Florida roofing insurance claim law (489.147): what a roofer may and may not say, and the notices your contract needs

Published November 8, 2026 · 2026 Florida Statutes, the licensing board's penalty rule, DBPR's fact sheet and the Governor's 2026 emergency orders checked November 8, 2026

• Free. The claim addendum's download links come by email.
• Deepsel is our product: free estimate, invoice and scheduling software for contractors (scheduling and dispatch, quotes, invoicing, card payments). The section before the FAQ says where it fits and what it doesn't do.
• Not legal advice. Have a Florida attorney read the addendum before you use it.

In Florida a roofer may not offer a homeowner a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon, deductible waiver or "any other thing of value" for a roof inspection or a roof claim, and paying, waiving or rebating a deductible with intent to defraud is a third-degree felony.¹² Every contract to repair or replace a home's roof must say you won't make those offers, and must carry a 14-point bold notice telling the owner to check their coverage with their insurer.¹ You may inspect the roof, photograph it, write your itemized estimate, explain your bid to the owner and the insurer, and do the work. You may not interpret the policy, advise on coverage, or file, adjust or negotiate the claim without a public adjuster license, and you can't take an assignment of the owner's benefits on any policy issued since January 1, 2023.³⁴ Your estimate comes first: handing an insured an agreement that authorizes repairs before your itemized estimate is a violation on its own.¹

Three cancellation rights can sit on the same roof contract: three business days for a sale made at the home, 10 days or until the official start date, whichever comes first, after a declared state of emergency, and 10 days to void a contract that's missing the rebate notice.⁵¹ I read the 2026 statutes, the licensing board's penalty rule, DBPR's fact sheet and the Governor's emergency orders on November 8, 2026, and every rule below links to its source. The general contract rules (deposits, the Recovery Fund statement, the lien notice, the three-day notices) are on my Florida construction contract requirements page, so I don't repeat them here.

The free insurance claim addendum puts the claim rules on one document that attaches to your main contract. Get it three ways: copy it in Google Docs, download the Word file, or download the PDF. Pick a format, enter your email and I'll send the links.

What changed from 2021 to 2026

Florida rewrote its roof claim rules five times in five years. If someone taught you the claim business before 2025, check what you learned against this table.

Nothing passed in 2026 changed s. 489.147, the assignment ban or the claim deadlines. The 2026 statutes show no 2026 amendment to any of them, and both 2026 roof-age bills (SB 808 and HB 815) died in committee.¹¹⁴ In the next 90 days, the only scheduled change is the new building code on December 31.

Who Florida's claim rules cover

Sources: the statutes in the first column.^1234511 The claim rules don't change between a certified roofer (CCC) and a registered one (RC), and they reach the general, building and residential contractors who also roof. What does change is where you may work: the Florida roofing license page covers classes, scope and the code side of the 25% rule.

Can a roofer pay or waive your deductible in Florida?

No. Section 489.147(2)(b) says a contractor may not "directly or indirectly" engage in:¹

"Offering to a residential property owner a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon, waiver of any insurance deductible, or any other thing of value in exchange for: 1. Allowing the contractor to conduct an inspection of the residential property owner's roof; or 2. Making an insurance claim for damage to the residential property owner's roof."

The criminal code adds its own line. "A contractor, or a person acting on behalf of a contractor, may not knowingly or willfully and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive, pay, waive, or rebate all or part of an insurance deductible applicable to payment to the contractor." That's a third-degree felony: up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.² Billing your usual price as a "general business practice" while agreeing to waive deductibles is insurance fraud too.²

What counts as a rebate

The list ends with "any other thing of value," so the name doesn't matter. In my reading, which your lawyer should confirm, a "yard sign fee," an "advertising" check, a free upgrade in place of the deductible or a promise to "work with your deductible" all fall inside it. The ban also reaches anyone you pay to knock. "The acts of any person on behalf of a contractor," including "a nonemployee who is compensated for soliciting," count as yours.¹

Referral money is banned separately. Section 489.147(2)(c) forbids "Offering, delivering, receiving, or accepting any compensation, inducement, or reward, for the referral of any services for which property insurance proceeds are payable."¹ On a claim job that means no $100 to a neighbor who sends a lead and no money to or from a public adjuster. Subsection (4)(a) treats paid canvassers as acting for you, so I don't read their commission as a referral fee, but ask your lawyer how you pay them.

One owner: "I've lost 3 jobs so far from companies that offer to pay the deductible."¹⁵ In Florida the company making that offer risks its license and a felony charge. Say so politely and price the roof honestly. The script is in the checklist below.

The notices your contract needs

Every contract to repair or replace a home's roof needs two notices, plus a third after a declared emergency (that one is in the cancellation section below).

