139223055
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A Stop-Work Order halts your business operations until the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation releases it. Compliant coverage comes first. We work with Tampa employers to place coverage quickly, typically the same day for standard classifications, and we explain what the Division requires next.

Quick Answer

What Do I Do When I Get a Florida Stop-Work Order?

Stop all business operations immediately, then secure compliant workers compensation coverage and respond to the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation. The order stays in effect until the Division issues a release, which requires proof of coverage and payment of the penalty, or a conditional release with a $1,000 down payment and a payment agreement.

Source: Florida Statutes section 440.107 and the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation. Last reviewed September 24, 2026.

72 hours

The Division issues a Stop-Work Order within 72 hours of determining the employer failed to secure coverage or produce required records.

$1,000 a day

Penalty for each day an employer conducts business operations in violation of an order.

5+ years

How long information about an order stays on the Division's website.

Release Process

How To Get a Florida Stop-Work Order Released

These steps follow Florida Statutes section 440.107 and Division rules. The Division controls the release, so respond to every written request quickly.

1. Stop operations at once

The order takes effect when it is served on the business or posted at a worksite. After service on the employer, it applies to every worksite in Florida where the employer is not in compliance. Operating in violation of the order adds a penalty of $1,000 for each day.

2. Bind compliant workers compensation coverage

Coverage must meet Chapter 440 and the Florida Insurance Code. Give your agent accurate payroll and job duties by class code. Understating payroll or misrepresenting duties can be treated as a failure to secure coverage all over again.

3. Answer the Division's request for business records within 21 days

The Division uses your payroll records to calculate the penalty. If records are not provided, the Division imputes payroll at 1.5 times the statewide average weekly wage for each employee, corporate officer, sole proprietor, or partner.

4. Send proof of coverage and proof of payment to the Division

A first-time employer may receive a credit toward the penalty for the initial payment on the estimated annual premium. The credit requires documentation of coverage and proof of payment to the carrier within 21 days of the Division's written records request.

5. Pay the penalty in full or request a conditional release

The Division may issue a conditional release when the employer has coverage, pays $1,000 down, and agrees to a payment schedule for the rest. An employer cannot enter a payment agreement while an earlier penalty remains unpaid. Missing the agreement or its terms reinstates the order and makes the entire unpaid balance due.

6. Wait for the Division's written release before resuming work

Only the Division can lift the order. Coverage alone does not end it, so do not restart operations until you hold the release or conditional release.

Coverage is step two, not the finish line

An agency can bind compliant coverage and provide proof of it. The penalty, the payment agreement, and the written release all come from the Division.

Common Causes

What Triggers a Florida Stop-Work Order?

The Division enforces workers compensation coverage directly, and several different problems can lead to an order.

No coverage in force

Operating with no policy, a lapsed policy, or a gap between carriers. The Division treats a failure to secure coverage as an immediate danger to public health, safety, and welfare.

Business records not produced

Failing to produce the required business records within 21 days after the Division's written request is enough to justify a Stop-Work Order.

Understated payroll or concealed duties

Materially understating payroll, or misrepresenting or concealing employee duties to avoid proper classification, is deemed a failure to secure coverage.

Uninsured subcontractors

If you operate as a contractor, maintaining workers’ compensation compliance is only one part of your risk-management program. Explore Contractor Insurance Tampa for coverage considerations specific to construction businesses and contractors.

Inspections and subpoenas

Division investigators may enter and inspect a place of business at any reasonable time, examine and copy business records, and issue subpoenas.

Penalty Rules

How Florida Calculates the Stop-Work Order Penalty

Florida assesses a penalty equal to two times the workers compensation premium the employer would have paid at approved manual rates during the uncovered periods in the preceding 12 months, or $1,000, whichever is greater. Repeat violators and employers that understated payroll are calculated over the preceding 24 months.

Source: Florida Statutes section 440.107(7). Last reviewed September 24, 2026.

