Florida Human Trafficking Poster: Placement and Penalties

Florida human trafficking poster requirements come from Section 787.29 of the Florida Statutes, which obligates certain businesses and public facilities to display an awareness sign carrying the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline number, 1-855-FLA-SAFE (1-855-352-7233).¹ The sign must be at least 8.5 by 11 inches, printed in English and Spanish in 16-point type or larger, and posted where both customers and employees can see it. Massage establishments have to post a second, larger sign and maintain a written reporting procedure on top of that.

Who Has to Post the Sign

Section 787.29 puts the posting duty on three groups. The Florida Department of Transportation handles signs at rest areas, turnpike service plazas, weigh stations, primary airports, passenger rail stations, and welcome centers, so businesses inside those facilities don’t post their own. Emergency rooms at general acute care hospitals must display the sign.¹

Two categories of private businesses are directly responsible:

Adult entertainment establishments, such as strip clubs.
Massage and bodywork businesses offering services for compensation, unless owned by a health care practitioner regulated under Chapter 456.¹

The Chapter 456 exemption is narrow. A standalone spa or massage parlor not owned by a licensed physician, chiropractor, or similar practitioner still has to post. The Florida Attorney General has also determined that tattoo establishments do not fall under “bodywork services” and are not required to display the poster under this statute.²

What the Sign Must Say and Look Like

The statute lays out the message almost word-for-word. The sign tells anyone being forced into activity they cannot leave to call the Florida Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-FLA-SAFE, and states that victims are protected under United States and Florida law. The hotline is operated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.³

The physical specifications are:

At least 8.5 inches by 11 inches (standard letter size).
At least 16-point type.
Printed in both English and Spanish.¹

Watch the hotline number. Older versions of the statute referenced the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888, and templates carrying that number still circulate online. The current 787.29 sign has to display the Florida number instead. If you print an old version, you’re not compliant.

Where the Sign Has to Go

Section 787.29 doesn’t name a specific wall. It requires “a conspicuous location that is clearly visible to the public and employees of the establishment.”¹ A lobby, waiting area, or entry hallway works. Behind a coat rack or inside a closet does not.

The “and employees” phrase carries weight. If staff enter through a separate door or work in a back area they never cross the lobby, one poster up front may not be enough. A second copy near a break room, time clock, or employee entrance is a straightforward way to cover the requirement.

Extra Rules for Massage Establishments

Massage businesses have a second posting duty under Section 456.0341(3). This employee-facing sign runs larger and stricter: at least 11 by 15 inches, with print at least 32-point.⁴ It still uses the National Human Trafficking Resource Center number (1-888-373-7888) and text line (233-733), not the Florida hotline.

Massage establishments also had to adopt a written procedure for reporting suspected trafficking to the Florida hotline or local law enforcement by January 1, 2025, and post that procedure in a conspicuous location accessible to employees.⁵ A fully compliant massage establishment therefore has three postings: the 787.29 public sign, the larger 456.0341 employee sign, and the 480.043 reporting procedure.

Where to Get a Compliant Poster

Several state sources publish free templates that meet the specifications:

The Florida Attorney General’s Office posts downloadable awareness signs at myfloridalegal.com.⁶
The Florida Department of Health, through flhealthsource.gov, provides poster files sized to the statutory requirements, including Mandarin translations for offices where that language is used.⁷
The Florida Board of Massage Therapy offers both the 787.29 sign and the larger 456.0341 employee sign at floridasmassagetherapy.gov.⁴

Before printing, verify the 787.29 poster shows the current Florida hotline number, 1-855-FLA-SAFE. Printing on letter paper and enlarging at a copy shop is fine for the larger massage-establishment sign, as long as the finished dimensions and font size meet the minimums.

Penalties for Not Posting

A violation of Section 787.29 is a noncriminal violation punishable by a fine of up to $500 under Section 775.083.¹⁸ The fine is per violation, not per day. Enforcement runs through the county commission, which may adopt a local ordinance for inspections and citations. Not every county has, but the absence of a local ordinance is not a safe bet.

For massage establishments, the bigger risk is licensing. Violating any posting requirement under Chapter 480 or Chapter 456 gives the Board of Massage Therapy grounds to deny, suspend, or revoke an establishment’s license.⁹ The poster costs nothing to print. The license does not.

1
The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 787.29 – Human Trafficking Public Awareness Signs
2
Office of Attorney General. Human Trafficking Signage – Tattoo Establishments
3
FDLE. Florida Human Trafficking Hotline
4
Florida’s Massage Therapy. Massage Establishment – Signs and Reporting Procedure
5
The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 480.043 – Massage Practice Act
6
Office of Attorney General. Florida Is a Zero-Tolerance State for Human Trafficking
7
Florida Health Source. Florida Human Trafficking
8
The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 775.083 – Fines
9
The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 480.046 – Grounds for Disciplinary Action