Florida roofing contractors are in the midst of an insurance crisis as premiums skyrocket for residents and insurance companies leave the state. A number of new laws have been introduced that place more restrictions on how roofing contractors do business. This includes how they can advertise and file insurance claims as well as the criteria for covered roof replacements.
Roofing contractors that operate in the state of Florida must understand these new laws to adequately service homeowners and avoid legal trouble. Here are the latest changes roofing contractors should be aware of during the Florida insurance crisis:
- Why roofing advertising needs specific messaging
- Challenges in getting full roof replacements covered by insurance
- Understanding why roofing contractors can’t file insurance claims for homeowners
- New opportunities to perform roof-to-wall enhancements
- Key updates to insurance restoration contracts
- How AccuLynx roofing software supports contractors amid changing insurance laws
Why roofing advertising needs specific messaging
In June 2021, Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, signed a bill into law that put restrictions on how contractors can advertise and what they can say to a homeowner. While a subsequent roofing lawsuit put the restrictions on hold for a bit, a revised version was officially introduced in June of 2022.
The new law requires roofing contractors to put specific information on all printed or electronic marketing/advertising materials. It states that contractors must use at least 12-point font, or a font that is half the size of the largest font used on the marketing piece, to convey the following, according to the Florida Legislature:
- The consumer is responsible for payment of any insurance deductible.
- It is insurance fraud punishable as a felony of the third degree for a contractor to 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 for repairs to a property covered by a property insurance policy.
- It is insurance fraud punishable as a felony of the third degree to intentionally file an insurance claim containing any false, incomplete, or misleading information.
Roofing contractors operating through the Florida insurance crisis have plenty of ways to advertise while staying within these guidelines. Unfortunately, these changes are just the beginning. How roofing contractors work with homeowners has changed, as well.
Challenges in getting full roof replacements covered by insurance
In May 2022, Florida’s 25% Roof Replacement Rule was eliminated and replaced with Senate Bill 4-D. The law originally stated that if more than 25% of the roof was damaged, the entire roof would need to be replaced to meet code requirements. SB 4-D states that as long as the rest of the roof complies with Florida’s 2007 building code, it only needs to be repaired.
This rule can be complex for roofing contractors, insurers, and homeowners alike. For instance, only homes with roofs constructed or replaced after March 1, 2009, fall under the new law. Homes that were built prior, and have not had a roof replacement, will need to have the entire roof replaced if more than 25% is damaged.
This change means that roofing contractors may not be able to sell as many complete replacement jobs, as fewer homeowner policies will cover full replacements. As a result, roofing contractors should discuss this change with homeowners and be prepared to offer financing to help homeowners cover costs that may not be covered by their insurance company.
Understanding why roofing contractors can’t file insurance claims for homeowners
In the past, homeowners could sign an Assignment of Benefits that would transfer insurance payments directly to their roofing contractor, making the process easier for both parties. However, Senate Bill 2-A, which went into effect December 16, 2022, now requires homeowners to file their own claims and hire third parties themselves, if necessary. This law puts the burden on homeowners to cover large payments if a project is denied or not paid out for the full cost of the repairs by the insurance company.
One of the reasons behind this change is to help insurance companies minimize the amount of money they pay out in claims and lawsuits. In fact, Florida currently makes up 76% of the nation’s homeowners’ insurance lawsuits.
Though roofing contractors in Florida can no longer file claims directly, they can still advise customers on how to do so and help them through the insurance claims process. Contractors should implement different procedures for working with homeowners that can use an AOB and those that cannot.
New opportunities to perform roof-to-wall enhancements
Updates to Florida’s roofing regulations signed into law in May 2025 bring rare good news for contractors. Previously, licensed roofing contractors were not authorized to evaluate or repair roof-to-wall connections, also known as “hurricane straps.”
These connections are critical for protecting buildings during hurricanes and high-wind events. Under HB 715, the definition of “roofing contractor” now includes the evaluation and enhancement of hurricane straps for structures with wood roof decking. These services must be performed alongside a roof covering replacement or repair and must meet or exceed current Florida building code requirements.
Contractors should inform homeowners of this expanded capability and consider including roof-to-wall evaluations and enhancements as a line item in estimates and contracts, where applicable.
Key updates to insurance restoration contracts
Florida’s HB 715 also introduced changes to the requirements for insurance restoration contracts. Under a previous Florida law, homeowners who signed roofing contracts after a declared state of emergency could cancel those contracts within 10 days of signing or before work began. HB 715 keeps that policy, while clarifying that the contracts must have been signed within 180 days of the event that caused the emergency in order for the cancellation policy to apply.
In addition, all residential roofing contracts must now include the following language in bold, 14-point font:
“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.”
These new policies are designed to protect homeowners from rushing into bad contracts and make them aware of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to insurance coverage. Roofing contractors may find themselves with more canceled contracts as a result of this new law. However, if your business uses persuasion instead of pressure to convince homeowners to sign with you, and if your contracts clearly detail every step of the roofing process, you can likely reduce the number of cancellations you see.
How AccuLynx roofing software supports contractors amid changing insurance laws
Roofing software won’t solve the Florida insurance crisis, but it can help roofing contractors streamline operations and provide the best service to homeowners. AccuLynx’s all-in-one business management software allows roofing contractors to manage every aspect of their work from a single system. AccuLynx includes CRM, estimating, production scheduling, project management, aerial measurements, material ordering, photo sharing, payment processing, custom reporting, homeowner financing, and more. Roofing contractors that use AccuLynx save, on average, 9 hours per week and grow total job profits by 32% after their first year.