Stop-Work Order penalty rules at a glance

Rule	What the statute provides	Reference
Base penalty	2 times the premium the employer would have paid at approved manual rates for the uncovered periods in the preceding 12 months, or $1,000, whichever is greater.	§ 440.107(7)(d)1
Longer look-back	The preceding 24 months applies to an employer that understated or concealed payroll, or that was previously issued a Stop-Work Order or penalty assessment.	§ 440.107(7)(d)1
First-time credit	Credit for the initial payment on the estimated annual premium, with documentation and proof of payment provided within 21 days of the written records request.	§ 440.107(7)(d)1.a
Records reduction	25% reduction for a first-time employer that complies with the records rules and provides records within 21 days.	§ 440.107(7)(d)1.b
Tutorial reduction	15% reduction for a first-time employer that correctly answers at least 80% of an online compliance tutorial within 21 days. The tutorial is taken at a Division office location identified by rule.	§ 440.107(7)(d)1.c
Minimum penalty	The $1,000 penalty applies even when credits and reductions would bring the total below $1,000.	§ 440.107(7)(d)1
Missing records	Payroll is imputed at 1.5 times the statewide average weekly wage for each employee, corporate officer, sole proprietor, or partner.	§ 440.107(7)(e)
Misclassified workers	The Division may assess $5,000 for each worker the employer represented as an independent contractor who is determined not to be one.	§ 440.107(7)(f)
Working during the order	$1,000 for each day the employer conducts business operations in violation of a Stop-Work Order.	§ 440.107(7)(c)

Illustration only, not a quote

A first-time employer with $200,000 of uncovered payroll in the preceding 12 months, at an assumed manual rate of $5.00 per $100 of payroll, would have a base premium of $10,000. The base penalty would be $20,000 before any credit or reduction. The Division sets the actual penalty using approved manual rates, class codes, and the employer's records.

Beyond the Penalty

Other Consequences of a Stop-Work Order

The order and the penalty are only part of the exposure. These consequences come directly from Florida law.

Public record for at least 5 years

Information about the order is made available on the Division's website and remains there for at least five years.

Successor businesses

An order applies to any successor entity that has one or more of the same principals or officers and is engaged in the same or an equivalent trade or activity.

Repeat violations

A subsequent violation within five years is deemed a knowing act under section 440.105, the Florida statute that sets criminal penalties for prohibited workers compensation conduct.

Contractor license notice

If the employer is certified or registered under Chapter 489, the Division must immediately notify the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Lawsuit exposure

An employer that fails to secure coverage loses the usual exclusive remedy protection. An injured employee may sue at law, and the employer cannot argue fellow-employee negligence, assumption of risk, or comparative negligence.

Liens and collection

An unpaid penalty constitutes a lien on the employer's property until collected, subject to the exceptions in the statute. The Division may also sue to recover penalties, costs, and attorney's fees.

Who Does What

What an Agency Can Do and What Only the Division Can Do

What Elite Business Insurance does

Reviews your operations and payroll by class code
Shops carriers and binds compliant coverage, typically the same day for standard classifications
Issues proof of coverage upon binding for the Division and your customers
Provides the coverage and payment documentation the Division asks for
Explains pay-as-you-go options where a carrier offers them, which can reduce the up-front deposit

What only the Division does

Calculates the penalty and applies credits and reductions
Decides on conditional release and payment agreements
Issues the written release of the order
Sets records deadlines and reviews the records you submit
Enforces the order, including the $1,000 daily penalty

Prevention

How To Keep a Stop-Work Order From Happening Again

Keep coverage continuous. Renew before expiration and confirm the effective date of any replacement policy so there is no gap between carriers.
Report accurate payroll by class code, and describe employee duties honestly. Misstatements can be treated as a failure to secure coverage.
Maintain the business records the Division requires by rule, and answer any written Division request within 21 days.
Collect a current certificate of insurance or a valid exemption from every subcontractor before work starts.
Review coverage whenever you hire, add a trade, or change ownership, so the policy always matches your operations.

Read more about workers compensation insurance in Tampa, or see how much workers compensation coverage you need in Florida.

Why Elite Business Insurance

Why Tampa Employers Call Us When Compliance Cannot Wait

Emergency Focus

When a Stop-Work Order lands, hours matter. We prioritize these requests and typically deliver a quote the same day for standard classifications. Complex risks may take up to 24 hours.

Correct Class Codes From Day One

Accurate classification and payroll protect you from a second violation. We match each employee to the right NCCI class code before we submit your risk.

1,000+ Carriers Shopped

Pricing for the same class code varies by carrier. We submit your risk to the markets that fit your trade and compare terms in plain English.

Proof of Coverage Upon Binding

We issue your certificate of insurance upon binding so you have documentation for the Division and your customers. See our certificate of insurance page

BBB A+ Rated

More than a decade of protecting Tampa businesses with an A+ BBB rating and more than 245 five-star Google reviews. We fight for our clients, not the insurance companies.

Straight Answers

We tell you what an agency can do and what only the Division can do, so you know the next step at every stage.

How to Get Started

Getting Compliant Coverage in Tampa Takes Three Steps

Tell Us About Your Business

Call (813) 922-3055 or fill out the quote form. We need your trade, number of employees, estimated payroll by job type, and any prior claims. If you received a Stop-Work Order, have it in front of you.

