California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

Complaint and Enforcement Information

How to File a Complaint

There are two different types of complaints you can file: a complaint against a professional engineer, professional land surveyor, or unlicensed person or a complaint against the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Click on the link below for the type of complaint you would like to file:

File a Complaint Against a Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor, or Unlicensed Person

File a Complaint Against the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

Disciplinary Actions, Citations, and Criminal Actions

Clicking on one of the links below will take you to alphabetical files of disciplinary actions against licensed engineers and land surveyors, citations issued to licensees, citations issued for unlicensed practice, and criminal actions. Please check these lists before hiring an engineer or land surveyor. Information on accusations or complaints where there is no final decision must be requested in writing or by telephone. See below for the mailing address, the e-mail address, and the telephone number.

Board Policy on Disclosure of Enforcement Complaints and Disciplinary Actions
Click here for the full text of the Policy of the Board on the Disclosure of Complaints and Disciplinary Actions.

Accusations & Citations Information about any accusation or citation that has not yet resulted in a final order or decision will be disclosed upon written or verbal request to the Enforcement Unit, along with its procedural status.

Complaints & Disciplinary Actions The Board keeps records of complaints against licensees and non-licensees for five years. If the complaint resulted in disciplinary action (through an Accusation or Citation) and that action is final, you can read about the decision by following the above links to disciplinary actions and citations against licensees. If the complaint was against an unlicensed person and resulted in a citation or criminal action, you can read about the action by following the above links to criminal actions or citations for unlicensed practice. No information will be disclosed about a complaint during the investigation of a complaint. No information will be disclosed about a complaint if the investigation reveals that there has been no violation of the law. Upon written or verbal request, the following information about the complaint will be disclosed if the investigation is final and has revealed that there has been a probable violation of the law:

  • The date the complaint was received and the date on which final disposition of the complaint was reached.
  • The disposition of the complaint, as follows:
  • Complaint mediated/resolved.
  • Compliance obtained.
  • Complaint referred for legal and/or disciplinary action (i.e., criminal action, citation issuance, and/or accusation filing).
  • Any other action taken, formal or informal.

You may contact the Board's Enforcement Unit at 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 300, Sacramento, California, 95833-2944, or BPELS_Enforcement_Information@dca.ca.gov, or (916) 263-2241 or 1-866-780-5370 (toll free).