Hiring a roofer in Florida: checks before you sign
Before signing with a Florida roofer, compare companies on the same terms and confirm each company’s plan.
Start with license verification
Ask for the company’s license number and legal business name before you sign.
Florida law says contracts by unlicensed contractors are unenforceable by the contractor. DBPR says to verify a license number before signing.[1][2]
Check the license number through DBPR and confirm it matches the company asking you to sign. If a salesperson, subcontractor, or another business name is involved, ask who will hold the contract and be responsible for the work.
If the name, contact details, or license information do not line up, pause before agreeing to the work.
Confirm the permit plan
Ask who will pull the permit and put that responsibility in the written agreement.
A permit is required before repairing or altering a building in Florida.[3]
Ask which business will handle the permit and whether the contract scope matches the work listed on the permit.
Watch for prohibited offers
Review promotions involving money, gifts, or promises to cover costs.
Florida bars roofers from offering gifts, cash, or deductible waivers for a roof inspection or an insurance claim.[4]
Focus on the roof work, written scope, permit plan, and contract terms. Ask for any offer in writing before deciding.
Put the roof scope in writing
A proposal should state the work clearly enough to compare it with another company’s proposal.
Ask whether the work calls for a tear-off or another approach. Florida’s code requires tear-off when a roof already has two or more layers.[5]
Ask the company to identify the area of the roof included in the work. Florida’s code limits repairs to 25% of a roof or roof section in any 12 months unless the whole roof or section meets current code.[5][6]
Ask which Florida Building Code edition the company expects to use for your project. The 8th Edition Florida Building Code took effect December 31, 2023, and the 9th takes effect December 31, 2026.[7][8]
The written scope can state materials, roof areas, flashing work, cleanup, and exclusions. Put changes in writing.
Compare written quotes for the same scope
Compare quotes for the same work. Look for differences in scope, permit responsibility, materials, roof areas, tear-off language, cleanup, and exclusions.
A lower total may reflect a different scope rather than the same work at a different price. Ask each company to explain any difference in writing.
How Howe.to can help
You answer a few questions, see the named roofing companies for your area, and choose which ones may contact you about roofing. Howe.to is not a contractor. It does not vet partners, confirm their credentials, or guarantee their work, so use these checks with any company.