• The rebate notice, s. 489.147(5). A contractor "may not execute a contract with a residential property owner to repair or replace a roof without including a notice that the contractor may not engage in the practices set forth in paragraph (2)(b)." Without it, "the residential property owner may void the contract within 10 days after executing it."¹ The law gives no wording. DBPR's fact sheet says "Consult with your own counsel as the statute does not provide specific language," and that the notice must be in the contract before it's signed.¹⁶ Part 1 of the addendum tracks the statute's own words.
• The insurance notice, s. 489.147(7). In bold type of at least 14 points, "on the page reserved for the signature of the residential property owner," on every residential roof contract, claim or not:¹

"If the proposed work is related to an insurance claim, you, the residential property owner, should contact your insurance company to verify coverage for the proposed roofing work, including any claims, deductibles, and policy terms, before signing this contract. By signing this contract, you acknowledge that you have been advised to contact your insurance provider regarding coverage and reimbursement of the proposed work."

Part 9 of the addendum has it at 14-point bold, and so does the template on the Florida contract page.

Collecting the deductible

Your invoice shows the full contract price, and the insurer's checks plus the deductible pay it. Take the deductible as its own payment with its own receipt. One owner's habit: "I always collect a separate check for the deductible with deductible written in the memo line."¹⁷ In Florida that receipt does a second job. If the policy has a separate roof deductible (up to the lesser of 2% of the dwelling limit or 50% of the roof's replacement cost; not for hurricanes), the insurer may hold its roof payment at actual cash value until it gets "reasonable proof of payment" of that deductible, such as a canceled check, a credit card statement or a signed financing contract.⁸ A clean deductible receipt can get the rest of the roof money released.

Talking to the insurer: where the line is

Florida's public adjuster law covers anyone who, "for money, commission, or any other thing of value, directly or indirectly prepares, completes, or files an insurance claim for an insured," or "aids an insured or third-party claimant in negotiating for or effecting the settlement of a claim," "regardless of how that person describes or presents his or her services."³ Subsection (16) speaks to you directly. A licensed contractor or subcontractor "may not advertise, solicit, offer to handle, handle, or perform public adjuster services" without a public adjuster license. Then it draws the line: the contractor "may discuss or explain a bid for construction or repair of covered property with the residential property owner who has suffered loss or damage covered by a property insurance policy, or the insurer of such property, if the contractor is doing so for the usual and customary fees applicable to the work to be performed as stated in the contract."³ Acting as a public adjuster without a license "commits a felony of the third degree," and each act is a separate offense.¹⁸

Sources for the table: s. 489.147, s. 626.854, s. 627.7152 and s. 817.234.¹³⁴² In plain words: describe the roof and price your work, and leave the claim to the owner. If the owner hires a public adjuster, that adjuster can't do the roof on a claim they adjust, can't own part of your company, and can't pay you for referrals.¹⁸³

Assignment of benefits

Section 627.7152(13) says a policyholder "may not assign, in whole or in part, any post-loss insurance benefit under any residential property insurance policy" or commercial property policy "issued on or after January 1, 2023. An attempt to assign post-loss property insurance benefits under such a policy is void, invalid, and unenforceable."⁴ A 2023 law adds that the December 2022 act applies to policies "issued or renewed after" its effective date.¹⁰ Home policies renew every year, so treat every claim you see in 2026 as covered by the ban. If an owner says their policy predates 2023, ask your lawyer: older assignments needed an 18-point notice, a 14-day rescission right and more.⁴

Watch for the workaround forms. The statute defines an assignment as any instrument by which benefits are "assigned or transferred, or acquired in any manner, in whole or in part, to or from a person providing services."⁴ In my reading, a "direction to pay" or "authorization to pay" form that sends the owner's claim money to you could fall inside that. Don't use one without your lawyer's sign-off.

The adjuster meeting

The insurer gives the owner 48 hours' notice before an on-site inspection (the owner can waive it), inspects within 30 days of the proof of loss, sends the owner its detailed estimate within 7 days of writing it, and pays or denies within 60 days of the claim notice.³¹⁹ If the owner wants you there, you're there as their roofer: bring your measurements and photos, show the damage, explain your bid and what the code or the shingle maker requires, and stop at coverage. Missed items go in your own supplement afterwards, and the owner files any supplemental claim.

Claim deadlines

A new or reopened claim "is barred unless notice of the claim was given to the insurer in accordance with the terms of the policy within 1 year after the date of loss." A supplemental claim has 18 months. For hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms and other weather events, the date of loss is the landfall date or the date NOAA verifies the event.¹⁰ Before December 2022 it was 2 years, and 3 for supplemental claims.¹⁰ The deadline is the owner's. If a homeowner calls you 11 months after a storm, tell them to contact their insurer now, and don't file for them.

