Out-of-Town Roofers After a Storm: Why Local and Licensed Matters

After a storm, the safest roofer to hire is one with a real local address, a license from your state (or your city or county, if that is who licenses roofers where you live), and a written contract that follows your state's rules. Before you sign, check the license, keep the deposit small, and say no to any offer to cover your insurance deductible.

Many traveling crews do honest work. But a crew that leaves town is harder to reach when the roof leaks, the warranty matters, or you want money back. Here is what regulators and state laws say.

Why out-of-town roofers show up after a storm

FEMA says "out-of-town scam artists may be the first to arrive at your front door" after a disaster, and it recommends using a local contractor who is known in the community. FEMA also says it does not license or certify contractors, so no one can be "FEMA approved" (FEMA ↗).

The Texas Attorney General says door-to-door contractors "flock to some neighborhoods" after emergencies, and that while many are honest, some are not (Texas AG ↗). The FTC warns that dishonest contractors often won't give you a written contract and will try to get you to pay in full, in advance (FTC ↗).

Check for a local address and a license in your state

Start with four questions: What is your full business name? What is your street address? What is your phone number? What is your license number? The FTC says a contract should include the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number (FTC ↗).

Then confirm the license yourself. The FTC says to check with your state or county government (FTC ↗). Who licenses roofers is different in every state. Some states license roofers statewide, and in others the city or county does. Check your state's licensing board and your local building department. For example, Florida's Department of Financial Services tells homeowners to verify a contractor's license with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at MyFloridaLicense.com (Florida DFS ↗). See your state's page for state details.

A license from the state the crew came from is not the same as a license from yours. Make sure the license was issued where your home is. Also ask for proof of insurance and references (FTC ↗).

Watch for borrowed local names

Some out-of-town crews work under a local company's name. Illinois law bars a contractor from accepting money "in exchange for allowing an out of area contractor to use its business name or license." It also requires the Illinois roofing license name and number on all roofing contracts, bids and ads (815 ILCS 513/18 ↗). If the name on the truck, the contract and the license don't match, ask why before you sign.

Who should pull the permit

The roofer should. The FTC lists "scammers ask you to get any required building permits" as a warning sign (FTC ↗). Nevada law says a residential contractor "shall apply for and obtain all necessary permits" (NRS 624.970 ↗).

In Florida, a contractor who takes more than 10% of the price up front must apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after the permits are issued, unless there is just cause or you agreed in writing to a longer time (Fla. Stat. 489.126 ↗).

How much deposit should a roofer get?

There is no single national rule. The FTC says don't pay the full amount up front, notes that some states limit down payments, and says never to make the final payment until the work is done and you're satisfied (FTC ↗). FEMA warns about contractors who ask for large payments up front to buy materials (FEMA ↗).

Here are examples of state rules. Your state may differ.

State	Deposit rule	Source
California	Down payment on a home improvement contract over $500 may not exceed $1,000 or 10% of the price, whichever is less. The contract must also say it is against the law to collect payment for work not yet done.	B&P 7159 ↗
Nevada	Same cap ($1,000 or 10%, whichever is less) for an owner-occupied single-family home, unless the contractor has filed a $100,000 consumer bond with the state board or has board relief.	NRS 624.970 ↗
Arizona	After a catastrophic storm in an area an insurer has designated, a roof repair or replacement contract may not require more than 50% down.	A.R.S. 32-1158.02 ↗
Texas	After a declared disaster, a repair contractor who has not had a physical business address in your county (or a next-door county) for at least a year may not require any payment before starting work. Partial payments must be reasonably proportionate to the work done.	Bus. & Com. Code ch. 58 ↗
Florida	A deposit over 10% triggers the permit and start-date deadlines above. Breaking them can be a crime, from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the amount.	Fla. Stat. 489.126 ↗

How you pay matters too. The FTC says anyone who insists on cash, gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency is a scammer, and suggests paying by credit card after the work is done if you can (FTC ↗).

