Filing a roof insurance claim in Florida

• Florida's claim deadlines
• What's usually covered, and what isn't
• Your claim checklist
• Working with your adjuster
• Common questions

Florida's claim deadlines

Florida law sets firm deadlines for giving your insurer notice of a property claim (Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes):

• New or reopened claims: within 1 year after the date of loss.
• Supplemental claims (additional damage or costs on a claim you already filed): within 18 months after the date of loss.

For hurricanes and windstorms, the date of loss is generally the date the hurricane made landfall or the date the weather event is verified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Your policy may have its own notice requirements on top of these, so report damage as soon as you can.

Don't wait for a leak. Storm damage that's invisible from the ground today can still be well documented if a roofer checks it soon after the storm.

What's usually covered, and what isn't

Every policy is different, but in general:

• Often covered: sudden damage from a covered peril, such as wind lifting or tearing off shingles, hail impacts, or a tree falling on the roof.
• Usually not covered: normal wear and tear, age, poor maintenance and long-term leaks.
• Your deductible: many Florida policies have a separate, often higher, hurricane deductible, frequently set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage. Check your declarations page.

Working with your adjuster

Your insurer will send an adjuster to inspect the damage and estimate what the policy will pay. A few things help that visit go well:

• Have your roofer there. We can point out damage the adjuster might miss from the ground and answer technical questions on the spot.
• Share your documentation: your photos, our inspection photos and our scope of work.
• Read the estimate line by line. Compare it with the actual damage: missing items like underlayment, drip edge, flashing or code-required upgrades are common.
• Ask questions in writing and keep a record of every conversation.

Common questions

This guide is general information about Florida law as of October 2026, not legal advice. Laws and policy terms change. For advice about your claim, contact your insurer, your agent or a licensed attorney.