Roof age, the 25% rule and the roof deductible: what not to promise

These come up at every kitchen table, and each one is about the policy. Explain the code and your work; the coverage answer stays with the insurer.

• Roof age. An insurer "may not refuse to issue or refuse to renew a homeowner's policy insuring a residential structure with a roof that is less than 15 years old solely because of the age of the roof." For an older roof, the owner may get an inspection from an authorized inspector, which can be "a roofing contractor" the insurer approves, and with 5 or more years of useful life left the insurer can't refuse solely on age.⁸ It doesn't make an insurer pay for a new roof.
• The 25% rule. For a roof built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, repairing 25% or more no longer forces a full replacement: "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion" must meet the current code.⁹ Don't tell an owner with a newer roof that a quarter of damage means a new roof. The code side is on the Florida roofing license page.
• Code upgrades. Policies include law and ordinance coverage at 25% of the dwelling limit unless the owner rejected it in writing.⁸ Say what the code requires on this roof; whether the policy pays for it is the insurer's call.
• Roof schedules. Some articles describe a "roof surface reimbursement schedule" in Florida law. It isn't in the 2026 statutes.⁸ If a policy pays less for an older roof, that comes from the policy form, which you shouldn't interpret.

Contingency agreements and the contract

A contingency agreement says you'll do the work if the insurer approves the claim. I found no Florida statute that bans one. What Florida regulates is the order of things and the paperwork. Section 489.147(2)(e) forbids "Providing an insured with an agreement authorizing repairs without providing a good faith estimate of the itemized and detailed cost of services and materials for repairs undertaken pursuant to a property insurance claim."¹ So the one-page "authorization" signed at the door before you've written a number is out. Inspect, write the itemized estimate, give it to the owner, then sign.

The agreement needs the rebate notice, the 14-point insurance notice, the emergency notice where it applies, and the three-day notices if the owner signs at home. It can't assign the owner's benefits or say you'll handle the claim. The deposit rule, the Recovery Fund statement and the lien notice come from the general contract law, covered on the contract page.

The right to cancel

Sources: the statutes and the federal rule.⁵²⁰¹ The emergency notice must read:¹

"You, the residential property owner, may cancel this contract without penalty or obligation within 10 days after the execution of the contract or by the official start date, whichever comes first, because this contract was entered into within 180 days of events resulting in the declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor. The official start date is the date on which work that includes the installation of materials that will be included in the final work on the roof commences, a permit has been issued, or a temporary repair to the roof covering or roof system has been made in compliance with the Florida Building Code."

The owner cancels "by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof thereof, at the address specified in the contract," so put a mailing address in it.¹ Note what ends the window early: a permit issued, materials going on, or a code-compliant temporary repair. A tarp done right can end it, so tell the owner, and Part 7 of the addendum puts that in writing.

This isn't a rare case. As I write, two declarations cover 44 counties: Hurricane Isaias (October 2026; 30 counties from Escambia across the Big Bend to Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco) and the 2026 fall flooding (November 2026; 14 counties including Palm Beach, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole and Lake).²¹ Roof contracts signed there carry the 10-day right into April 2027. One wrinkle for your lawyer: subsection (6)(a) gives the right for 180 days after the events, while (6)(b) requires the notice in contracts signed "during a declaration of a state of emergency." The addendum includes the notice whenever the right may apply, which covers both.

If the claim is denied

No Florida statute gives a homeowner a right to cancel because the claim was denied. I checked s. 489.147 and the Home Solicitation Sale Act.¹⁵ Your contract decides. Part 6 of the addendum gives two options: A makes the contract depend on the claim, with a full refund (less approved emergency work) if either side ends it after a written denial; B keeps a firm contract and handles a denial by change order. The insurer has to explain a denial in writing, so ask the owner for a copy.¹⁹

When you can take money

Florida's claim statutes set no rule against a deposit before the insurer decides. The general rule is about timing: take more than 10% as the initial payment on residential work and you must apply for permits within 30 days and start within 90 days after they're issued, unless the owner agrees in writing to longer periods.²² On a claim job the insurer can take up to 60 days, so either keep the deposit at 10% or less, or fill in the longer periods (Part 5.5 of the addendum). Any deposit is refundable while the cancellation windows above are open. If the owner won't pay after the insurer does, the Florida mechanics lien page has the deadlines.