We Shop the Market for You

A licensed Elite agent assigns the correct class codes, submits your risk to carriers that fit your trade, and compares rates, terms, and pay-as-you-go options.

Bind Coverage and Get Proof

You approve the policy, we bind it, and your certificate of insurance is issued upon binding, ready for the Division and for your customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Florida Stop-Work Order: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Florida workers comp Stop-Work Order?

A Stop-Work Order is an order from the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation that requires an employer to stop all business operations. The Division issues it when an employer has failed to secure required workers compensation coverage, or has failed to produce required business records within 21 days of a written request. It takes effect when it is served on the employer or posted at a worksite.

How long does a Stop-Work Order last?

The order stays in effect until the Division issues a written release. To earn a release, the employer must come into compliance with the coverage requirements and pay the assessed penalty. The Division may instead issue a conditional release when the employer has coverage, pays $1,000 as a down payment, and agrees to a payment schedule for the rest. The statute does not set a fixed number of days, so the timeline depends on how quickly the employer completes these steps.

Can I keep working while I fix the problem?

No. The order requires the cessation of all business operations, and the Division assesses a penalty of $1,000 for each day an employer conducts business operations in violation of the order. Law enforcement may assist the Division in keeping people off a job site. Buying a policy does not lift the order by itself, because the Division must issue a release.

How much is the Stop-Work Order penalty?

For most first-time employers, the penalty is two times the premium the employer would have paid at approved manual rates during the uncovered periods in the preceding 12 months, or $1,000, whichever is greater. Repeat violators and employers that understated payroll are calculated over the preceding 24 months. First-time employers may receive a credit and reductions for providing records and completing a compliance tutorial. The Division sets the final amount.

Will buying workers comp lift the Stop-Work Order?

Coverage is required, but it is not enough by itself. The Division releases the order after it finds the employer is in compliance and has paid the penalty, or after it approves a conditional release with a $1,000 down payment and a payment agreement. Elite Business Insurance can place the coverage and provide proof of it. Only the Division can issue the release.

Can Elite Business Insurance get me coverage the same day?

For standard classifications, workers compensation quotes are typically delivered the same day, and complex risks may take up to 24 hours. We confirm your class codes and payroll with you, shop carriers that fit your trade, and issue proof of coverage upon binding. Call (813) 922-3055 and tell us you have a Stop-Work Order so we can prioritize the request.

What other consequences can follow a Stop-Work Order?

An unpaid penalty constitutes a lien on the employer’s property until collected, and information about the order stays on the Division’s website for at least five years. A repeat violation within five years is deemed a knowing act under section 440.105 of the Florida Statutes. If the employer holds a contractor license under Chapter 489, the Division must notify the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. An uninsured employer can also be sued by an injured employee outside the workers compensation system.

Does a Stop-Work Order follow my business if I form a new company?

It can. Stop-Work Orders and penalty assessment orders apply to any successor corporation or business entity that has one or more of the same principals or officers and is engaged in the same or an equivalent trade or activity.

Can a Stop-Work Order affect me if my subcontractor is uninsured?

Yes. Each subcontractor is responsible for coverage for its own workers, but the contractor is responsible for making sure the subcontractor has secured it. The contractor can become responsible for benefits if an uninsured subcontractor’s worker is injured. If a contractor and its subcontractor both failed to secure coverage for the subcontractor’s employees at a worksite, a Stop-Work Order issued to the contractor requires it to stop all business operations at that worksite.

How do I avoid another Stop-Work Order?

Keep coverage continuous with no gap between carriers, report accurate payroll by class code, keep the business records the Division requires, and collect a current certificate of insurance or valid exemption from every subcontractor before work starts. Respond to any written request from the Division within 21 days. Understating payroll or misrepresenting job duties can be treated as failing to secure coverage.

Sources and Review Notes

Fla. Stat. section 440.107 Department powers, Stop-Work Orders, penalties, release, and successor rules.
Fla. Stat. section 440.11 Loss of exclusive remedy when an employer fails to secure coverage.
Fla. Stat. section 440.105 Prohibited activities and criminal penalties.
Fla. Admin. Code Rule 69L-6.029 Employer worksites and contractor and subcontractor orders.
Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation Employer frequently asked questions, including subcontractor responsibility.

General information about Florida law as of September 24, 2026, based on the 2025 Florida Statutes and Division guidance. It is not legal advice, and the Division’s order and the current statute control. Read every Division notice closely, and consult a Florida attorney about a contested order or penalty.

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Have a Florida Stop-Work Order? Call Now.

Tell us you received a Stop-Work Order. We will confirm your class codes and payroll, shop the market, and get compliant coverage in place as quickly as your classification allows.