THE BILL ITSELF
SB 808
Roofing Requirements for Property Insurance
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 808 By Senator Simon 3-01561-26 2026808__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to roofing requirements for property
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insurance; amending s. 627.7011, F.S.; revising the
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definition of the term “authorized inspector” to
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include certain roof consultants and roof observers;
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prohibiting an insurer from refusing to issue or renew
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a property insurance policy, rather than a homeowner’s
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policy, insuring a residential structure that has a
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roof less than a specified age solely because of the
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roof’s age; requiring the insurer to differentiate
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between low-slope and steep-slope roofs in its offer
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for coverage under certain circumstances; requiring
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the insurer to allow a property owner to have a roof
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inspection performed on a steep-slope roof by an
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authorized inspector before requiring that the roof be
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replaced; prohibiting an insurer from refusing to
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issue or renew a property insurance policy under
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certain circumstances; revising applicability;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (5) and paragraph (a) of subsection
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(6) of section 627.7011, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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627.7011 Homeowners’ policies; property insurance policies;
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offer of replacement cost coverage and law and ordinance
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coverage.—
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(5)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “authorized
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inspector” means an inspector who is approved by the insurer and
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who is:
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1. A home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314;
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2. A building code inspector certified under s. 468.607;
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3. A general, building, or residential contractor licensed
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under s. 489.111 or a roofing contractor;
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4. A professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015;
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5. A professional architect licensed under s. 481.213; or
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6. A Registered Roof Consultant certified by the
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International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants;
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7. A Registered Roof Observer certified by the
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International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants; or
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8. 6. Any other individual or entity recognized by the
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insurer as possessing the necessary qualifications to properly
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complete a general inspection of a residential structure insured
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with a homeowner’s insurance policy.
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(b) An insurer may not refuse to issue or refuse to renew a
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property insurance homeowner’s policy insuring a residential
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structure with a roof that is less than 15 years old solely
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because of the age of the roof.
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(c) 1. For a roof that is at least 15 years old, an insurer
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must differentiate between a low-slope roof with a 2-inch pitch
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or less and a steep-slope roof with a pitch of more than 2
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inches in its offer for coverage under a policy.
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2. Before requiring the replacement of a steep-slope roof
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as a condition of issuing or renewing a property insurance
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policy, the insurer must allow a property owner homeowner to
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have a roof inspection performed by an authorized inspector at
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the property owner’s homeowner’s expense before requiring the
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replacement of the roof of a residential structure as a
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condition of issuing or renewing a homeowner’s insurance policy .
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3. If the roof is a steep-slope roof, the insurer may not
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refuse to issue or refuse to renew a property homeowner’s
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insurance policy solely because of roof age if an inspection of
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the roof of the residential structure performed by an authorized
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inspector indicates that the roof has 5 years or more of useful
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life remaining.
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4. If the roof is a low-slope roof, the insurer may not
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refuse to issue or refuse to renew a property insurance policy
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solely because of roof age if an authorized inspector determines
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that the roof may be restored by having a roof coating system
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applied which will result in the roof having 5 years or more of
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useful life remaining.
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(d) For purposes of this subsection, a roof’s age shall be
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calculated using the last date on which 100 percent of the
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roof’s surface area was built or replaced in accordance with the
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building code in effect at that time or the initial date of a
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partial roof replacement when subsequent partial roof builds or
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replacements were completed that resulted in 100 percent of the
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roof’s surface area being built or replaced.
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(e) This subsection applies to property homeowners’
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insurance policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2026
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2022 .
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(6) This section does not:
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(a) Except as provided in subsection (5), apply to policies
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not considered to be “ homeowners’ policies, ” as that term is
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commonly understood in the insurance industry.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.