Door knocking, ads and storms

• The state permit. Door-to-door selling needs a home solicitation sale permit from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county: a sworn application, two photos, fingerprints and a background check. It's "valid for a period of 1 year," and the seller must carry it and "display the same to all prospective buyers before initiating the solicitation." Visits "upon the express invitation" of someone who lives there are excluded. Selling without one is a first-degree misdemeanor, and a second conviction is a felony.⁵ Hillsborough's clerk charges a $100 application fee and wants Live Scan fingerprints.²³
• City permits. Some cities add their own. Orlando: "Individuals who want to knock on doors to sell, lease or rent consumer goods or services in the City of Orlando must get a permit," with fingerprinting at the police department.²⁴ Check the city before your crew knocks.
• "No commercial solicitation" signs. Since July 1, 2026, a home may post a sign at least 8.5 by 11 inches saying "THIS DWELLING IS DESIGNATED PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION IS PERMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 501.062, FLORIDA STATUTES." Knock anyway and it's a $500 noncriminal fine; a second time is a misdemeanor.¹²
• Your flyers. Any written or electronic communication that encourages a consumer to contact you or a public adjuster "for the purpose of making an insurance claim for roof damage" must carry three statements in type "at least 12 points and at least half as large as the largest font size used in the communication." The law names "door hangers, business cards, magnets, flyers, pamphlets, and e-mails." Handing one out without them is soliciting by a prohibited advertisement.¹ Appendix B of the addendum has them ready to paste. A general web page may not count as "soliciting," which the law limits to contact with or delivery to a specific person, but put the statements there too.
• Claim wording. A contractor may not "advertise, solicit, offer to handle" claims, so take "we handle your claim," "free roof" and "we'll cover your deductible" off signs, trucks and the website.³

After a hurricane

• Price gouging. During a declared state of emergency, an "unconscionable price" for essential goods or services in the declared area is unlawful. A price is presumed unconscionable if it's a "gross disparity" from the 30 days before the declaration, unless your added costs or market trends explain it. It's enforced as a deceptive trade practice, with a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.²⁵ Keep your pre-storm price sheet and your supplier invoices.
• Local tax receipt. Selling to the public during the emergency without a local business tax receipt is a second-degree misdemeanor.²⁵
• Registered roofers out of area. An RC registration is local, and "Persons working outside the geographical scope of their registration are guilty of unlicensed activity," with fines of up to $10,000.²⁶ A declared natural emergency opens a door: a registered contractor may do "work covered by the registration" in the declared area until 24 months after the declaration expires, and your home board can still discipline you for work there.²⁷ Outside a declared area, storm work in another county takes a certified (CCC) license.

What it costs to get it wrong

The guideline figures are the lowest first-offense and highest repeat-offense amounts in the board's penalty rule, and the board can go outside them for aggravating or mitigating facts.²⁸

What to do on the next claim job

1. Before you knock. Check your license is active and covers the county, and that the name on your contract matches it. Get the county home solicitation permit (and any city permit) for everyone who knocks. Put the three statements on every door hanger, card and flyer, and strip claim wording from signs, trucks and your website. Check the Governor's executive orders for your counties.
2. When they ask "will you take care of my deductible?" Say something like: "I can't. Florida law doesn't let a roofer pay, waive or discount your deductible, or give you anything for letting me inspect or file a claim. What I can do is give you a fair, written price for the roof before you sign anything. Your deductible is part of that price." If they ask you to handle the claim: "I'm a roofer, not an adjuster. I'll give you my estimate and photos, and I can explain my bid to you and your insurer. Coverage questions go to your insurer, a licensed public adjuster or a lawyer."
3. Document the roof. With the owner's permission, shoot each slope wide and each damaged spot close with a tape or chalk circle for scale, count layers, check the decking where you can, and keep the dated photos with the job.
4. Estimate first, then sign. Give the itemized estimate and record the date. Then sign the contract and the addendum, with the notices on the owner's signature page.
5. Let the windows run. Three business days for a home sale; 10 days or the official start date in a declared area. Tarp if the owner called you about an emergency, with their handwritten statement, and tell them a code-compliant tarp ends the 10-day window. Don't order special materials yet.
6. The adjuster meeting. The owner leads. You show the roof, your measurements and your photos, and explain your bid. Don't discuss coverage, depreciation or what the claim should pay.
7. Supplements. Write up missed items in your own document with photos. Give it to the owner, or send it to the insurer if the owner ticked that box. Never edit the insurer's estimate.
8. Collect the deductible. As its own payment, with a receipt that says "deductible." Record each insurance check the same way.
9. If the claim is denied. Follow Part 6 of the addendum. If the contract ends, refund within 10 days. Tell the owner they can ask the insurer to reconsider, hire a licensed public adjuster or see a lawyer. Don't argue the denial for them.

Retail or claim work?

