Florida Human Trafficking Poster: Requirements, Placement, and Penalties

Florida law requires certain businesses to display a human trafficking poster listing the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-855-FLA-SAFE (1-855-352-7233), in a conspicuous place visible to the public and employees.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 787.29 – Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs The requirement sits in Section 787.29 of the Florida Statutes, and massage establishments carry extra posting duties on top of it. The sign must be at least 8.5 by 11 inches, printed in English and Spanish in 16-point type or larger, and failure to post it is a noncriminal violation with a fine of up to $500.

Who Has to Post One

Section 787.29 reaches a narrower set of private businesses than many owners assume. Two categories of employers must put up the sign themselves:

Emergency rooms at general acute care hospitals must also display the poster.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 787.29 – Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs A separate category covers signage at rest areas, turnpike service plazas, weigh stations, primary airports, passenger rail stations, and welcome centers, but the Florida Department of Transportation handles those directly, so individual businesses at those locations are not on the hook.

The Chapter 456 carve-out for massage businesses is narrow. A standalone spa or massage parlor that isn’t owned by a licensed physician, chiropractor, or similar practitioner still has to post. The Florida Attorney General has clarified that tattoo studios are not “bodywork” establishments under this statute and are not required to post.2Office of Attorney General. Human Trafficking Signage – Tattoo Establishments

What the Poster Has to Say and Look Like

The statute dictates the message almost word-for-word. The sign tells readers that if they or someone they know is being forced into any activity and cannot leave, they should call the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-FLA-SAFE for help, and it states that victims are protected under United States and Florida law.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 787.29 – Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs The hotline is operated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.3FDLE. Florida Human Trafficking Hotline

The physical specifications are short:

Watch the hotline number. Earlier versions of the law pointed to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center line at 1-888-373-7888. The current statute calls for the Florida-specific number, so an older template circulating online can leave you out of compliance. Confirm the number on the sheet before you print it.

Where to Put It

Section 787.29 requires “a conspicuous location that is clearly visible to the public and employees of the establishment.”1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 787.29 – Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs In practice that means a lobby, waiting area, or entrance hallway where someone walking in would naturally see it. A spot behind a coat rack or inside a closet does not qualify.

The “and employees” phrase does real work. If staff enter through a separate door or spend their shifts in a back area and never pass through the public lobby, a second copy in a staff-accessible spot, such as a break room or near a time clock, is a sensible way to meet the standard.

Extra Rules for Massage Establishments

Massage businesses carry a second posting duty under Section 456.0341(3) of the Florida Statutes. That employee-facing sign must be at least 11 inches by 15 inches with print in at least 32-point type.4Florida’s Massage Therapy. Massage Establishment – Signs and Reporting Procedure This sign uses the National Human Trafficking Resource Center number (1-888-373-7888) and text line (233-733), not the Florida hotline.

There is also a third item. By January 1, 2025, massage establishments were required to adopt a written procedure for reporting suspected trafficking to the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline or local law enforcement, and that procedure must itself be posted in a conspicuous place accessible to employees.5The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 480.043 – Massage Practice Act A fully compliant massage establishment therefore displays three separate items: the general 787.29 public awareness sign, the larger 456.0341 employee sign, and the written reporting procedure.

Where to Download a Compliant Poster

Several Florida agencies publish free templates that already meet the statutory format:

Before you post, check that the 787.29 version shows 1-855-FLA-SAFE. Printing at home on standard paper is fine; enlarging at a copy shop also works, as long as final dimensions and font size clear the minimums. Massage establishments should pull the larger employee sign in the same session so both are ready to hang.

Penalties for Not Posting

A violation of Section 787.29 is a noncriminal violation punishable by a fine of up to $500 under Section 775.083.1The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 787.29 – Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs8The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 775.083 – Fines Enforcement runs through the county commission, which may adopt a local ordinance for inspections and citations. Not every county has one, but uneven enforcement is a weak reason to skip a free poster.

For massage establishments the bigger exposure is licensing. A violation of any provision of Chapter 480 or Chapter 456, including the posting requirements, gives the Board of Massage Therapy grounds to deny, suspend, or revoke an establishment’s license, and discipline can include additional fines.9The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 480.046 – Grounds for Disciplinary Action A free download and a thumbtack solve the problem.