Homeowner guides · Consumer protection
How to Avoid Storm-Chaser Roofing Scams in Florida
Florida’s actual rules on roofing solicitations, deductible waivers, gift cards for inspections, assignment of benefits, and contract cancellation after a declared emergency — plus how to check a license.
Last updated November 10, 2026 (America/New_York). All blog posts. Educational guide, not a bid, a specification, or insurance advice.
Direct answer
Slow down, verify the license, and do not trade a gift card, a waived deductible, or an “we’ll handle the claim” promise for access to your roof. Fla. Stat. § 489.147 forbids a contractor from offering 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 a roof inspection or for making a roof insurance claim. It also forbids contractors from interpreting policy provisions or adjusting a claim unless they hold a public-adjuster license, and it forbids executing a roof repair or replacement contract without a required consumer notice. The Florida Department of Financial Services repeats these rules in plain language on its contractor FAQ, and DBPR’s storm-recovery page warns against unlicensed crews who demand full payment up front or offer to “handle” insurance claims.
For property insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, a homeowner may not assign post-loss benefits; an attempted assignment is void under § 627.7152(13). Check every license yourself at myfloridalicense.com, ask for insurance evidence, and get a written itemized estimate. Report suspected unlicensed activity to DBPR at 1-866-532-1440 or ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com, as those agencies publish.
What Florida law actually prohibits
Section 489.147(2) lists prohibited practices. Besides the gift-and-deductible ban, a contractor may not solicit a residential owner with a “prohibited advertisement” — a written or electronic communication that encourages the owner to contact a contractor or public adjuster to make a roof-damage insurance claim, unless the ad states, in at least 12-point type and at least half as large as the largest font in the communication, that the consumer is responsible for the deductible; that it is insurance fraud (a third-degree felony) for a contractor to knowingly or willfully, and with intent to injure, defraud, or deceive, pay, waive, or rebate all or part of an applicable deductible; and that it is insurance fraud to intentionally file a claim containing false, incomplete, or misleading information. Door hangers, emails, flyers, and pamphlets are included.
A contractor also may not offer, deliver, receive, or accept compensation for the referral of services for which property-insurance proceeds are payable (ordinary payment for the roof work itself is not a referral fee). A contractor may not give an insured a repair authorization without a good-faith itemized estimate of services and materials for work undertaken under a property-insurance claim. Violations can lead to discipline under § 489.129 and a fine of up to $10,000 per violation. An unlicensed person who does these things is guilty of unlicensed contracting and may also be fined up to $10,000 per violation.
Contracts, notices, and the 10-day cancellation right after an emergency
A contractor may not execute a contract to repair or replace a residential roof without a notice that the contractor may not offer gifts or deductible waivers in exchange for an inspection or a claim. If that notice is missing, the owner may void the contract within 10 days after executing it (§ 489.147(5); DFS’s FAQ says the same). The contract must also include, in bold type of at least 14 points on the signature page, a statement advising the owner to contact the insurer to verify coverage, deductibles, and policy terms before signing, and an acknowledgment that the owner was advised to do so.
If the contract is entered into within 180 days of events that are the subject of a Governor’s state-of-emergency declaration, and the property is in the geographic area of that declaration, the owner may cancel without penalty or obligation within 10 days after execution or by the official start date, whichever comes first. “Official start date” means the date work that includes installation of materials that will be in the final roof begins, a permit has been issued, or a temporary repair has been made in compliance with the Florida Building Code. The contractor must include a statutory bold 14-point notice of that right. Cancellation must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or another mailing that provides proof, to the address in the contract.
Licenses, insurance, and assignment of benefits
DFS’s Insurance Consumer Advocate guide says not to let anyone inspect your roof until you have verified an active Florida license, workers’ compensation coverage or a valid exemption, and general liability insurance. License lookup is at myfloridalicense.com. Workers’ compensation proof can be checked through DFS’s Proof of Coverage portal, and exemptions through the related exemption search the same guide cites. DBPR also warns, after storms, about demands for full payment up front, high-pressure timelines, missing licenses, cash-only requests, and offers to handle the claim.
Assignment of benefits on residential or commercial property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, is prohibited and unenforceable. Older policies issued on or after July 1, 2019, and before January 1, 2023, had a detailed statutory form if an assignment was used; that history is in § 627.7152, but it is not a reason to sign an assignment on a newer policy. A public adjuster, if you hire one, must be licensed by DFS; verify that license separately. DFS notes that a public adjuster does not guarantee a higher payout, and that the fee often comes from the claim proceeds.
Red flags, reporting, and a calmer way to hire
Walk away from a deductible waiver, a gift card for an inspection, a request that you keep the insurer off the property until the work is done, an offer to “add damage” to cover the deductible (DFS calls that insurance fraud and points people to reporting), a contract without an itemized estimate, or a crew that cannot show a Florida license. Company adjusters should not charge you to adjust the claim or ask you to sign a repair contract. Get more than one written scope when you can, as the My Safe Florida Home site also recommends at least three bids for mitigation work.
Report suspected unlicensed activity to DBPR (1-866-532-1440 or ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com) and insurance fraud to DFS’s Criminal Investigations Division at 1-800-378-0445, as those agencies publish. Then hire through a normal permit path. Our how to hire a roofer guide and the partners directory are starting points; a listing on this site is not a license check or an endorsement. For quotes after a storm, use storm damage roof repair and the form on this page.
Matching service pages
This article is educational. For quotes, use the service pages, which are the commercial pages for this site:
Related roof types
Related guides
- What to Do After Storm Damage to Your Roof, Including Tarping
- Filing a Roof Insurance Claim After Hurricane Damage in Florida
- Port St. Lucie Roof Permits: Applications, Checklists, and Who Pulls Them
Questions
01.Is it legal for a roofer to waive my insurance deductible?+–
No. The insured is responsible for the deductible. Section 489.147 forbids offering a waiver or rebate of the deductible in exchange for a roof inspection or a claim, and required advertising notices describe a knowing waiver done with intent to defraud as insurance fraud.
02.A flyer in my mailbox promises a free roof inspection after the hurricane. Is that allowed?+–
Solicitations that encourage a roof insurance claim must include the statutory 12-point warnings about the deductible and about insurance fraud. A gift in exchange for the inspection is prohibited. Even a legal ad is not a reason to skip a license check.
03.Can I cancel a roof contract I signed right after a declared emergency?+–
If the contract was entered into within 180 days of the events behind a Governor’s emergency declaration, and the house is in the declared area, § 489.147(6) gives a right to cancel within 10 days after signing or by the official start date, whichever comes first, by a mailing that provides proof.
04.Where do I report an unlicensed crew?+–
DBPR’s Unlicensed Activity Program publishes 1-866-532-1440 and ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com. You can also verify licenses at myfloridalicense.com.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 489.147 (2025), Prohibited property insurance practices; contract requirements
- Florida Department of Financial Services, Contractor-Residential Property FAQs
- Florida Department of Financial Services, Insurance Consumer Advocate, “Don’t Be A Victim! Prevent Contractor Fraud and Abuse Guide”
- Florida Department of Financial Services, Disaster Assistance Insurance Helpline consumer guide
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Unlicensed Activity Program, Recovering After a Storm
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, license search
- Fla. Stat. § 627.7152 (2025), Assignment agreements
- Florida Department of Financial Services, license search for insurance adjusters
- Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation, Proof of Coverage search
- Fla. Stat. ch. 489, Contracting
- My Safe Florida Home program, Florida Department of Financial Services
Back to the blog. Also see how to hire a roofer and the Florida roof types hub.