Claims look like easy money from the outside, but most new roofing owners don't start there. Among small or new owners on Reddit who said what they do, 16 sell retail work and 5 storm work. One owner on the time it takes: "Some of these claims can end up being upwards of 10 or 20 hours of time spent getting it approved."²⁹ Another: "Honestly I do about half retail and half insurance. In my opinion retail is the way to go as much as you can."³⁰ And a new owner trying to start: "I have no idea how start or how the process goes."³¹ Florida adds three notices, three cancellation rights and a permit for every knocker. If you take claims, take fewer and do them by the book. A retail reroof pays when the job is done; a claim pays when the insurer is done.

The Florida insurance claim addendum

It attaches to your main roofing contract and holds:

• A first page for your license (CCC, RC or other), a mailing address for notices, the salesperson's county permit number, the owner as named on the policy, the insurer, policy and claim numbers, date of loss, adjuster, deductible type, mortgage company, and a box for the emergency order that covers the address.
• Part 1: the s. 489.147(5) rebate notice and the three statements, in bold. Parts 2 and 3: the deductible line with its receipt, and the date you gave the itemized estimate, with a scope table in squares and sheets.
• Parts 4 to 7: the claim stays the owner's (no adjusting, no assignment, three boxes for what they ask you to do), the payment schedule from deductible to holdback, the deposit and the 489.126 periods, a contingent or firm option if the claim is denied, and emergency work.
• Parts 8 and 9 and Appendix A: Florida's "BUYER'S RIGHT TO CANCEL," the 14-point insurance notice, the federal statement, the 14-point emergency notice right before the owner's signature, and two Notice of Cancellation forms.
• Appendices B and C, for you: the three flyer statements at the right size, and the rules and penalties. Remove them before the owner gets the addendum.

Copy it in Google Docs, or download the Word file or the PDF. Then pay a Florida attorney for an hour to read it against how you sell. For the contract it attaches to, see the Florida contract template, or the national roofing contract template for the decking and extra-layer clauses. The roofing insurance page covers your own liability and workers comp.

Where Deepsel fits

Deepsel is free estimate, invoice and scheduling software for contractors. Price book items take any unit you type, like squares or sheets, quote lines take decimal quantities, and upgrades can go on as optional lines the customer ticks. A shop-wide terms text is copied onto every quote, and the customer approves and signs on screen. You can attach roof photos to the quote and job for your crew (customers don't see them), take a card deposit at approval that's credited on the final invoice, and record each payment with its method, check number and a note, so the deductible and each insurance check stay separate. On Pro you can also write your own contract template and attach it to an estimate for the customer to sign when they approve, set a payment schedule (deductible, first check, holdback) that carries over to the job, and send change orders the customer signs. Deepsel has no insurance claim tools: no fields for the insurer, claim number, adjuster or deductible, no roof measurements, no Xactimate link, and no built-in Florida contract yet. Contract text has no type-size setting, so don't rely on it for the 14-point notices; attach the signed addendum. And a card deposit taken at approval on a job sold at the home is still refundable during the cancellation windows. The Free plan covers 30 estimates and 30 invoices a month for your whole team, with scheduling and dispatch, quotes, invoicing, card payments, and customer and equipment records. Pro is $29 a month with unlimited estimates and invoices. Details are on the pricing page.

Frequently asked questions

Can a roofer pay or waive your deductible in Florida?

No. Section 489.147(2)(b) bars a contractor from offering a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon, deductible waiver or any other thing of value in exchange for a roof inspection or a roof claim, with licensing board fines of up to $10,000 per violation. Paying, waiving or rebating a deductible with intent to injure, defraud or deceive is also a third-degree felony under s. 817.234(7)(d): up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

What does Florida Statute 489.147 say?

It's Florida's law on contractors and property insurance claims. A contractor may not solicit owners with roof-claim ads that lack three required statements, offer anything of value for a roof inspection or claim, pay or take referral fees on insurance-paid work, interpret the policy or adjust the claim without a public adjuster license, or hand over a repair agreement before an itemized estimate. Residential roof contracts must carry a notice of the rebate ban and a 14-point notice telling the owner to check coverage with their insurer, plus a 14-point 10-day cancellation notice after a declared emergency. Fines run up to $10,000 per violation.

Can a roofing contractor talk to my insurance company in Florida?

Yes, about the bid. Section 626.854(16) lets a licensed contractor discuss or explain a bid for the repair with the owner or the insurer, for the usual fees stated in the contract. Without a public adjuster license, a contractor may not prepare or file the claim, negotiate the settlement, interpret the policy, or advertise or offer to handle claims. Acting as a public adjuster without a license is a third-degree felony for each act (s. 626.8738).

Can you cancel a roofing contract in Florida?

