Who counts as an authorized inspector
The statute names a home inspector, a building code inspector, a general, building or residential contractor, a roofing contractor, a professional engineer, an architect or another individual the insurer recognizes. The homeowner pays. The law applies to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022, and measures age from the day 100 percent of the roof surface was built or replaced to the then-current code.
What a roof inspection costs in Florida: estimates, not quotes
An inspection models at $70 to $385 per inspection, from one national source widened by 15 percent each side and scaled by Florida's roofer wage ratio of 0.84.
No Florida company's inspection price is in the band, and the model adds no permit fee.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $70 to $385 per inspection | Built from one national published range, adjusted by the Florida roofer wage ratio (0.84). Six Florida roofing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. Basis: no state company sample (no counted Florida company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Roofer wage, Florida mean | $23.49 an hour | Mean hourly Florida roofer pay, BLS May 2025; the wage of the person on the roof and not an inspection fee. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (1 source), adjusted by Florida's roofer wage ratio to the US (0.84, BLS May 2025), plus the local permit fee where the city publishes one. Not a quote. Six Florida roofing companies publish a price we could count on their own websites; where five or more price the same job, the range is the middle half of their prices, and where two to four do, the estimate is widened to take them in. Coupons, specials and figures a page gives as an average are not counted. We have no counted Florida company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 24, 2026.
What Citizens Property Insurance has posted
A Citizens personal lines bulletin dated March 31, 2023, as posted June 10, 2026, raised the minimum remaining useful life for an over-age roof from three years to five. New business changed May 1, 2023. Renewals followed on September 1, 2023. Proof of replacement is due on shingle roofs older than 25 years and on tile, slate, concrete or metal roofs older than 50, as a 4-Point or roof inspection form showing at least five years left. Citizens posts bulletins 'for historical purposes only', so the rule in force may differ.
A June 12, 2024 bulletin adds a one-time remaining-life exception, for commercial lines only.
What My Safe Florida Home says
The program's home page, as of October 24, 2026, reads 'Grants & Inspections Available', 'Free Wind-mitigation inspections Available' and '$10,000 Grants Available', and lists a seven-step process. Its FAQ page says the program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. Applications open in phases, starting with low-income applicants aged 60 or older. The FAQ lists opening dates as 'TBD'.
The free inspection needs a homestead exemption. It's for owner-occupied, site-built single-family homes, and a grant also needs an insured value of $700,000 or less and a home permitted before January 1, 2008, and pays $2 for each $1 you spend, up to $10,000.
Inspections your city requires during a re-roof
Orlando requires a dry-in inspection on every re-roof and, at final, a completed affidavit covering decking nail-down and the secondary water barrier. Hernando County wants a notarized Roofing Inspection Affidavit from a licensed contractor, engineer or architect before it schedules the inspection. Both come with a re-roof permit.
When an inspection cannot wait
- A renewal notice names your roof's age or condition and gives a date.
- Water has entered after a storm and you need a report for the claim.
- A roof under 15 years old with no leaks and no insurer letter.
- A routine check you want before listing the house.
What to settle before the inspector arrives
- Find the date of the last full replacement or the first partial replacement; the insurer measures age from there.
- Ask the insurer which inspection form it wants and who it accepts.
- Ask the inspector for photos and the written estimate of remaining life in years.
Is a permit involved in a Florida roof inspection?
The permit inspections in Orlando and Hernando County belong to a re-roof permit. Section 489.147 also bars a contractor from offering you a gift, coupon or rebate for letting them inspect the roof.
Florida licenses roofing contractors through DBPR, so before any work starts, ask for the license number and look it up on DBPR's license search.
Questions people ask
How much does a roof inspection cost in Florida?
Our model puts it at $70 to $385 per inspection, as a planning range. It's one national source scaled to Florida roofer pay; ask what the report includes.
Can my insurer refuse to renew because my roof is old?
Not solely for age under 15 years, and an older roof can be inspected first. Section 627.7011(5) lets you inspect a roof 15 years or older at your expense, and an inspection showing 5 years or more of life bars refusal on age alone.
Who can sign a roof inspection for my insurer?
An authorized inspector as the statute lists. Home inspectors, building code inspectors, contractors, engineers, architects and others the insurer recognizes.
What does My Safe Florida Home say about free inspections?
Its home page reads 'Free Wind-mitigation inspections Available'; its FAQ lists opening dates as 'TBD'. The FAQ also says the program is subject to annual legislative appropriations and opens in phases, starting with low-income applicants aged 60 or older.
Can a roofer offer me something for letting them inspect?
No: a gift or rebate for allowing an inspection is prohibited. Section 489.147 bars offering anything of value for a roof inspection or for making a claim.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Roofers (SOC 47-2181), Florida, mean hourly wage Read Oct 24, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Roofers (SOC 47-2181), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 24, 2026.
- RooferMatch: how we estimate costs, Florida (editorial policy) Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Online Sunshine: Fla. Stat. 627.7011 Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Citizens Property Insurance: 20230331 - Roof Rule Changes (agent bulletin) Read Oct 24, 2026. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
- Citizens Property Insurance: 20240612 - Update: Roof Age Eligibility Exception Read Oct 24, 2026.
- My Safe Florida Home (DFS): home page and FAQs Read Oct 24, 2026.
- My Safe Florida Home (DFS): Frequently Asked Questions Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Online Sunshine: Fla. Stat. 489.147 Read Oct 24, 2026.
- City of Orlando: Apply for a Residential Roof Permit Read Oct 24, 2026.
- Hernando County Building Division: Roofing Inspection Affidavit Read Oct 24, 2026.