Your right to cancel

Federal rule. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule usually gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel a sale of $25 or more made at your home. It does not cover sales "needed to meet an emergency," or repairs you asked the seller to come and do (FTC ↗).
California. A door-to-door contract to repair a home, signed between the day a declared disaster damages it and midnight of the seventh business day after, is void, unless you contacted the business yourself, including by phone (Civ. Code 1689.14 ↗).
Florida. If you sign a roof contract within 180 days of an event covered by a state of emergency, you may cancel within 10 days of signing or by the official start date, whichever comes first (Fla. Stat. 489.147 ↗). Florida DFS says to send the notice by certified mail, return receipt requested (Florida DFS ↗).
Arizona. For post-storm roof contracts covered by the law, you may cancel for any reason within four business days of signing, or within 72 hours after your insurer tells you the claim was denied (A.R.S. 32-1158.02 ↗).
Colorado. A roofing contract over $1,000 must let you cancel and get a full refund of any deposit within 72 hours of signing. If the job is paid by insurance, you may also cancel within 72 hours after a written denial in whole or in part (C.R.S. 6-22-103 and 6-22-104 ↗).
Minnesota and Illinois. Minnesota allows cancellation within 72 hours after the insurer denies the claim (Minn. Stat. 326B.811 ↗). Illinois allows it until midnight of the fifth business day after written notice that all or part of the claim isn't covered, or the 30th business day after the insurer gets your proof of loss, whichever is earlier (815 ILCS 513/18 ↗).

Read the cancellation notice in your contract and keep a copy.

Say no to deductible deals

Your deductible is yours to pay. The Texas Department of Insurance says it's illegal in Texas for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate or absorb your deductible (TDI ↗). Florida DFS says a contractor cannot waive the deductible or offer it as a rebate (Florida DFS ↗). Colorado, Arizona and Minnesota have similar bans (C.R.S. 6-22-105 ↗, A.R.S. 32-1158.02 ↗, Minn. Stat. 325E.66 ↗). Florida also bars contractors from offering gifts, cash or a deductible waiver in exchange for a roof inspection or a roof claim (Fla. Stat. 489.147 ↗).

Your roofer should not handle your insurance claim

A roofer's job is the roof. Several states bar contractors from adjusting or negotiating your claim:

Texas: a contractor may not act as a public adjuster for a property it is working on, even with a public adjuster license or a power of attorney (Tex. Ins. Code 4102.163 ↗; TDI ↗).
Florida: contractors may not handle public adjuster work or adjust a claim unless licensed as a public adjuster (Fla. Stat. 626.854 ↗; 489.147 ↗).
Illinois: a contractor may not represent you on a claim or call in or file a claim for you (815 ILCS 513/18 ↗).
Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona and Louisiana have similar rules (Minn. Stat. 325E.66 ↗; C.R.S. 6-22-105 ↗; A.R.S. 32-1158.02 ↗; La. R.S. 37:2159.1 ↗).

If you want help with the claim itself, read who can legally handle your insurance claim after a storm ↗.

If a roofer took your deposit and left

Keep every contract, receipt, text and photo. Write down names and license plate numbers. Report it to your state attorney general, your state licensing board and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov ↗ (FTC ↗). After a declared disaster, you can also call local police or FEMA's Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-223-0814 (FEMA ↗). For the full step-by-step, see what to do when a contractor takes a deposit and doesn't finish ↗. This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, talk to your state's regulator or an attorney.

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Frequently asked questions

Are all out-of-town roofers scammers?

No. But FEMA recommends a local contractor who is known in the community and warns that out-of-town scam artists may arrive first (FEMA ↗). Check the address and license either way.

How much should a roofer ask for up front?

It depends on your state; see the table above. Check your state's licensing board for the rule where you live.

Can a roofer pay or waive my deductible?

Not in Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona or Minnesota, among others (TDI ↗; Florida DFS ↗; C.R.S. 6-22-105 ↗). Treat the offer as a warning sign.

Can my roofer deal with my insurance company for me?

No. Several states bar contractors from adjusting or negotiating claims (see the list above). For claim help, the options are a public adjuster licensed in your state or an attorney.

Who should get the building permit?

The roofer. The FTC calls it a warning sign when a contractor asks you to get the permit (FTC ↗), and Nevada requires the contractor to get all necessary permits (NRS 624.970 ↗).

Where do I report a storm chaser roofer?

Your state attorney general, your state licensing board, and ReportFraud.ftc.gov ↗. In Texas, TDI points people to the Attorney General at 800-621-0508 (TDI ↗).

Sources

Rules and deadlines vary by state and policy. This guide is general information, not legal advice.