Often, yes. A contract signed at your home can be cancelled until midnight of the third business day after you sign (s. 501.025 and the federal Cooling-Off Rule). A roof contract signed within 180 days of a declared state of emergency covering your home can be cancelled within 10 days or by the official start date, whichever comes first (s. 489.147(6)). A roof contract without the rebate notice can be voided within 10 days (s. 489.147(5)). No statute lets you cancel because the claim was denied; that depends on the contract.

Is assignment of benefits still allowed in Florida?

Not on current policies. Section 627.7152(13) makes an attempt to assign post-loss benefits under a residential or commercial property policy issued on or after January 1, 2023 void, invalid and unenforceable, and a 2023 law says the December 2022 act applies to policies issued or renewed after its effective date. Assignments under older policies had to meet strict rules, including an 18-point notice and a 14-day rescission right.

How long do you have to file a roof insurance claim in Florida?

One year from the date of loss for a new or reopened claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim (s. 627.70132). For a hurricane or other weather event, the date of loss is the landfall date or the date NOAA verifies the event. The owner gives notice under the policy's terms. A roofer shouldn't file it for them.

What is the new roof law in Florida?

For roofers: since May 19, 2025 (HB 715), every residential roof contract needs a 14-point notice telling the owner to check coverage with their insurer, and the 10-day emergency cancellation right covers contracts signed within 180 days of a declared emergency in the area. Since July 1, 2026, a door knocker must skip any home with a compliant 'no commercial solicitation' sign (s. 501.062). The 9th edition of the Florida Building Code is scheduled to take effect December 31, 2026. Nothing passed in 2026 changed s. 489.147, the assignment ban or the claim deadlines.

What is the 15-year roof rule in Florida?

An insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowner's policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old. For an older roof, the owner may have it inspected by an authorized inspector, which can be a roofing contractor the insurer approves, and if the inspection shows 5 years or more of useful life left, the insurer can't refuse solely because of age (s. 627.7011(5)). The rule is about getting and keeping a policy, not about what a claim pays.

Is there a Google Docs, Word or PDF version of the addendum?

All three, free. The Google Docs link makes a copy in your own Drive, the .docx opens in Word, and the PDF prints as is. Appendices B and C hold notes for you; remove them before you hand the addendum to the owner.

