Building code & storms
Hurricane season roof checklist
Updated 2026-09-16. Facts checked against official sources on that date.
Short answer
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Before it starts, have your roof checked, trim trees and review your insurance. After a storm, check your home from the ground, photograph damage and hire only a licensed roofer. Florida bars roofers from offering deductible waivers.
When hurricane season is
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. An average season has 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, and the first hurricane tends to form in early to mid-August, though any single year can differ a lot.[1]
Before the season
Florida's Division of Emergency Management names the roof as one of five critical areas to strengthen against wind, along with hurricane straps, windows, doors and garage doors. It says newer homes built to the Florida Building Code may resist hurricanes better, as long as those parts are in proper condition.[4]
- Prepare well before the season starts, and trim trees near the house.
- Get an insurance check-up early. Flood insurance usually has a 30-day waiting period.
- Photograph your home and belongings now, so you have records for any claim later.
- Have a licensed roofer or home inspector look over the roof for loose, cracked or missing roofing, worn flashing and signs of leaks.
- Clear gutters and downspouts so water drains away.
- Keep your roof paperwork (permits, contract and warranty) somewhere you can reach after a storm.
Good practice, not official guidance
The roof items above are common-sense steps. The state and federal preparedness pages we checked don't publish a roof-specific checklist.
After a storm
NOAA says to walk carefully around the outside of your home to check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage. If the house shifts or makes unusual noises, leave. Nearly half of hurricane deaths happen after the storm. Run generators only outside, more than 20 feet from your home, doors and windows.[3]
- Look at the roof from the ground only. Don't climb onto a damaged roof.
- Photograph damage from the outside and any water stains or leaks inside.
- Cover openings only if you can do it safely, and keep receipts for any temporary repairs.
- Call your insurance company before signing any repair contract.
Avoiding storm-chasing contractors
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) tells homeowners to always check a contractor's license at MyFloridaLicense.com. Contracting without a license during a Governor-declared state of emergency is a third-degree felony in Florida.[5][6]
| Warning sign | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Unusually low prices | It can signal an unlicensed or unreliable operator. |
| Large upfront cash payments | Leaves you exposed if the work never happens. |
| No written contract | You lose the notices and protections Florida law requires. |
| Won't pull permits, or asks you to | Permits are part of doing the job legally. |
| P.O. box instead of a physical address | The business is harder to find later. |
| Unmarked vehicles with out-of-state plates | A common sign of storm chasers. |
- Florida roofers can't offer gifts, cash, gift cards or a deductible waiver for a roof inspection or for filing a claim.
- A roofer who isn't a licensed public adjuster can't interpret your policy or adjust your claim.
- You must get a good-faith itemized estimate before signing an agreement for insurance-claim repairs.
- Florida's Department of Financial Services says contractors can't submit a claim to your insurer for you, and assignment-of-benefits agreements with contractors have been prohibited since January 1, 2023.
After a declared emergency, a roof contract signed within 180 days of the event, for a home in the declared area, can be cancelled within 10 days of signing or by the official start date, whichever comes first. The law doesn't spell out exactly when the 180 days start, so check your dates with a lawyer if it's close.[7]
Report it
Report suspected unlicensed contractors to DBPR's Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 866-532-1440.[5]
Every roofer in this directory shows its license
Each listing carries the license number, type and status from the state record, with the date we checked.
Find roofers by countyQuestions
When is hurricane season in Florida?
It runs from June 1 to November 30, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center. The first hurricane of a season tends to form in early to mid-August.
Can a roofer waive my deductible after a hurricane?
No. Florida law bars roofing contractors from offering deductible waivers, cash, gifts or anything of value for a roof inspection or an insurance claim (s. 489.147, Florida Statutes).
Can I cancel a roof contract I signed after a storm?
In some cases. If it was signed within 180 days of an event that led to a declared state of emergency and your home is in that area, you can cancel within 10 days or by the official start date, whichever is first.
How do I spot a storm-chasing roofer?
DBPR's warning signs include unusually low prices, large upfront cash payments, no written contract, refusing to pull permits, a P.O. box address and unmarked vehicles with out-of-state plates. Check the license every time.
Sources
- [1] NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology, checked 2026-09-16
- [2] NOAA: Prepare before hurricane season, checked 2026-09-16
- [3] NOAA: Use caution after storms, checked 2026-09-16
- [4] Florida Division of Emergency Management: Planning for your home, checked 2026-09-16
- [5] Florida DBPR: Action against unlicensed contractors (Feb. 24, 2025), checked 2026-09-16
- [6] Florida Statutes s. 489.127: Prohibitions; penalties, checked 2026-09-16
- [7] Florida Statutes s. 489.147: Prohibited property insurance claim practices, checked 2026-09-16
- [8] Florida Department of Financial Services: Contractors and residential property FAQs, checked 2026-09-16
General information, not legal advice. Laws and records change; confirm with the agency before you act.