Can a Roofer Handle My Insurance Claim in Florida? What the Law Allows

Short answer

A roofer can inspect, estimate, and repair your roof. In Florida, a roofer cannot adjust your claim, interpret your policy, or advise you on coverage unless they are also a licensed public adjuster.

Florida Statute 489.147(2)(d) prohibits a contractor from interpreting policy provisions or advising an insured about coverages or duties under the policy, and from adjusting a property insurance claim on behalf of the insured, unless the contractor is licensed as a public adjuster. Section 489.147(2)(b) also bars offering a homeowner a rebate, gift, cash, gift card, or deductible waiver in exchange for a roof inspection or for making a roof claim.

What a roofer can do

• Inspect the roof and document the damage with photos.
• Write a repair or replacement estimate for the work.
• Make emergency repairs and tarp the roof, and bill for that work.
• Meet the carrier's adjuster at the property to show the damage they found, at your request.
• Do the repair once the claim is resolved.

What a roofer cannot do in Florida

• Interpret your policy or tell you what is covered. That is advice only a licensed adjuster or attorney can give.
• Negotiate or adjust the claim with your insurance company on your behalf.
• Offer you a gift, rebate, gift card, cash, or to waive your deductible in exchange for an inspection or a claim.
• Pay anyone for referring you to them for work paid by insurance.
• Take an assignment of benefits on a residential or commercial property policy issued on or after January 1, 2023. Florida largely ended post-loss assignments of benefits for those policies.

Red flags at the door

• Offers to cover or waive your deductible. That is illegal in Florida.
• A contract to sign on the spot that includes language about handling the insurance claim.
• Pressure to file a claim before anyone has inspected the roof.
• No license number. Check any contractor at MyFloridaLicense.com before you sign.
• Asking you to sign over insurance checks or to let them talk to your carrier for you.

How a roofer and a public adjuster work together

A good roofer knows the roof. A licensed public adjuster knows the policy and the claim. On a complicated loss, especially a commercial building, a condo, or a large residential claim, it helps to have both: the roofer documents the roof and prices the repair, and the public adjuster reads the policy, builds the full claim including interior and code items, and presents it to the carrier.

A public adjuster works for you, the policyholder. Florida licenses public adjusters through the Department of Financial Services, and you can look up any adjuster's license there. Contractors are licensed separately by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Commonly Asked Questions

Related

• Hurricane roof damage claims in Florida →
• Public adjuster vs. contractor in Florida →
• Should you hire a public adjuster? →
• Hurricane Isaias damage claims: what to do now →
• Check CCG licenses →

About the Author

James Coyne

Florida Licensed Public Adjuster, License W482618. Founder of Coyne Commercial Group, Firm License G350978, Sanford, Florida. Represents commercial property owners, condominium and HOA associations, and homeowners on insurance claims statewide.

Sources

• Fla. Stat. § 489.147 : prohibited property insurance practices by contractors
• Fla. Stat. § 627.7152 : assignment agreements, and the 2023 limits on post-loss assignments of benefits
• Fla. Stat. § 626.854 : public adjuster definition and duties
• Florida DBPR license search

This page is for general information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Confirm any deadline or obligation against your policy, your association’s governing documents, and current Florida law.