Sources

1. Section 489.147, Florida Statutes (2026), "Prohibited property insurance practices; contract requirements" - (1)(a) "prohibited advertisement" and the three statements "in a font size of at least 12 points and at least half as large as the largest font size used in the communication"; (1)(c) "soliciting"; (2)(a) to (e) the five prohibited practices; (3) discipline under s. 489.129 and "up to a $10,000 fine for each violation"; (4)(a) acts of "a compensated employee or a nonemployee who is compensated for soliciting"; (4)(b) unlicensed persons; (5) the rebate notice and the 10-day right to void; (6) the state of emergency cancellation and its 14-point notice; (7) the 14-point insurance notice. History: s. 1, ch. 2021-77; s. 5, ch. 2022-268; s. 2, ch. 2024-139; s. 9, ch. 2025-40. leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
2. Section 817.234, Florida Statutes (2026), "False and fraudulent insurance claims" - (1)(a) statements with "false, incomplete, or misleading information"; (6) "statement" includes an "estimate of property damages"; (7)(a) waiving deductibles as a "general business practice"; (7)(d) "A contractor, or a person acting on behalf of a contractor, may not knowingly or willfully and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive, pay, waive, or rebate all or part of an insurance deductible ... A person who violates this paragraph commits a third degree felony"; (11) degree by value. Sections 775.082(3)(e) and 775.083(1)(c) to (e): third-degree felony up to 5 years and $5,000; first-degree misdemeanor up to 1 year and $1,000; second-degree misdemeanor up to 60 days and $500; noncriminal violation up to $500. 817.234, 775.082, 775.083, leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
3. Section 626.854, Florida Statutes (2026), "'Public adjuster' defined; prohibitions" - (1) the definition; (5) solicitation hours for public adjusters; (11)(b) fee caps of 10 and 20 percent; (13) referral payments; (14) 48 hours' notice before an insurer's inspection; (16) licensed contractors and subcontractors; (19) subsections (5) to (18) apply to residential and condominium unit owner policies; (20) what only an attorney or a licensed public adjuster may do; (21) the department's fines; (24) the 14-day claim status reply added by s. 29, ch. 2026-174. leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
4. Section 627.7152, Florida Statutes (2026), "Assignment agreements" - (1)(b) "assigned or transferred, or acquired in any manner, in whole or in part"; (2)(a) the requirements for policies "issued on or after July 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2023," including the 14-day rescission and the 18-point notice; (13) "An attempt to assign post-loss property insurance benefits under such a policy is void, invalid, and unenforceable." History: s. 21, ch. 2022-271. leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
5. Florida Home Solicitation Sale Act, ss. 501.021 (sale "in excess of $25"; "business day" excludes Sunday and federal holidays; sales that result from the buyer's request are excluded), 501.022 (permit from the clerk of the circuit court; "valid for a period of 1 year"; carry it and "display the same to all prospective buyers before initiating the solicitation"; invited visits excluded), 501.025 (cancel "until midnight of the third business day"), 501.031 (the "BUYER'S RIGHT TO CANCEL" statement), 501.041 (refund "within 10 days") and 501.055 (first-degree misdemeanor; a second permit offense is a third-degree felony), Florida Statutes (2026). 501.021, 501.022, 501.025, 501.031, 501.041, 501.055, leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
6. Bill histories on flsenate.gov: SB 76 (2021), effective July 1, 2021, Chapter 2021-77; SB 2-D (2022, Special Session D), effective May 26, 2022 "except as otherwise provided," Chapter 2022-268; SB 4-D (2022, Special Session D), effective May 26, 2022, Chapter 2022-269; SB 2-A (2022, Special Session A), effective December 16, 2022 "except as otherwise expressly provided," Chapter 2022-271; HB 939 (2024), effective July 1, 2024, Chapter 2024-139; HB 715 (2025), effective May 19, 2025, Chapter 2025-40; SB 290 (2026), effective July 1, 2026, Chapter 2026-3. All read November 8, 2026.
7. Earlier text of s. 489.147: 2021 (no advertising safe harbor), 2023 (the three statements added by ch. 2022-268) and 2024 (the emergency cancellation "based on events that are subject of a declaration," a "final permit," and an 18-point notice), flsenate.gov, all read November 8, 2026.
8. Sections 627.701(10) (separate roof deductible: not more than "the lesser of 2 percent of the Coverage A limit of the policy or 50 percent of the cost to replace the roof"; not for hurricanes, tree falls that puncture the deck, or repairs of less than 50 percent of the roof) and 627.7011 ((1) and (2) law and ordinance coverage, deemed included at 25 percent of the dwelling limit unless rejected in writing; (3)(a) actual cash value first, and the roof payment held at actual cash value until "reasonable proof of payment" of a roof deductible; (5) the 15-year roof rule, authorized inspectors including "a roofing contractor," for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022), Florida Statutes (2026). I also searched the full 2026 text of chapter 627 for "reimbursement schedule": it isn't there. 627.701, 627.7011, chapter 627, leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
9. Section 553.844(5), Florida Statutes (2026): for a roofing system or section built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, when "25 percent or more" is repaired, replaced or recovered, "only the repaired, replaced, or recovered portion is required to be constructed in accordance with the Florida Building Code in effect." History: s. 1, ch. 2022-269. leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
10. Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes (2026), "Notice of property insurance claim" - (2) "within 1 year after the date of loss," supplemental claims "within 18 months"; (3) the date of loss for weather events. leg.state.fl.us. Earlier text: 2021 (2 years, 3 for supplemental claims, ch. 2021-77) and 2023, whose note quotes s. 23, ch. 2023-172: chapter 2022-271 "applies to an insurance contract issued or renewed after the applicable effective date provided by the chapter law." All flsenate.gov or leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
11. Section 489.105(3), Florida Statutes (2026): "contractor," the residential contractor in (c) and the roofing contractor in (e), whose scope includes "the evaluation and enhancement of roof-to-wall connections." leg.state.fl.us; the 2024 text has no roof-to-wall wording and the 2025 text does. All read November 8, 2026.
