Key takeaways
- Florida regulates roofing under Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes. A roofing contractor must hold a state license, and the number must appear on every bid, contract, and advertisement (F.S. 489.119(5)(b)).
- The DBPR license lookup at myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp is the only way to confirm a license is real, current, and correctly categorized.
- Unlicensed contracting is a crime, and any contract signed by an unlicensed contractor is unenforceable by that contractor (F.S. 489.127 and 489.128).
- A permit is required before a roof is altered or repaired in Florida (F.S. 553.79(1)(a)).
- Offering to waive or absorb your insurance deductible is a prohibited practice for Florida contractors (F.S. 489.147(2)(b)).
Why does choosing a roofing contractor in Florida require extra care?
Florida's climate, insurance market, and storm cycle make roofing a high-stakes purchase. After every named storm, out-of-area crews arrive offering fast repairs — some legitimate, many not. Unlicensed contracting is a first-degree misdemeanor, a third-degree felony for repeat offenses, and a third-degree felony during a declared state of emergency (F.S. 489.127(2)(a)-(c)).
If the roof leaks, the permit was never pulled, or a worker is injured, an unlicensed operator has no license to lose, no recovery fund behind him, and often no insurance. That risk lands on you.
How do you verify a roofing license with the DBPR license lookup?
Every legitimate Florida roofer can hand you a license number on the spot, either Certified or Registered. Verifying it takes about two minutes.
- Ask the contractor for the license number and the exact business name it is issued under.
- Go to the DBPR "Verify a Licensee" tool at myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp and search by license number, name, city, county, or license type.
- Confirm the license type reads "Certified" or "Registered Roofing Contractor." A general, handyman, or "home improvement" license is not a roofing license.
- Confirm the status is Current/Active and note the expiration date.
- Confirm the qualifying agent and the business name match the company on your estimate (F.S. 489.119(2)).
- Check the record for any disciplinary history or open complaints.
Dalton Roofing Inc holds Certified Roofing Contractor license CCC1330147 — run it through the lookup yourself, just as you would for any other company.
Certified vs. registered: what is the difference?
| Feature | Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC) | Registered Roofing Contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | DBPR, after passing the state exam | DBPR, after meeting a local competency requirement |
| Where they may work | Any jurisdiction in the state | Only where registered |
| Statutory basis | 489.105(8) | 489.105(10) |
| Practical meaning for you | Works St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Indian River alike | Must be registered in your county or city |
Both are lawful. Confirm the license covers where your roof sits — a registered contractor from another county cannot legally work in Port St. Lucie or West Palm Beach unless that jurisdiction is on the registration.
What insurance should a Florida roofing contractor carry?
Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) and read it. Two coverages matter. General liability pays for damage the crew causes to your property or a neighbor's — ask that it be issued directly from the insurer, naming you as certificate holder. Workers' compensation protects you if a roofer is hurt on your property; Florida requires it once an employer has even one employee (F.S. 440.02(20)(b)2).
A paper certificate can be outdated or altered. Florida DFS maintains a statewide Proof of Coverage database searchable by employer name, plus a separate Exemption Search if a crew claims exemption.
Do you need a roofing permit in Florida, and who pulls it?
Yes. Florida Statute 553.79(1)(a) requires a building permit before anyone constructs, alters, modifies, repairs, or demolishes a building. A roof replacement is an alteration of the building. Your local building department in St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, or Indian River County issues the permit and inspects the work.
Three rules to hold your contractor to:
- The contractor pulls the permit under its own number. Florida law requires the contractor's license number on the application and the permit itself (F.S. 489.119(5)(a)). A roofer asking you to pull an owner-builder permit is a sign it is not licensed to pull one.
- Deposits start a clock. A contractor taking more than 10% of the price up front on residential work must apply for the permit within 30 days and start work within 90 days after it issues, unless you agree otherwise in writing (F.S. 489.126(2)).
- The permit brings your roof up to current code. Replacements must use Florida Building Code techniques for secondary water barriers and stronger roof-deck attachment; some wind-borne debris region buildings also need roof-to-wall upgrades (F.S. 553.844(2)(b) and (3)). Skipping the permit means skipping the inspection.
