A roof certification in Florida is a signed report from a licensed professional that states your roof’s material, age and condition, and how many years of useful life it has left. Insurers ask for one when a roof gets older, usually past 15 years, to decide whether they’ll write or renew your policy. Citizens Property Insurance accepts one signed by a licensed home inspector, building code inspector, or general, residential, building or roofing contractor.
How long it lasts depends on what you mean. The report itself is only accepted for a limited time, set by each insurer. What it certifies is the roof’s remaining life, and most insurers want to see at least five years. A certification usually costs about $75 to $350. The guide below explains what’s checked, who can sign, how long it counts and how to get your roof to pass.
Free download: Roof certification document checklist (PDF). How to find your roof’s age, what to gather and what the finished report must show, on one printable page.
What a Roof Certification Is and Why Insurers Ask for It
Insurers worry most about old roofs, because they cause most of the expensive claims. A roof certification answers their question in writing: is this roof sound, and how long will it last?
Two rules decide when you’ll need one:
- Florida’s roof age law. Under Section 627.7011, an insurer can’t refuse or drop your homeowners policy solely because your roof is under 15 years old. Once it’s 15 or older, the insurer must let you have it inspected first, and if the inspection shows at least five years of useful life left, it can’t refuse coverage based on age alone.
- Your insurer’s own roof rules. Citizens Property Insurance asks for documentation of at least five years of remaining life on shingle roofs older than 25 years and on tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal roofs older than 50 years. Private insurers often ask sooner.
You may also be asked for one when you sell, because the buyer’s insurer will look hard at an older roof.
What the Inspector Checks and Puts in Writing
Most insurers accept the Citizens Roof Inspection Form or a report with the same details. The Citizens form asks the inspector to record:
- The roof covering on the main roof and any secondary sections, like a flat porch roof.
- The roof’s age and the date of the last roofing permit, plus whether that was a full or partial replacement.
- The remaining useful life, in years, for each section.
- Overall condition, marked satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
- Visible damage, such as cracking, curling, granule loss, missing or cracked shingles or tiles, soft decking and hail damage.
- Signs of leaks on the roof, in the attic and on the ceilings inside.
- Photos of every roof slope and of any damage or problem found.
The roof’s age comes from the permit date of the last full replacement, so have that date handy. If parts of the roof were replaced at different times, Citizens goes by the oldest part.
Who Can Sign a Roof Certification in Florida
The signer must hold an active Florida license that the insurer can verify. Citizens’ form accepts:
- A general, residential, building or roofing contractor
- A building code inspector
- A Florida-licensed home inspector
Florida’s roof age law also lists engineers and architects among the authorized inspectors who can document a roof’s remaining life. In the end, each insurer decides whose signature it will accept, so check with your agent before you book. You can confirm any contractor’s license on the state’s license search.
How Long a Roof Certification Lasts
There are two different time limits, and it helps to keep them apart.
How long the report is accepted. Insurers want a recent report, and each one sets its own limit. Some want it dated within a few weeks of your application, others accept a report up to a year old. Ask your agent before you schedule, so the report isn’t too old by the time you apply.
How long it certifies the roof for. This is the remaining useful life the inspector writes down. Five years is the number that matters most: it’s what Florida’s roof age law and Citizens both look for. Citizens also caps coverage at five years even if the inspection shows more, and it may inspect again at any time. When those years run out, plan on another inspection or a new roof.
Roof Certification vs 4-Point vs Wind Mitigation
These three reports often get mixed up. Each answers a different question for your insurer.
| Report | What it covers | Why your insurer wants it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof certification | The roof only: material, age, condition and remaining life | To decide whether an older roof is still insurable | $75 to $350 |
| 4-point inspection | Roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC | To decide whether an older home is insurable | $100 to $300 |
| Wind mitigation inspection | How well the roof and openings resist wind | To give you a discount on the windstorm part of your premium | $75 to $150 |
Many inspectors will do all three in one visit for less. Our guide to the 4-point inspection in Florida and our guide to the wind mitigation inspection in Florida explain the other two.
What It Costs and How to Get Your Roof to Pass
Published Florida price guides put a roof certification at about $75 to $350, depending on the roof’s size, its material and who does it. Our guide to roof inspection cost in Florida compares it with the other inspections.
To give your roof the best chance:
- Find your permit date. Look up the last roofing permit on your city or county building department’s website, or ask a roofer to pull it.
- Get a free roof inspection first. A roofer can tell you whether the roof is likely to show five years of life before you pay for the signed report.
- Fix small problems before the inspection. Replace missing shingles or cracked tiles, reseal loose flashing and repair any active leak.
- Gather your paperwork. Permits, receipts and photos from past repairs help the inspector confirm the roof’s age and condition.
Important: don’t count on a roof that’s actively leaking to pass. An inspector has to note leaks and damage on the form, and most insurers won’t accept a roof marked unsatisfactory. Make the repair first, then schedule the certification.
If your roof can’t show five years of life, the choice is a larger repair or a replacement. Our guide to roof repair vs replacement in Florida helps you decide, and our guide to Florida roof replacement law explains what a new roof must include.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my roof doesn’t pass a roof certification?
Your insurer may refuse to write or renew the policy until the roof is repaired or replaced. For Citizens, a roof with less than five years of remaining life needs proof of a full replacement, such as a finalized roof permit or a paid in full roofing contract.
Does a roof certification lower my insurance premium?
Not directly. It helps you keep or get coverage on an older roof. The report that can lower your premium is the wind mitigation inspection, which rewards features like secondary water resistance and strong roof deck attachment.
Is a roof certification the same as a roof warranty?
No. A certification is an inspector’s opinion of the roof’s condition on the day of the inspection. A warranty is a promise from the manufacturer or the installer to cover defects in the materials or the work.
Do I need a new roof certification every year?
Only if your insurer asks. Many insurers request an updated report at renewal once a roof passes a certain age, and Citizens may inspect again at any time. Keep your last report and photos so the next one is easier.
Start With a Free Roof Inspection
APEX Roofing of Delray Beach is a licensed Florida roofing contractor (CCC1336203) serving Broward and Palm Beach County. Our roof inspection is always free, so you’ll know where your roof stands before you pay for a certification. If the roof needs replacing, all compromised decking is included in the price, and every new roof is backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty. Book a free inspection in Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood or Pembroke Pines, or call us at 561.414.2909.