12. Section 501.062, Florida Statutes (2026), "Unauthorized commercial solicitation" (s. 24, ch. 2026-3): the sign, "no less than 8.5 by 11 inches," letters "at least 1 inch in height"; a first violation is a noncriminal violation, a second a second-degree misdemeanor. leg.state.fl.us; Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, "New Florida Law Protects Homeowners from Unwanted Commercial Solicitation" ("Effective July 1, 2026"; "A $500 noncriminal fine for a first violation"), fdacs.gov. Both read November 8, 2026.
13. Florida Building Commission, "Key Commission Milestones July 1996 to Present," updated April 14, 2026: the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code has "an effective date of December 31, 2026." floridabuilding.org, read November 8, 2026. The rule adopting it (61G20-1.001) was published as a proposed rule on September 23, 2026, Florida Administrative Register notice 31378159, and wasn't final on November 9, 2026: flrules.org.
14. SB 808 (2026), "Roofing Requirements for Property Insurance," last action March 13, 2026, "Died in Banking and Insurance"; HB 815 (2026), same title, "Died in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee." flsenate.gov, read November 8, 2026.
15. Reddit - "I've lost 3 jobs so far from companies that offer to pay the deductible." (2025-08-04, read in an archive; the post is no longer live). reddit.com.
16. Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board, "Fact Sheet: Senate Bill 76/Senate Bill 2-D and Contractor Responsibilities Regarding Prohibited Property Insurance Practices" - on the contract notice: "Consult with your own counsel as the statute does not provide specific language" and "The notice must be included prior to the execution of the contract." myfloridalicense.com, read November 8, 2026.
17. Reddit - "I always collect a separate check for the deductible with deductible written in the memo line." (2024-08-06). reddit.com.
18. Sections 626.8738 (acting as a public adjuster without a license "commits a felony of the third degree"; "Each act in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense") and 626.8795 (a public adjuster "may not participate, directly or indirectly, in the reconstruction, repair, or restoration of damaged property" on a claim they adjust, or have a financial interest in such a business), Florida Statutes (2026). 626.8738, 626.8795, leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
19. Section 627.70131, Florida Statutes (2026) - (3)(a) investigation within 7 days of proof of loss; (3)(b) the adjuster's name and license number, and a physical inspection "within 30 days after its receipt of the proof-of-loss statements"; (3)(e) a copy of the insurer's detailed estimate within 7 days; (7)(a) "Within 60 days ... the insurer shall pay or deny such claim," with a written explanation. leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
20. Federal Trade Commission, Cooling-Off Rule, 16 CFR Part 429 - 429.0(a) (sales at the buyer's residence of $25 or more, "including those in response to or following an invitation by the buyer"; the handwritten emergency statement), 429.1(a) the 10-point bold statement "in immediate proximity to the space reserved in the contract for the signature of the buyer," 429.1(b) the Notice of Cancellation, 429.1(g) refund within 10 business days. ecfr.gov, version of November 1, 2026, read November 8, 2026.
21. Executive Office of the Governor, executive orders: 26-202 (October 6, 2026), 26-211 (October 7) and 26-212 (Hurricane Isaias, 30 counties); 26-227 (November 2, 2026) and 26-228 (November 4; 2026 fall flooding, 14 counties); list at flgov.com. All read November 8, 2026.
22. Section 489.126(2) and (3), Florida Statutes (2026): more than 10 percent as the initial payment starts the 30-day permit and 90-day start deadlines, unless the owner "agreed, in writing, to a longer period." leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
23. Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, "Home Solicitation Sales Permit" ("A non-refundable application fee of $100"; Live Scan fingerprints). hillsclerk.com, read November 8, 2026.
24. City of Orlando, "Apply for a Solicitor's Permit" ("Individuals who want to knock on doors to sell, lease or rent consumer goods or services in the City of Orlando must get a permit"; fingerprinting with the Orlando Police Department). orlando.gov, read November 8, 2026.
25. Sections 501.160 (unconscionable prices during a declared state of emergency, measured against the 30 days before the declaration; (8) no business tax receipt during the emergency is a second-degree misdemeanor) and 501.2075 (civil penalty "of not more than $10,000 for each such violation"), Florida Statutes (2026). 501.160, 501.2075, leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
26. Section 489.13, Florida Statutes (2026) - (1) "Persons working outside the geographical scope of their registration are guilty of unlicensed activity"; (3) administrative fine "of up to $10,000." leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
27. Section 489.117(5), Florida Statutes (2026): "a registered contractor may engage in contracting only for work covered by the registration within an area for which a state of emergency is declared pursuant to s. 252.36 for a natural emergency. This authorization terminates 24 months after the expiration of the declared state of emergency." leg.state.fl.us, read November 8, 2026.
28. Section 489.129(1), Florida Statutes (2026) (probation, reprimand, suspension, revocation, restitution and "an administrative fine not to exceed $10,000 per violation"), leg.state.fl.us; Construction Industry Licensing Board, rule 61G4-17.001, "Normal Penalty Ranges," paragraphs (1)(r) to (x) on s. 489.147, latest version effective January 18, 2026, flrules.org. Both read November 8, 2026. I quote only each range's lowest first-offense figure and highest repeat-offense figure.
29. Reddit, r/Roofing - "Some of these claims can end up being upwards of 10 or 20 hours of time spent getting it approved" (2026-02-11). reddit.com.
30. Reddit - "Honestly I do about half retail and half insurance. In my opinion retail is the way to go as much as you can." (2025-06-05). reddit.com.
31. Reddit, r/Roofing - "Just been working with builders and new construction and wanted to start working with insurance companies. But I have no idea how start or how the process goes." (2025-10-06). reddit.com.