If your project is a partial repair rather than a replacement, read our post on the Florida 25 percent roof rule for how Section 553.844(5) treats repairs to roofs built under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later. For HOA and county-specific permit questions, see roof permits and HOA rules in Florida.
What should a Florida roofing contract include?
A verbal quote is not a contract. Florida law puts specific language into residential roofing agreements, and the absence of it tells you something about the company.
| Contract element | Why it matters | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor's license number on the proposal, bid, and contract | Required in every offer, bid, contract, or ad, regardless of medium | 489.119(5) |
| Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund notice | Required above a statutory value threshold; tells you how to reach the Licensing Board | 489.1425 |
| Insurance-verification disclosure | If the work relates to an insurance claim, the contract must advise you to verify coverage with your insurer before signing | 489.147(7) |
| Detailed scope, materials, and manufacturer | Lets you compare bids on equal terms and hold the roofer to a spec | Best practice |
| Payment schedule tied to milestones | Keeps the balance in your hands until the final inspection passes | Best practice |
| Written workmanship warranty and manufacturer warranty terms | Manufacturer warranties often require installation by a qualified contractor | Best practice |
One more reason the license matters at contract time: a contract signed by an unlicensed contractor is unenforceable in law or in equity by that contractor (F.S. 489.128(1)). That protects you in a dispute, but it also means the paper "warranty" is worth nothing if the company can't legally operate.
What are the red flags of an unlicensed roofing contractor?
Most problem contractors reveal themselves in the first conversation. The table below pairs warning signs with what a licensed Florida roofer does instead.
| Red flag | What a licensed Florida roofer does instead |
|---|---|
| No license number on the truck, business card, or estimate | Displays it on vehicles and every written offer, as F.S. 489.119(5) requires |
| "We can pull the permit as owner-builder to save you time" | Pulls the permit under its own license and schedules inspections |
| Large cash deposit demanded before any paperwork | Provides a written contract with statutory notices before taking a deposit |
| Offers to "cover" or "waive" your insurance deductible | Never does — prohibited under F.S. 489.147(2)(b) |
| Door-to-door pitch right after a storm urging you to file a claim | Must carry the statutory warning in 12-point type (F.S. 489.147(1)(a)) |
| Cannot produce a certificate of insurance, or it names a different company | Provides a current COI, verifiable in the Florida CFO database |
| Out-of-state plates and a temporary local phone number | Has a physical Florida address and a license record on DBPR |
| Pressure to sign today because "the price goes up tomorrow" | Gives you time to verify the license and compare bids |
If you run into any of these, you can report suspected unlicensed activity to DBPR's Unlicensed Activity program at 1-866-532-1440 or ULA@MyFloridaLicense.com.
What questions should you ask a Florida roofer before signing?
Use this list on the phone or during the estimate. Good contractors welcome it.
- What is your license number, and who is the qualifying agent?
- Will you pull the permit, and which inspections does the county require?
- Can I see a current certificate of insurance for general liability and workers' compensation?
- Which manufacturer system are you proposing, and does its warranty require a credentialed installer?
- What does the contract say about secondary water barrier, deck re-nailing, and roof-to-wall connections?
- How is payment scheduled, and what is due at final inspection?
- Who is my point of contact, and what happens if weather stops work mid-roof?
- Do you handle insurance paperwork, and will you give me a written inspection report for my adjuster?
See our Florida roof insurance claim guide for the last question.
How does Dalton Roofing measure up against this checklist?
We wrote this guide because we answer these questions every week.
- License: Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1330147, verifiable at the DBPR lookup.
- Permits: every replacement and code-required repair is permitted under our license and inspected locally.
- Insurance: certificate of insurance available on request; verify it in the state proof-of-coverage database.
- Contract: written scope, statutory notices, milestone-based payment.
- Coverage area: St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Indian River counties, including Port St. Lucie and West Palm Beach.
Start with a free roof inspection. If a storm has already hit, our storm and emergency roof repair team is available 24/7 — see our first-24-hours guide. Property managers should also see our commercial roofing page and our guide on choosing a commercial roofing contractor; financing is on our financing page.
Call (561) 586-6646 or contact us online. Se habla español.
Javier Solis is the owner of Dalton Roofing Inc, a family-owned roofer serving the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County since 2004. FL Lic. #CCC1330147. General information, not legal advice; statutes cited as of the publish date above and may be amended.