A sales visit after a storm, a quote that seems too good, a request for cash up front. Before you hand over a deposit, a Florida roof license check and a careful read of the contract tell you more than any sales pitch. This guide works for vetting any roofer, whoever you end up hiring.
It covers what Florida law means by a roofing contractor, how to check a licence, what the written contract should hold, the limits on deposits, the lien notice, the rules for storm sales and insurance claims, and the warning signs worth walking away from. It is a plain-language summary of the statutes, not legal advice. Confirm how they apply to your job with the state licensing agency, your local building department or an attorney.
Florida Law’s Definition of a Roofing Contractor
Florida law defines a roofing contractor as one whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade and who can install, maintain, repair, alter, extend or design all kinds of roofing, waterproofing and coating. The definition sits in section 489.105 of the Florida Statutes, which also separates certified contractors from registered ones.
The difference between the two licence types matters when you check a roofer (s. 489.105, Florida Statutes):
| Licence type | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Certified contractor | Holds a certificate of competency issued by the state and may contract in any jurisdiction in Florida without meeting that jurisdiction’s own competency rules. |
| Registered contractor | Has registered with the state after meeting the competency requirements of a particular jurisdiction, and may contract only in that jurisdiction. |
In plain terms, a certified licence travels statewide, while a registered licence is tied to the local area where the roofer met the requirements. A roofer with a registered licence from a jurisdiction far from Polk County is a reason to ask more questions before any work starts in Lakeland, Winter Haven or Bartow.
Running a Florida Roof License Check
Roofing licences in Florida are issued and tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Ask the roofer for the full licence number in writing, then look it up with DBPR yourself. Do not rely on a number printed on a truck, a yard sign or a business card alone.
When you check the record, work through these points in order:
- Match the name. The name on the licence record should match the company or person named on your contract.
- Read the licence type. Note whether it is a roofing licence or another trade, and whether it is certified or registered.
- Check the status. Look for a current, active status rather than one that is expired, inactive or under discipline.
- Look for complaints or actions. The record may show disciplinary history worth asking about.
- Keep a copy. Save or print what you found and keep it with your contract.
If any of these do not line up, ask the roofer to explain before you sign. A name that does not match the contract, or a licence for a different trade, is a reason to pause. You can also ask your local building department whether a permit is needed for your job and who may pull it.
Contents of a Written Roofing Contract
A written contract is your main protection when a roof job goes wrong. It should name the licensed contractor, describe the work and materials, state the price and payment schedule, and include the notices Florida law requires. Never sign a blank or partly blank form, and keep a signed copy for your records.
A useful contract covers at least these items:
- The parties. The licensed contractor’s legal name and licence number, and your name and property address.
- The scope of work. What is being repaired or replaced, the roofing material, and whether old roofing is being removed.
- The price and payment schedule. The total, the deposit, and when each further payment is due.
- Permits. Who applies for any required permit.
- Start and finish timing. A start date or a clear way to set one.
- Required notices. The lien notice, and the storm cancellation notice when the contract follows a declared emergency.
Comparing two or three written quotes line by line makes gaps easier to spot. The guide on how to read a roof estimate walks through each section of a typical quote and what to ask about.
Deposits and the 30 and 90 Day Deadlines
Florida does not ban deposits, but it puts deadlines on a contractor who takes a large one. Under section 489.126, a contractor who receives more than 10 percent of the contract price up front must apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after permits are issued.
The statute sets out the rules this way (s. 489.126, Florida Statutes):
| Step | Deadline in the statute |
|---|---|
| Apply for permits needed for the work | Within 30 days after the payment is made, unless no permit is required |
| Start the work | Within 90 days after all necessary permits are issued |
The statute allows two exceptions. The deadlines do not apply if the contractor shows just cause, or if you agreed in writing to a longer timeline. Read any deposit clause closely for that kind of agreement before you sign.
The statute also sets out what an owner can do when the deadlines pass. The owner sends a certified letter demanding that the contractor apply for permits, start work or refund the money. If the contractor does not comply within 30 days of receiving it, the law draws an inference that no just cause exists. An attorney can explain what that means for your situation.
The Lien Notice Every Larger Home Contract Needs
Florida requires a construction lien notice in any direct contract greater than $2,500 between an owner and a contractor for work on a home of up to four units. The notice warns that people who work on your property and are not paid in full can enforce a claim against it.
Under section 713.015, the notice must be printed in at least 12-point, capitalised, boldfaced type on the front page of the contract or on a separate page that you sign and date (s. 713.015, Florida Statutes). It opens by stating that, under Florida’s Construction Lien Law, those who work on your property or provide materials and services and are not paid in full have a right to enforce their claim against your property.
This matters because a roofer can take your money and still leave a supplier or subcontractor unpaid. That unpaid party may then look to your property. A contract above the threshold with no lien notice is a warning sign about how carefully the paperwork was prepared. Ask a real estate attorney how to protect yourself when you pay, especially on a full replacement.
Storm Sales Rules and the 10 Day Cancellation Right
After a declared emergency, Florida gives you extra time to back out of a roof contract. Section 489.147 lets a homeowner cancel a contract to repair or replace a roof without penalty within 10 days of signing or by the official start date, whichever comes first, when the contract followed the Governor’s emergency declaration.
