Jacksonville, FL ยท Inspection & Protection
Roof certification for Jacksonville insurance renewals
Updated September 2026
An insurance letter about roof age does not automatically mean a new roof. Florida law gives a roof 15 years or older a way to stay insured: an inspection showing at least five years of useful life. We inspect honestly and tell you where your roof stands.
- Calls answered 24/7
- Photo-documented condition report
- Repairs first, only if they change the result
A roof certification for insurance in Jacksonville, FL is an inspection of a roof 15 years or older that documents its condition and remaining useful life. Under Florida Statute 627.7011, an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a policy solely because of roof age if an authorized inspector finds five or more years of useful life left. The homeowner pays for the inspection.
Condition, not age
What the insurer is really asking
When an insurer flags a roof for age, it is asking whether the roof will last. Florida Statute 627.7011 lets the homeowner answer with evidence: once a roof is 15 years or older, the insurer must allow an inspection by an authorized inspector before requiring replacement, and it cannot refuse or non-renew solely for age if that inspection shows five or more years of useful life.
Age and condition are different things. A well-installed 17-year-old roof in good shape can pass; a 9-year-old roof with storm damage can fail. We inspect the roof in front of us and report what we see, including when the honest answer is that it will not pass.
What is included
What a certification inspection covers
- Roof covering condition on every slope, photographed
- Approximate age from the permit record where available
- Flashing at walls, chimneys, skylights and valleys
- Pipe boots, vents and other penetrations
- Signs of prior leaks and repairs
- Deck condition checked from the attic where accessible
- Granule loss, curling, cracking or slipped tiles
- An estimate of remaining useful life
- A written report matched to the insurer's requirements
Roof Certification for Insurance
Roofs 15 years and older
The statute draws its line at 15 years. Under that age, an insurer cannot refuse to issue or renew a policy solely because of the roof's age. At 15 years and older, the insurer can require an inspection before renewing, at the homeowner's expense, and the result of that inspection decides the question rather than the calendar.
Roof age usually comes from the permit record or the home inspection from when you bought the house, so we check the permit history first; a reroof older than you expected changes the plan.
Roof Certification for Insurance
Remaining useful life letters
A remaining useful life letter records the roof's covering type, approximate age, condition on every slope, and an estimate of how many years of service remain, backed by photos. Insurers often supply their own form or specify what the letter must include, so we ask which carrier is involved before the visit.
The letter has to come from an authorized inspector under Florida Statute 627.7011. The statute lists who qualifies, and roofing contractors were added to that list by HB 1611 in July 2024.
Roof Certification for Insurance
Condition repairs before certification
Many roofs that would fail an inspection fail on specific, fixable items: a few missing or creased shingles, cracked pipe boots, lifted flashing, a soft spot at a valley. Where the rest of the roof is sound, repairing those items first can be the difference between a roof that passes and one that does not.
We show you the list and the photos before any repair, and we do not recommend repairs that would not change the outcome; a roof worn out on every slope needs replacement, not a patch job ahead of an inspection.
What to look for
Signs your roof may not pass as it stands
Missing or creased shingles
Visible damage is the first thing an inspector notes.
Bare, granule-free patches
Exposed mat means the shingle is near the end of its life.
Curling or cupped shingle edges
Heat-aged shingles lose their seal and shape.
Stains on ceilings or the deck
Active or past leaks count against remaining life.
Slipped or cracked tiles
Tile roofs are judged on the pieces that are missing or broken.
Roofing in Jacksonville
How Florida's roof-age rules play out in Jacksonville
The rule behind most roof-age letters here is state law, not a city ordinance. Florida Statute 627.7011 bars insurers from refusing a homeowners policy solely because a roof is under 15 years old, and for older roofs lets the owner have an authorized inspector show five or more years of useful life remaining. Since HB 1611 took effect in July 2024, roofing contractors are among the authorized inspectors, so one visit can cover the inspection and any repairs it turns up.
Step by step
How a roof certification visit runs
- 1
Tell us about the letter
Which insurer, what they asked for, and the renewal date.
- 2
Check the permit history
The roof's age as the record shows it.
- 3
Inspect every slope
Covering, flashing, boots, valleys and the deck from the attic.
- 4
Photos and findings
Condition documented slope by slope.
- 5
Repairs if they change the outcome
Priced and photographed before any work.
- 6
Report for the insurer
Condition and remaining useful life on the form the carrier asks for.
Cost factors
What a certification inspection costs depends on
Roof size and access
Steep, tall or tile roofs take longer to inspect safely.
What the insurer requires
Carrier-specific forms and photo requirements add documentation time.
Repairs before the inspection
Any fixes are priced separately, with photos, before work starts.
Roof type
Tile and metal need different checks from shingle, and tile needs careful walking.
The figure above is a published range for a professional roof inspection, not our quote. Under the statute the inspection is at the homeowner's expense.
Questions we hear
Roof certification questions
Florida Statute 627.7011 says an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew solely because of roof age if an authorized inspector finds five or more years of useful life. Questions about your specific policy are for your agent.
The homeowner, under the statute.
We tell you plainly and show you why. Sometimes targeted repairs change the result; sometimes the roof needs replacing.
That depends on the insurer. Ask your agent how recent an inspection they will accept before you book.
No. Those are separate insurance inspections with their own forms; this one addresses roof condition and remaining life. See roof inspection and wind mitigation.
Related work
Other inspection and protection work
Roof Inspection
Covers annual roof checkup, pre-purchase roof inspection, post-storm inspection.
Read the detailsRoof Maintenance
Covers pre-hurricane season tune-up, valley and debris clearing, sealant and fastener renewal.
Read the detailsWind Mitigation Roof Upgrades
Covers roof deck re-nailing, secondary water barrier, roof-to-wall connections.
Learn moreAnswer the roof-age letter with evidence
Call any hour. We inspect and document roofs for insurance renewals across Jacksonville and answer 24/7.
