A.R.S. 32-1155: How a Contractor Complaint Gets Filed and Resolved

When a contractor wrongs you in Arizona, A.R.S. 32-1155 is the section that starts the formal process at the Registrar of Contractors (the ROC ). It says your complaint must be in writing and must charge the licensee with an act that is grounds for discipline. From there the ROC investigates and can issue a citation, and the contractor gets a short window to respond. This page explains each step so you know what happens after you hit submit.

What the complaint has to be

The process begins with a written complaint, not a phone call. The statute describes it:

A written complaint with the registrar charging a licensee with the commission of an act that is cause for suspension or revocation of a license...

Two things stand out. It must be written, and it must charge a specific act that is a ground for discipline. That ties directly to the list in A.R.S. 32-1154 . A vague "I'm unhappy" does not move the case. Naming the act, like abandonment or a code violation, does.

What the ROC does next

After you file, the ROC investigates and decides whether to act. The statute gives it discretion:

After investigation, in its sole discretion, [the registrar] may issue a citation directing the licensee, within ten days after service of the citation on the licensee, to appear by filing with the registrar the licensee's written answer...

So the ROC reviews your complaint, and if it sees cause, it issues a citation to the contractor. The contractor then has 10 days after being served to file a written answer. This is the contractor's chance to respond, deny, or explain. The case proceeds from there, often toward a fix, a settlement, or a hearing.

What this means for you

Imagine a contractor in Phoenix leaves your remodel unfinished and ignores your calls. You file a written complaint with the ROC that charges abandonment and points to the unfinished work for the contracted price. The ROC investigates. If it agrees there is cause, it cites the contractor, who must answer within 10 days. Many contractors choose to fix the work rather than risk discipline, which is often the homeowner's fastest path to a repair.

Three practical moves. First, put it in writing and be specific about the act. Second, attach your evidence: the contract, photos, inspection notices, and a timeline. Third, file through the ROC's online complaint portal, which structures the information the way the statute expects. The clearer your filing, the more likely the ROC acts on it.

How this connects to the rest of contractors law

The complaint here charges grounds defined in A.R.S. 32-1154 , and it must be filed within the deadline set by A.R.S. 32-1162 . If discipline alone does not make you whole, the recovery fund may follow. For the complete walkthrough, see how to file an ROC complaint and recovery fund claim and the new home builder warranty in Arizona .

Full text and source

Read the current version, including the citation and answer procedure, on the legislature's site: View A.R.S. 32-1155 on azleg.gov .

How the complaint process applies to your dispute depends on the facts, so confirm with the ROC or a qualified attorney before relying on it.