The statute says the contract must spell this right out in bold 18-point type (s. 489.147, Florida Statutes). It defines the official start date as the day work begins that installs materials which will be part of the final roof, a final permit is issued, or a temporary repair to the roof covering or roof system is made in line with the Florida Building Code.
The same section restricts how roofers may sell to homeowners. A contractor may not solicit a homeowner with a “prohibited advertisement.” Under the statute, an advertisement that encourages you to contact a contractor about a roof damage claim must carry disclosures, in at least 12-point type, that:
- You pay the deductible. The homeowner is responsible for the insurance deductible.
- A deductible waiver is fraud. Offering to waive it is described as felony insurance fraud.
- A false claim is fraud. Filing a false claim is also described as felony fraud.
If a roofer approaches you with a contract after a hurricane, these rules give you leverage. Take the contract, read it at your own pace, and use the 10 days if you have doubts.
Gifts, Deductible Waivers and Insurance Claims
Section 489.147 bars a contractor from offering a rebate, gift, gift card, cash, coupon, waiver of any insurance deductible or anything of value in exchange for inspecting your roof or making an insurance claim. It also bars paying for referrals where insurance proceeds pay for the work. Fines reach up to $10,000 per violation.
The statute applies that fine to licensed contractors, who can also face discipline, and treats unlicensed people who do the same thing under the unlicensed contracting penalties (s. 489.147, Florida Statutes). An offer to “cover your deductible” or a gift card for letting someone onto your roof is not a perk. It is something the statute forbids.
Claims also cannot be signed over the way they once could. Under section 627.7152(13), post-loss benefits under a residential property policy issued on or after January 1, 2023 may not be assigned, and an attempted assignment “is void, invalid, and unenforceable” (s. 627.7152, Florida Statutes). Be cautious of any paper that asks you to hand your claim to a roofer, and ask your insurer or an attorney before signing it.
The article on whether homeowners insurance covers a roof leak explains how claims work from the policy side, so you can deal with your insurer directly.
Red Flags When Hiring a Roofer
The warning signs below come down to pressure, cash and missing paperwork. A roofer who will not give a licence number, wants a large deposit with no permit plan, offers to cover your deductible, or asks you to sign over your claim is showing you a risk before any work starts.
Watch for these red flags:
- No licence number, or one that does not match. The DBPR record should match the name on the contract.
- Pressure to sign today. A storm deal that expires in an hour leaves no time to check anything.
- A large deposit with no permit plan. More than 10 percent up front triggers the deadlines in section 489.126.
- An offer to waive or pay your deductible. Section 489.147 bars it.
- Gifts or cash for an inspection. The same section bars these too.
- A form that assigns your insurance benefits. On policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, the assignment is void.
- No lien notice on a larger job. Section 713.015 requires it above the threshold.
- No storm cancellation notice after a declared emergency. Section 489.147 requires the bold notice.
- A vague scope. No materials, no removal details, no timing.
Problems can also show up after the job. A repair that keeps failing is a reason to look again at who did the work and what the contract promised. The guide to why a roof keeps leaking after a repair covers the common causes and what to ask the original contractor.
Choosing a Roofing Contractor With Confidence
Choosing a roofing contractor comes down to facts you can confirm yourself. Verify the licence with DBPR, compare written quotes, keep deposits within the statute’s limits, look for the required notices, and refuse any offer tied to your deductible or your claim.
A short checklist to keep beside you when quotes arrive:
- Licence checked with DBPR and saved.
- Name on the contract matches the licence record.
- Written scope, price and payment schedule in the contract.
- Deposit plan understood, including the permit and start deadlines.
- Lien notice present on any contract above the threshold.
- Storm cancellation notice present if the contract follows a declared emergency.
- No gifts, deductible waivers or claim assignments offered or signed.
For a broader look at leak causes and repairs before you call anyone, see the Lakeland roof leak guide. When you are ready to compare a quote, the Roof Repair Lakeland FL page on roof repair in Lakeland explains how repair work is scoped. Use the same checks on that quote as on any other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are roofers required to be licensed in Florida?
Yes. Section 489.113 states that “a person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state” (s. 489.113, Florida Statutes). Under section 489.128, a contract made by an unlicensed contractor is unenforceable by that contractor (s. 489.128, Florida Statutes).
How can you tell a good roofer?
Start with facts you can check. The licence record with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation should match the name on the contract, and the contract should state the scope, price and payment schedule. Deposits above 10 percent carry permit and start deadlines under section 489.126 (s. 489.126, Florida Statutes).
How to spot a bad roofing company?
Look for a missing or mismatched licence, same-day pressure, a large deposit with no permit plan, or an offer of gifts or a deductible waiver for an inspection or claim. Section 489.147 bars those offers (s. 489.147, Florida Statutes). A paper assigning your insurance benefits is another warning sign.
What is the best way to find a reputable roofer?
Get written quotes from more than one licensed roofer and check each licence with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Confirm the contract carries the lien notice on jobs above the threshold in section 713.015 (s. 713.015, Florida Statutes), and refuse any offer tied to your deductible.
Can a roofer sue me if he falls off my roof?
The statute speaks to one situation, when you pull an owner-builder permit and act as your own contractor. Its disclosure says “I, as an owner-builder, may be held liable and subjected to serious financial risk for any injuries sustained by an unlicensed person or his or her employees while working on my property” (s. 489.103, Florida Statutes). Confirm with an attorney.
